Now you’ve completed the interview, but like so many others, your interviewer has one of those unreadable poker faces. You have no way of knowing whether your interview went well or if you blew it. Here’s a rundown of five signs to help you decide whether you did well in the interview or not.
1. If Your Conversation Flowed Seamlessly
One of the telltale signs that your interview went well is the flow of your conversation with the interviewer. If your conversation had a natural back-and-forth feel rather than a stiff Q&A session, then you’re okay.
Rather than interrogating you, your interviewer appeared relaxed and engaged in quality dialogue focused on your skill set. That’s a good sign that you aced your interview, and it could be taken as a sign that you have good social skills.
Still, a robotic conversation does not always mean your interview went badly. Some companies require interviewers to only ask specific questions, which can lead to a strained conversation.
2. If the Interview Takes Longer Than Planned
The duration of the interview is a strong metric of how you performed. If an interview scheduled for 25-30 minutes stretches for over an hour, that’s a sure sign that you didn’t do too badly.
No interviewer wants to drag out a bad conversation; they’d rather get it over with as quickly as possible. Interviewers only have so much time for each candidate, so it’s a plus if they spend extra with you.
If you are only asked a few questions and then dismissed before the scheduled time is up, this is never a good sign. This usually indicates that the interviewer has formed an opinion about you and doesn’t want to waste any more time.
3. If You’re Introduced to Other Team Members
If you’re introduced to other employees or potential coworkers during the interview, it’s another sign that you’re an outstanding candidate. This is significant during an interview because this move is usually made after you’ve accepted a job offer.
An interviewer who introduces you to other team members is likely impressed with you and wants to get the others’ opinions as well. If this doesn’t happen during your interview, don’t assume that that means your interview went poorly. This is a pretty unusual move, and there are other pointers to look out for.
4. If You’re Given an Office Tour
If your interview gives you an office tour, it’s safe to say you can break out the dance moves (when you reach the parking lot, of course). This is usually an indication that the interviewer is already thinking ahead and is seriously considering you for the job.
Interviewers are busy people, so carving out time to show you around the company is a positive sign. They won’t waste time giving a tour to someone they aren’t planning to hire. This move is used to give you a feel for your working environment and impress you with the amenities at your disposal—a ploy to encourage you to accept their job proposal when they offer it.
5. If They Share Plans for What’s Next
If at the end of the interview, your interviewer tells you the next step in the job-hunting process, you’re good. This could include requests for submission of more certification or info on dates for follow-up interviews.
This information is usually shared with candidates who have a good chance of landing the job. After a bad first interview, no interviewer would ask for additional documents or even suggest a second interview. This is a strong indication that they want you to be ready for the next step in the hiring process.
If this happened during your interview, it might be too soon to call your mother and tell her you got the job, but you should probably start thinking about what you’ll wear on your first day.
One Step Closer?
These signals should calm your nerves and make you more optimistic about the outcome of your interview, but keep in mind that is by no means an exhaustive list. You may still get a job offer even if all of these signs were missing during your interview.
If you do get a job offer, do your homework on the company and its policies before accepting, and be on the lookout for employer red flags. Good luck!
