The Assumptive Close: Force a Decision
What happens at the end of most interviews? The candidate wraps up their answer, smiles, and waits.
They hope the interviewer felt what they felt.
They walk out not knowing whether they're a frontrunner or an afterthought.
Here's a different way to end it: ask the question that surfaces every objection while you still have a chance to address it.
"Knowing what you know about my track record and how I'd approach this role, is there any reason you wouldn't feel confident moving forward with me?"
Most people won't ask this.
That's exactly why it works.
Why This Question Is So Effective
When you ask whether anything is holding them back, one of two things happens.
They say no: they've essentially talked themselves into hiring you.
Saying "no objections" out loud is a psychological commitment.
People follow through on what they've said aloud.
They surface a concern: now you can handle it in the room instead of losing the offer to something you never knew about.
A silent objection is the one that kills you.
A voiced objection is an invitation to respond.
Both outcomes are better than walking out blind.
How to Set It Up
Don't drop this question out of nowhere.
Build to it naturally.
Walk them through your case first.
Your understanding of the problem, your relevant experience, how you'd approach the first 90 days.
Let that land.
Then close:
"I've shared how I'd approach this challenge and what I've done in similar situations.
So let me ask directly: is there anything holding you back from feeling confident about this fit?"
Calm.
Specific.
Direct.
If They Raise an Objection
Don't panic.
This is exactly what you wanted.
Them: "Well, we're a bit concerned about your limited experience with [X]."
You: "That's fair.
Here's how I'd address that: [specific plan].
Does that alleviate the concern?"
You just turned a silent rejection into a live conversation.
That's a conversation most candidates never get to have.
What This Signals
Asking this question takes confidence.
Not bravado, but the kind of settled confidence that comes from knowing you've prepared well and you mean what you say.
It signals directness.
It signals that you're results-oriented even in the room.
It signals that you don't walk away from conversations without clarity.
Interviewers remember the candidates who asked this question.
They forget the ones who smiled and said "I hope to hear from you soon."
Don't leave the room wondering.
Ask the question.
Close Before the Interview Even Starts
The assumptive close works in conversation — but a strong application does the same thing on paper.
When your resume and cover letter are built around solving their specific problem, you're not asking for consideration.
You're presenting an obvious decision. hrvstr builds that case for every role you apply to.