Expert Interviews 8: Wrapping up

This lesson will show you how to end on a strong note.

Introduction

Ending strongly is important, especially if you may need to speak with the expert again in the future.

This is a much quicker lesson than the previous seven.

Basically, there tend to be three types of endings: 

  1. After a typical interview, thank the expert and wrap up. 
  2. After a great interview, thank the expert and mention you might be in touch in the future.
  3. In a terrible interview, you might wrap up early. 
Warm Up

Discuss what you'd say to end the following interviews.

  1. The expert has been even more open and knowledgeable than you expected, and you may reach out to them again later in your project. 
  2. The expert has been much more closed and out-of-the-know than you expected. There are 15 minutes of scheduled time left, but you don't think it's worth continuing the interview. 

These are opposite situations: 

  1. Situation: The expert is awesome and you want to tap them as a resource down the line. You might say:

Thank you so much. That was really interesting and insightful. I'd love to be in touch in the future if we have more questions. Would you be open to that?

  1. Situation: The interview is a total let-down. After 45 minutes of struggling to get some useful information, you've reached the end of the question list and gotten nothing worthwhile. 
    You might say:

A. Well, that's all the information I needed to ask about today. Is there anything I've missed that I should have asked about?
B. [No.]
A, Okay! Thank you for your time. I know it's valuable. Let's wrap up here.

Notes

  • Thanking the expert:
    • After a great interview (situation #1), you might thank the expert for the information, the insight, or something similar.
    • After a terrible interview (situation #2), you might thank the expert for their time, because they didn't give you anything else of value! 
  • Keeping in touch:
    • After a great interview, you should leave the door open for further contact. 
    • Ask your student:
      • After a great interview, is it appropriate for you to get the expert's contact details? 
      • How often do you do that? What do you say?

Cultural note 

It's common to send a thank-you email a day after an excellent interview or meeting. Often businesspeople set an alert on their calendar to remind them to send a delayed thank-you email. 

Language

A. Transition to end the interview

Smooth transitions are always important, and indicating that the interview is coming to a close is especially key. Read the following phrases to indicate that you may be ending. Do you use that style? Would you say anything different? 

  1. Well, that brings me to the end of my prepared questions. 
  2. Okay, that's about all I had to ask you about. 
  3. So to wrap up... 
  4. All right, before we finish up, I'd like to turn the interview over to you [and ask a broad ending question].

B. Broad ending question

Many interviewers take a few minutes at the end of the interview to ask a broad question. You may get unexpected insight, and it will also end things on a positive note. Read the following phrases:

  1. Do you have anything you’d like to mention that I haven’t asked about? 
  2. If you were me, would you be interested in anything else? 
  3. Is there a question I haven’t asked you that I should have asked? 
  4. Do you have anything else to add that I might find interesting? 

C. Thank you

You probably say thank you already, but read the following phrases and discuss the nuance. Which style do you typically use? Are there merits of using another style?

  1. That was very insightful, thank you.
  2. I especially appreciate what you had to say about ____.
  3. Thank you so much for your time today. 

Now, think of a few more ways of saying thanks.

D. Invitation for further dialogue

You may want to reach out to, or even keep in touch with, the expert. Some consultants have their own strategies for networking with experts. What would you say if you wanted to do the following?

  1. End the interview with an invitation for further dialogue.
  2. Send a follow-up thank-you email. 
  3. Maintain a network. If the expert is someone you can see yourself working with in the future, what are some ways you could keep in touch?

A few key points to impress the listener: 

  1. Don't rush through your thank you. Say it like you mean it. 
  2. Mention something specific, "I appreciate your time today and all your insight, especially regarding [specific point]." 

A. Transition to end the interview

This is similar to ending a presentation or a speaking test answer. The ending should not be a surprise. 

Note the rise-fall tone of "↗Well↘" or, "↗So↘". 
(Or you can also do a fall-rise "↘Well↗" or, "↘So↗".)

  1. Well, that brings me to the end of my prepared questions. 
  2. Okay, that's about all I had to ask you about. 
  3. So to wrap up... 
  4. All right, before we finish up, I'd like to turn the interview over to you [and ask a broad ending question].

B. Broad ending question

Many interviewers take a few minutes at the end of the interview to ask a broad question. You may get unexpected insight, and it will also end things on a positive note. Read the following phrases:

  1. Do you have anything you’d like to mention that I haven’t asked about? 
  2. If you were me, would you be interested in anything else? 
  3. Is there a question I haven’t asked you that I should have asked? 
  4. Do you have anything else to add that I might find interesting? 

Can you think of any other ways to ask about such a topic?

  • There's no need to add anything! The phrases above are enough. But if your student has another way of asking this, just assess for grammar and nuance. 

C. Thank you

It’s normal to say thanks. Look at the following phrases and discuss the nuance. Which style do you typically use? Are there merits of using another style?

  1. That was very insightful.
    • ​​​​You might use this after a very beneficial interview.
  2. I especially appreciate what you had to say about [something specific, e.g.: "best practice in Denmark"].
    • Be specific to be more memorable. 
  3. Thank you so much for your time today. 
    • The most basic, normal (but forgettable) phrase. 

Now, think of a few more ways of saying thanks.

E.g.: 

  1. Thank you for your support. We truly appreciate the information you've shared. [Formal]
  2. That was great! Thanks a million. [Casual]

D. Invitation for further dialogue

You may want to reach out to, or even keep in touch with, the expert. Some consultants have their own strategies for networking with experts. What would you say if you wanted to do the following?

  1. End the interview with an invitation for further dialogue.
    • E.g.: "I'd love to reach out in the future if we need more information." 
  2. Send a follow-up thank-you email. 
    • Ask: Do you send follow-up thank-yous?
      (Some consultants do.) 
      • If so, do you send it immediately, or do you set a reminder to send it later?
        (Some set a calendar reminder to send it that evening or the next day.)
  3. Maintain a network. If the expert is someone you can see yourself working with in the future, what are some ways you could keep in touch?
    • You can send them a very delayed thank-you, e.g., at the end of the project: "It was a success, partly thanks to you!" 
    • You can send related material, e.g.: "I came across this article, and I thought you might find it interesting!" 
Practice

Ask your instructor about something they are familiar with. They will give you a few choices, so take a moment and decide on a topic together. 

Be sure to use strategies from previous lessons, such as transitions between topics and pressing for more information. When you are ready to end, use the strategies you practised to finish strongly.