ECS Newsletter 25 - Most Candidates Waste the Last Five Minutes of Every Interview. Here Is What to Do Instead.
Source: Business Insider
Check out the LABOR DAY RESET and get 25% off coaching and all guides with code RESET25. You can find all details here: https://www.elitecareersolutionsllc.com/labor-day-reset.
Business Insider published a piece from Dominic Imwalle, a career coach who works with mid-career professionals pursuing roles above $100,000. The article is built around two questions he tells every client to ask at the end of an interview. The questions themselves are worth knowing, but the more important point is the one he makes before getting to them.
Most candidates either ask generic questions about culture at the end of an interview, or they ask nothing at all. After spending an hour trying to make a strong impression, they hand the close back to the interviewer and walk out without learning anything useful or leaving a meaningful final mark. The end of an interview is not a formality. It is the last impression you make, and it is one of the few moments in the process where you are genuinely in control of the direction of the conversation.
The first question Imwalle recommends is straightforward. Ask about the timeline and what business need is driving the hiring action. This sounds like logistics, but it is more than that. Understanding why the role exists, what problem it is solving, and when a decision needs to be made gives you information you can use immediately. It also signals that you are thinking about the organization's needs and not just your own. Too many professionals leave interviews and spend weeks in silence waiting for an update that may or may not come. A clear timeline puts you in a position to follow up with purpose rather than anxiety.
The second question is the one most candidates would never think to ask. Acknowledge that the company is likely speaking with other people, then ask directly: what is the biggest gap between the experience you are seeing in candidates and what you actually need for this role? Imwalle's reasoning is sound. The question forces an honest conversation that almost never happens in a standard interview. It tells you exactly where you stand and what matters most to the decision-makers in the room. If the interviewer struggles to answer, that itself is useful information about how well-defined the role actually is. If they answer clearly, you have a road map for exactly what to address in your follow-up or your final pitch before leaving the room.
The broader point Imwalle makes about the job search applies well beyond the interview itself. Most mid-career professionals are stuck in what he calls the application loop, submitting into a black hole and hoping something sticks. The antidote is not more applications. It is better conversations, more intentional targeting, and a willingness to engage with the process as a two-way evaluation rather than a series of performances where you simply hope to be selected. The candidates who get hired quickly are the ones who ask better questions, follow up with specificity, and treat every interaction as an opportunity to demonstrate that they understand the problem the organization is trying to solve.
If you are a business professional trying to navigate these issues right now, book a free strategy call at www.elitecareersolutionsllc.com. We will give you a straight answer, not a sales pitch.
Learn More:
Online: www.elitecareersolutionsllc.com
Join the Conversation on Social Media:
LinkedIn: Elite Career Solutions, LLC
Facebook: Elite Career Solutions, LLC
Instagram: @EliteCareerSolutionsLLC
About Elite Career Solutions, LLC
Elite Career Solutions, LLC (ECS) is a professional development platform dedicated to helping mid-career finance and business professionals accelerate their path to leadership. Through executive coaching, self-paced training guides, and practical frameworks built from 25+ years of real-world experience, ECS gives ambitious professionals the tools, strategy, and direct guidance they need to stop waiting and start leading.
Programs and products are designed for professionals with three or more years of experience who are serious about the next level, whether that means a promotion, a leadership transition, a career move, or simply a clearer understanding of how to navigate the path ahead.
Copyright Notice and Professional Disclaimer
© 2026 Elite Career Solutions, LLC. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by applicable copyright law, including the fair use provisions of 17 U.S.C. § 107. This is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The content reflects general business information and should not be interpreted as legal, HR, tax, or professional advice specific to any organization or employment situation. Readers are encouraged to consult qualified professionals for advice specific to their individual circumstances. Reproduction, distribution, or commercial use beyond what applicable copyright law permits is prohibited.
Author: Chad Connell; Published by: Elite Career Solutions, LLC
The views and opinions expressed by Chad Connell through Elite Career Solutions, LLC are his own and do not represent the views, positions, or endorsement of Lockheed Martin Corporation or any other employer. Elite Career Solutions, LLC is an independently owned business and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Lockheed Martin Corporation. All Elite Career Solutions business activities are conducted by Chad Connell exclusively outside of his normal working hours and are entirely independent of his professional responsibilities at Lockheed Martin Corporation. A conflict-of-interest (COI) screening process must be successfully completed before acceptance into our Career Coaching programs.
Comments