A strong interview is not a done deal. Like any deal, it needs a close: a purposeful follow-up that restates your fit, moves the process forward, and turns "we liked you" into an offer. The candidates who get hired treat the whole process like a sale — because that's exactly the skill an AE manager is looking for. Close the interview the way you'd close a deal.
Follow up fast and specifically
Within a day of your interview, send a follow-up that does three things: thanks them, restates why you're the right hire (the specific deal you discussed, not a generic line), and confirms next steps. Specificity is the difference between a thank-you note and a pitch that lands. Reference something from the conversation so they remember you as the candidate who understood the role.
Keep it moving to a decision
Don't leave the timeline to chance. Ask what the next step is and when they expect to decide. A candidate who asks for a timeline and a next step is managing the process like an AE manages a pipeline — and that's the signal a hiring manager wants to see. Like closing a deal, ask, then be patient while they decide.
Don't let the reference check sink you
If you've reached references, you're close — don't treat them as a formality. Brief your references in advance: remind them of the role, the deal stories you shared, and what to emphasize. A prepared reference can advocate for you with the specifics that move an offer across the line.
Sell through the whole process
The candidates who win keep selling at every stage — in the interview, in the follow-up, and through to the offer. It shows you don't just close deals; you close the things you care about. When the offer does land, the selling isn't done — negotiating your comp plan is the last and most important deal you'll close before you start.
Start here
The offer has arrived. Before you accept, remember you're an AE now — the next lesson is negotiating your first AE comp plan like the closer you're becoming.