Interviewing for jobs can be nerve-racking,
and then you still have to wait for feedback.
And sometimes, the waiting is just
as stressful as the actual interview.
How do you if your interview went well
without directly asking?
Well, consider this your lucky day
because there are a number of signs that indicate how
you performed in an interview.
And you can look out for these signs
to help ease those nerves while you wait for formal feedback.
And, yup, you guessed it.
I'm going to tell you exactly what they are.
I'm Sinéad.
And coming up in this video, I'll
share the eight indicators of a successful interview.
These tips apply to both in-person and video interviews.
We've got you covered.
And be sure to stick around until the very end for the most
reliable sign that you impressed your interviewer.
All right.
Let's get started with sign number one--
the interview exceeded the scheduled time.
Yes, it is a promising sign if the interview
runs longer than scheduled.
Now, it's safe to say that your interviewer has
other work-related responsibilities.
Even recruiters don't spend their entire day speaking
with potential candidates.
So if an interviewer has decided to keep the interview going
beyond the scheduled window, it means
that they have chosen to explore their interest in you instead
of completing other tasks.
And it could mean that they just genuinely enjoyed
the conversation.
So yes, overall, it is a great sign.
Now, it's unlikely that a recruiter
would spend extra time interviewing
candidates who are just not the right fit for the job.
But that also definitely does not
mean that you should immediately worry if your interview is
cut off a bit early either, especially
with an initial interview or a phone screen.
Sometimes the recruiter or hiring manager
only needs a few specific points to help determine
whether or not you should move on
to the next round in the hiring process.
Now, before I move on to sign number two-- if you have
watched this far, be sure to give us a like down
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Sign number two-- the interview felt like a conversation.
Were you able to ask questions about the job
and the interviewer?
And then did you feel like you got genuine responses?
Did the conversation with your interviewer just flow?
If the interview felt like an engaging conversation
between two people as opposed to a series
of one-sided, impersonal questions, then yes,
that is a good sign.
And what's a huge plus here is that you can help set
the stage for an engaging interview
by keeping your tone conversational.
Now, it does take a little bit of practice,
especially in the early interview stage.
But a great tip here is to go into your interview
with some questions already in mind, like these right here.
Having well-thought-out questions at the ready not only
helps you to move the conversation forward
and to communicate your engagement and interest
but you're also bound to learn more
about the role, the company, and the interviewer too.
Aren't really many interviewers will ask you
if you have any questions at the end of your interview
anyway, so it's always good to be prepared.
Now, if you do need some inspiration,
you can't go wrong asking about not only the job but about
your interviewer's personal experience with the company
also.
Those questions may sound something
like, "What is your favorite part about working here?"
or "What are some attributes that would make someone
successful in this role?"
Remember, the interviewer could very well be your next boss.
Let's think about that for a second.
It's so important to ask intuitive questions that help
build a working relationship.
And it's really a win-win for you
too because asking your interviewer questions
like these also allows you to get
a sense for their level of enthusiasm
about the company and the job being interviewed for.
And depending on their responses,
you'll know whether or not the job is a good fit for you.
Sign number three-- the interviewer
addressed next steps.
Many interviewers won't ask you about your upcoming schedule
or other job opportunities and conflicts
if they don't already consider you a great candidate.
So if your interviewer brings up next steps
beyond the current interview, take it as a very good sign.
Some examples of next step questions and statements
include logistics--
"When would you be able to start?"
"Would you consider an earlier start date?"
"We'd like to bring you in to speak with two other team
members next week."
"We require that you pass an exam before beginning work.
Are you prepared to take a test by then?"
"Now, in terms of your interest, would you
be interested in speaking with someone at your level
to hear about their employment experience so far?"
"Can we address any hesitations that you
may have about this role?"
"How do you feel about this opportunity?"
"And regarding your job options, are you currently interviewing
with other companies or considering
any other opportunities?"
Hearing these questions during an interview
likely means that the recruiter or hiring
manager is interested.
Gathering more details could be an indication
that the employer is trying to picture you
as a part of the team.
Sign number four-- the interviewer
displayed positive body language.
Body language offers a wealth of information that words simply
cannot.
Positive engaged body language includes
smiling, head nodding in agreement, and nice gestures.
These movements suggest a genuine interest
in the conversation and in you as a candidate,
and this holds true even during video interviews.
Now, other examples of positive body language
include leaning toward you.
This suggests that they are drawn in to the conversation.
Open, uncrossed arms, which indicates
that they are open to receive what you are saying.
Mirroring behaviors, which shows connection and empathy.
And eye contact.
Eye contact is major when trying to gauge the interest
and attention of others.
Maintaining eye contact shows a true willingness
to engage in conversation.
And yes, that does go for both parties.
Now, eye contact can be a huge indicator
of how an interview is going, especially
during video interviews.
If you sense that your interviewer is looking
at your image on the screen as opposed to their own
and that they're not fidgeting or typing unnecessarily,
that type of thing, that's a strong indication that you're
holding their attention and, yes, that you've got
their interest.
And like I said, it goes both ways,
as does body language in general.
And it can really set you apart from other candidates.
So for everything you need to know about interview body
language, you got to check out this video right up here.
Moving on to sign number five-- you
connected on a personal level with the interviewer.
So if your interview went from "Tell me about yourself"
to a full-blown personal conversation,
that's a strong sign that things went well.
Now, it could be that you discovered
that you share something in common with your interviewer,
like growing up in the same city or sharing an alma mater,
or maybe you've even previously worked for the same employer.
And now, personal connection doesn't even
have to be super personal.
It can also come from work-related topics,
such as using the same project management
software to stay organized.
Now, here is a pro tip--
as you begin establishing a personal connection
with your interviewer, be sure to still keep the conversation
professional.
So aside from the examples that I just mentioned,
additional appropriate topics can include favorite podcasts,
books or TV shows, pets, educational background,
or your interviewer's career journey.
Asking about these topics provides
the opportunity to end on a positive personal note.
And be sure to reference what you
have in common with your interviewer
when you send that thank-you letter within one
day of your interview.
Sign number six-- you felt like you
were being sold on the role.
This sign may be a bit tricky to recognize
because after all the interviewer wants
to fill the role.
So yes, of course, they'll speak highly of it.
But that being said, there is a difference
between speaking positively of the job
and pitching you on why you'd enjoy this opportunity.
If the interviewer is highlighting
all of the many appealing reasons to work there,
take it as a strong sign that they are interested in you.
For example, say you mentioned your interest in strategy.
The interviewer could simply recognize and acknowledge
that info and then move on.
Or they could explain how this role
provides many opportunities to think strategically.
The second response is what we would consider
selling you on the job.
Now, this can be very subtle.
An interviewer isn't likely to flat out say something as bold
as, "I think you'd really love it here."
But they may say, "Well, in this role,
you'll be able to see a project through from conception
to execution.
You would have access to data and the support of a business
intelligence team to ensure that you are building
a well-informed strategy.
And with your background and your experience,
this could be an environment that you thrive in."
So you see, subtle.
So it's definitely good to know the difference.
And now, for a not so subtle sign.
Sign number seven-- the interviewer
responds to your thank-you email.
As a best practice, always send a follow-up email
within 24 hours after your interview
so that you can thank your interviewer for their time.
And if you've already done that, well then, great job.
Now, it's not typical to get a response to a thank you email
even if you interviewed really well.
So if you do get a response back,
take that as a very good sign.
And if they express positive feedback
about your performance, even better.
Which leads us to the next sign that you've interviewed well,
which is sign number eight-- the interviewer
expresses positive feedback.
Of course, the most reliable sign that you interviewed well
is receiving positive feedback, which seems obvious.
But it's important to know that while feedback could be quite
direct, it probably won't be.
And that's because in most cases,
the hiring decision isn't up to the interviewer alone,
so they are restrained from saying anything
that sounds like a direct endorsement or a promise
to advance you.
Even if they thought that you knocked it out of the park,
they still have to consult with HR and other stakeholders.
So positive feedback can be more understated, such as--
"I think you'd be a strong fit for this team."
"Your qualifications are great."
"Your experience would be valuable to our team."
"Your perspective would add great value here."
Or it could even be something as simple
as, "I truly enjoyed speaking with you today."
And remember, you can always welcome feedback too.
If you're not sure how it went by the end of the interview,
you can reach out to the interviewer.
Don't hesitate to ask if they have any potential concerns
about your qualifications that you
would love to address for them.
If you found this video helpful, be sure to hit that Like button
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Right now we've got you covered with even more career
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And for everything you need to know to crush your next job
interview, you got to click this video right up here.
I'm Sinéad.
Thank you all so much for watching,
and I'll see you all soon.