The grand finale of an interview

With only a few days to go until the Fourth of July, we can all envision the grand finale of a fireworks show.  No matter how long or short, low budget or grandiose, there is always a finale to cap off a night of fireworks around dusk.  The promoter saves the best for last and usually throws such a barrage at the audience that you go home satisfied and ready for next year already.

This got me thinking about how to "finish" during the course of an interview.  While you don't want to save everything for last and overwhelm a hiring authority, there are many parallels if you really think about it.

1)  Incorporate the highlights of the interview into the final thoughts.  If you pay close attention, many of the best fireworks through an entire show are in the finale again.  Or at least portions of them are.  So as you complete an interview, be sure to remind the hiring manager of all of the best parts.  Having it scripted doesn't make it any less fantastic, just as seeing the smiley face firework again at the end along with loud booms and bright explosions isn't still awesome.

2)  Make sure you haven't saved too much for the end.  If you were at a fireworks display that was lacking for the first 20-25 minutes, you might be tempted to head to the car early so that you can be the first one out of the crowded parking lot.  But watching from your car just isn't the same if the ending is wonderful.  Be sure to sprinkle in plenty of goodness during the early and mid parts of the interview to keep your audience excited for the finale.

3)  Be ready for a dud.  We've all seen them before.  That firework that shoots up into the sky, you wait for a good 5-10 seconds, and then absolutely nothing happens.  In a fireworks show everything is so well choreographed that you should be able to overcome a dud.  But in an interview it could take a lot of momentum out of the conversation.  If you don't answer a question well or sense you are losing the audience, be sure to follow with something good.  If you're not ready for it, the entire interview could be lost.

4)  Leave them wanting more.  As I mentioned, a great show should make the kids begging to stay a little longer just in case there is one more wandering firework that may be out there.  You may not always get the job or the offer in an interview (especially if it is a final interview), but you better hope the hiring manager wants to see you again and make the final push for an offer.

The final parallel I will draw is to remember with fireworks you are playing with fire.  You have to plan ahead and balance the risk/reward.  That is a big part of a successful interview as well.

Be safe and have a wonderful Fourth of July!