Reading an interview might be challenging. Sometimes you leave a performance feeling like a superstar who just gave their best performance ever or like you just missed your chance.
When this happens, all you can do is fold your hands and wait in agony for the inevitable approval or rejection. Other times, you’re not even sure how to feel. However, things don’t have to be that way.
There are ways to assess how well your interview went and gauge your likelihood of landing the job. In this post, we’ll discuss various warning indicators to look out for that could indicate your interview went well and you’ll probably get an offer.
1. “When” rather than “If”
The use of “when” comments rather than “if” ones in conversation is one of the most telling signals that the hiring manager will make a job offer. When you start rather than “if you’re picked,” for instance, it implies that the hiring manager can see you in the position, increasing the likelihood that you’ll receive an offer.
2. Arranging for a meet and greet
If the interview ends with a meet and greet, that’s another one of the telltale signals that you got the job. Candidates who aren’t top candidates are typically not taken out to meet the rest of the team by hiring managers. Therefore, it’s good if you’re meeting other employees for the first time.
3. Positivity of Body Language
You can tell how the interviewer feels about the situation by the way they stand during the interview. An interview went well if they smiled at you while you spoke, nodded along with you, and leaned slightly in your direction.
4. Expressing Impressions
Verbal clues can often be quite telling when an interview went well. If the hiring manager states that they were “impressed” by your responses or qualifications, this often indicates that they are interested in what you have to offer, which is to your advantage.
5. Requesting References from You
It’s a good indicator if the recruiting manager asks for your work references after the interview. The fact that they ask for your references implies that you’re still a possibility because they might not do it with candidates they don’t want to potentially pursue.
6. Starting a Few Light Conversations
Typically, interviews begin all-business. The hiring manager may be confident in your talents if the conversation starts to veer away from your qualifications and toward more lighthearted subjects.
After all, they would keep requesting information about your qualifications and experience if they had any reservations.When they start talking about less serious subjects, it usually means they’ve already decided if they want to hire you and want to use the remaining time to get to know you a little better.
7. Specifying Any Following Steps
A recruiting manager typically wants to keep a candidate in the pipeline if they are interested in them. It’s important to keep you involved in the hiring process, which increases the likelihood that a job offer will come your way, so outlining any future steps is more than simply a way to let you know what to anticipate.
8. Obtaining the Employer’s Contact Information
Obtaining the hiring manager’s contact information is important if someone other than the hiring manager has been in charge of overseeing interview scheduling and communications up to this point. It implies that they are interested in keeping in touch without a middleman and that they wish to stay in direct contact.
9. Getting an overview of the Rewards and Perks
A recruiting manager wants to lure a strong prospect when they locate one. The most convenient approach for them to achieve that is typically to talk about the benefits the business provides to its employees. It’s a good sign that the hiring manager is considering hiring you if they start enthusiastically discussing benefits.
10. Inquiring Regarding Your Transition Schedule
Unless they consider a prospect to be a top candidate, hiring managers won’t inquire about the timing for their transfer. Consider it a good sign if they ask when you could start if they do. Additionally, it’s a great sign that they’re thinking about making you an offer if they explain their ideal timeline and inquire as to whether it would work for you.
11. Giving a tour of the workplace
A company tour is similar to meeting the team in that it won’t happen unless the hiring manager likes you. Usually, the tour is meant to pique your interest in the possibility of working there and increase the likelihood that you’ll accept an offer.. You can therefore use it as one of the indicators that you will be hired following the interview.
12. The interview didn’t wrap up quickly.
A hiring manager typically doesn’t worry about providing a candidate the full allotted time if they aren’t interested in them. They will instead finish up considerably sooner, making sure nobody wastes time on an interview that isn’t working out.
However, it’s a good indicator if your interview lasts the entire permitted time (or nearly so). It’s likely that the recruiting manager was generally impressed since they wanted to use every opportunity to learn more about you.
13. There Were Additional Questions
Most of the time, unless a hiring manager is genuinely interested, they won’t delve further into a candidate’s responses. So, one of the best indicators of a successful interview is getting follow-up questions.
14. Inquiring About Your Opinion of the Position or Company
Top candidates are frequently “sold” on the position or firm by hiring managers. As a result, if they inquire about your opinions of the company or employment, they can better understand how you feel and any uncertainties you may have. After that, they can present pertinent details to allay any worries, ensuring your confidence before they possibly make you an offer.
15. Starting Salary Negotiations
Any applicant may be questioned about their wage expectations by hiring supervisors. However, unless they are sincerely interested, they won’t get into a full-fledged salary discussion. Therefore, if there is any back and forth on pay rates and perks, there is a good likelihood they are looking for a figure they believe you will accept when they do make you an offer.
16. Requesting your approval of a background check
If authorization to do a background check wasn’t requested when applying, being asked to consent to one is encouraging. Companies typically don’t want to spend money on a background check unless they are genuinely considering hiring you. You have a decent chance of winning if they give you the consent paperwork.
17. “You” rather than “New Hire”
If the recruiting manager starts talking about what “you” will do in the role rather than what a “new employee” or “chosen applicant” would do, that’s excellent stuff. It’s similar to using “when” instead of “if.” You know you’re at least in the running for the job since it suggests they can already picture you in the role.
18. Learning that references you provided were contacted
Regardless of when you submitted your reference list, you may be very certain that your chances will be good once those people have heard back from the recruiting manager.The top few candidates may have their references contacted, but if you’re not one of them, they won’t normally spend the time.
19. Instant acknowledgement of your thank-you email
A fantastic indication is receiving a response to your thank-you email right away. It demonstrates that the recruiting manager values communication and that you are on their mind, all of which may be signs that you may soon receive an offer.
20. Let You Know You’re a Top Candidate
The recruiting manager could express interest in employing you without formally making an offer to you in some circumstances.. At the end of the interview, if you ask them whether there is anything stopping them from being the top candidate for the position, and they respond, “No,” that is a good sign that a job offer is imminent.