2Suppose you find yourself in a job interview and discover you don't want the job, or that the interviewer apparently doesn't consider you a good fit for the position. How do you exit the interview gracefully, in a way that keeps your options open and leaves a positive impression?
- Stay until the interview is finished. Don't cut it short unless you are pressed to make a decision right then and there, and you know you have been offered something that won't work for you.Maintain eye contact when speaking with the interviewer. This keeps you both engaged and avoids the impression that you are hiding anything. It also demonstrates politeness and shows the interviewer you are an active listener.Ask about other positions that may be available if the one for which you are interviewing doesn't seem suited to you. Explain what you like about the company and why you are interested in working there. Offer to ask people in your network to suggest candidates who may be better suited to the job you cam in to discuss.Thank the interviewer again before you leave. At the conclusion of the conversation, stand up. Look the interviewer in the eye and give her a firm handshake.The next day, send a handwritten thank-you note to the person who interviewed you, whether or not you remain interested in the job or are likely to be offered it. You never know what opportunities might arise later. Stay professional, polite and pleasant, and you will be sure to leave a positive impression.
