Interview Extra Time – How to Behave

The end is in sight. You have impressed them with your knowledge and communications skills, charmed them with your affability and straightforwardness, but now comes the test. It is interview extra time, so how do you make the most of those last few minutes?

You have to show that you want to work there. Now is your time to shine, your chance to show that you are the best fit for the role and that your desire is the strongest out of all the candidates. Just as in a football match, this is the time to step up.

Either you flop over the finishing line, exhausted by the process, or you thunder a 30-yard effort into the top corner to leave a truly lasting impression.

Many blogs address the sorts of questions that you should ask. It would help if you showed an interest in their culture, the role, your future boss, the company itself, etc. As a competent interviewee, you should thoroughly research and prepare some questions. Assess how the interview has gone and ask questions in line with the conversation.

However, I don’t want to write about the content of your questions, rather the subtle changes in your behaviour that the interviewer should be noticing during interview extra time. The conversation dynamics change – you become the interviewer, and in my experience, the following subtle changes create the best possible impression.

Interview extra time

Lean In – After the “Do you have any questions” question, a genuinely interested candidate would change his body position slightly in preparation for the most critical part of the interview, where they can find out more about their dream job.

Open Posture – Your body language must be open to make the person answering the questions feel at home. There are a few tips – knees apart, legs uncrossed, hands not touching, elbows away from the body. Watch any Steve Jobs video to get an idea.

Smile – Your chance has come. You can find out more about the company you are so keen to join. It would seem strange if you weren’t glad to have the opportunity to do some digging. A genuine smile is a must at this point.

Don’t Relax – It may seem natural to relax and act like the interview is over. It is vital that you maintain your professional demeanour and, if anything, step it up a level. A deep breath and pause as you “think” about your first question shows you are 100% focused on the task.

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Listen Actively – You should really be doing this all interview, but the “have you got any questions” stage is when you should make an extra effort. Listen with your whole body. Nod, say the odd “uh-huh” and maybe recap on some of their points to show that you follow their words carefully. Maintain eye contact without being too intense. Try not to interrupt, even though you may be bursting to ask your next question.

Don’t Act Rushed – If the interview has gone well, the interviewer is interested in filling in the “gaps” for you. If it has not gone so well, they are equally interested in giving you a chance to redeem yourself. Therefore, you should not feel or act like you have a limited time to ask these questions before you are ushered out the door. If you act rushed, they will pick up on your vibes, and the interview will be over. 

After the questions stage, it is therefore vital that you spend your interview extra time in the best possible way. Ascertain their interest and ask where they are in the hiring process. Reiterate your interest in the role and thank the interviewer.

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This blog is shared with Job Seeker Duetists. 

Written by former recruitment ghostwriter Paul Drury (not AI).