5 Signals that the Interview is on Track
The worst thing about a job interview is that you have no idea if you’ve succeeded immediately after it’s over. But there are a few signals that tell you that you did well. And even if it doesn’t mean you have a job in your pocket, it does give you a boost. Try to pay attention to those signals.
1. Pleasant conversation
Does the interview feel like an interrogation, but is it conducted as a casual conversation? Can you see that the recruiter is listening to you with interest, looking you in the eye, responding? That’s a good sign. If he was bored with the conversation or wanted to get it over with quickly, you’d probably know it. If you sign up as someone who can communicate well, it’s assumed you’ll also be able to establish good relationships with future colleagues quickly and easily, which is a big plus.
2. Introducing benefits
It’s almost certain that if you don’t score, you won’t hear much from the interviewers about the benefits that come with the vacancy. If they are interested in you, try to present the company and the job in the best possible light. Which means they talk about career growth, great working conditions and possible benefits.
The recruiter may also talk about day-to-day life at the company. For example, how they regularly meet colleagues for informal breakfasts, that pets are welcome in the workplace or that it is possible to attend interesting training sessions.
3. Specific planning for collaboration
When you hear the recruiter talking to you as if you were already a member of the team, the interview is also on track. They don’t talk in general terms about new hires or candidates, they talk specifically about you. “When you start with us, you’ll have a weekly tour of the different sites to get a feel for how things work.”
4. The interview dragged on
It’s a good sign when an interview lasts for a pre-arranged amount of time, or even drags on a bit. They wouldn’t give more time than absolutely necessary to someone they didn’t like. Additionally, if they gave you a tour of the company at the end and showed you your future workplace and colleagues, this is also a sign of affection from a prospective employer.
5. Quick response and keeping in touch
Employers are scrambling for talent. If the company wants you, you’ll leave the interview with an invitation to the next round of recruitment or you’ll get it within a few days. They won’t take the risk that you’ll prefer another job. They’ll try to keep in touch with you while you’re waiting for a deadline to remind you.
That they are worried about you coming to a competitor is indicated by these questions, “Have you sent out your CV to other places?” “Is another company interested in you?”
You can only be sure if the answer is yes
An invitation to the second round may come unexpectedly, even if you don’t feel good about the interview. Maybe you “read” the signs wrong or the recruiter wasn’t in your shoes for some reason. You just never know.
However, the opposite situation can also occur: according to the above signals, you got the impression that it might work out, but you still don’t hear back or get a negative answer. So until you have your hand up, don’t “track down” other selections or stop sending CVs. You could unnecessarily close a door behind which an opportunity may be waiting for you at another firm.
And if it doesn’t work out in the end, don’t hang your head, there’s no reason not to succeed next time. After all, you never know if it might have been a close call that another candidate got ahead of you.
