Q: I have interviewed for several roles recently. It seems every company has a different interview process. Some have phone interviews. Some require candidates to complete an application online. Some want to interview candidates several times. But I when it gets down to the final stages, I don’t know what to do. Can you help?

A. Companies are buying services when they hire an employee. What problem do you solve for your prospective employer? Do you reduce expenses? Do you drive revenue? Do you mitigate risk? Do you improve customer relationships? If you think about your candidacy — and potential employment — in these terms, closing the deal is a bit easier to understand.

When you approach the final stages of the selection process, there are a few actions you can take that may help your candidacy. Here are some suggestions:

Many candidates do not ask about next steps in the process. They leave the face-to-face interview and have no idea what to expect will then happen. This is important as the hiring professional will likely give you information on the timing, and maybe even the number of candidates remaining.

Reiterate your interest in the role. Say something like: “This last interview has made me even more enthusiastic about this role and I would very much like to be the person hired. Is there anything else you need from me before you make your final decision?’’ Make sure you have business cards from every interviewer before you leave.

E-mail a thank you note to the interviewer that also describes the value you can provide to the company. Can you increase sales? Can you design a better product? Can you bring partners to the table? Explain how. Make sure that your note is flawless — no typos or grammatical errors.

Have professional references ready. You should be able to provide them on a moment’s note. Yes, you should still contact your references and prep them before they receive a call.

At least three professional references should be shared, although four or five is ideal. Again, your references should be error-free.

Be gracious even if you don’t receive a job offer. Sometimes a client has contacted us later to ask about a candidate they turned down.

You never know who you will be working with in the future. Take the high road and be known for your professionalism.

Pattie Hunt Sinacole is president of First Beacon Group in Hopkinton.