10 Signs Your Interview Went Well

The time it takes to receive feedback from a recruiter after an interview varies. However, research has shown that an employer’s average response time is 24 business days. These days after an interview where you’re uncertain about the outcome makes the waiting time excruciating. Did you get the job or not? While there’s no surefire way to know the result beforehand, there are signs that your interview went well. Here are some of them.

1) Your interviewer seemed engaged

Like in any communication, engagement and disengagement behaviors are important signals to watch out for during an interview. This will help you pick up unspoken issues, feelings, or thoughts about your performance. Engagement behavior suggests interest, receptivity, or agreement, while disengagement is the opposite. Did you get the impression that the interviewer was interested as you answered the questions?

Gauging their body language and responses to your interview answers can give you a hint at their enthusiasm for you as a candidate. Nodding, leaning forward, and smiling are some nonverbal cues that they are interested in what you are saying. If you notice these positive cues from the interviewer, it’s a good sign that your answers to the interview questions were on the right track. 

2) The interview felt conversational

The interview determines whether you’re a good match for the position or not. For this reason, interviewers use interviewing techniques that allow them to screen job applicants and find the best candidate. You will be asked questions that will assess your ability to perform the job.  While an interview is typically a business conversation, there is an opportunity to build rapport and connect on a personal level. If this happens, it’s a positive sign that you did well.

 Relevant job skills and previous experience can make you stand out.  However, establishing a relationship and human interaction with the interviewer also plays an essential role. Remember that at the end of the day, the interviewer is looking for a new colleague, someone they will spend an average of 1,767 hours per annum at work with. So, it’s essential to feel comfortable with them and vice versa. If you felt like the interview is more conversational than an interrogation,  it’s an indicator that the interviewer was interested and found it easy to connect with you.

3) You were introduced to potential colleagues and senior decision-makers

When you were done with the interview, were you introduced to peers or senior decision-makers? If so, there’s a high chance that you are being considered for the job. Introduction to potential colleagues is not a courtesy that is commonly extended to all applicants. So, if the interviewer introduces you to other members of the team, it suggests that you’ve performed well in the interview. Apart from your job skills, they might also be interested in seeing how you connect with specific team members and whether you’d be a good fit for the company’s culture. 

4) The interview took longer than scheduled

Typically, an employer would interview six to ten people for a position. They may interview more if they don’t find a suitable match after two to three rounds of interviews. Either way, they follow a schedule to be able to manage all the necessary interviews and find the best candidate. In most cases, in-person interviews take 45 minutes to 1.5 hours long. This may vary depending on the interviewer’s schedule for the day and where you are in the interview process.

There are various factors that may impact the length of the interview. Some of them include the level of position and the company’s hiring practices. If your interview feels like it’s taking longer than expected, it’s a good sign that you’re doing well with your answers. It could mean that the interviewer considers you a great match for the role and is willing to dedicate more of their time to learning more about you.

5) You felt you were being sold on the role and the company

An interview is a conversation between the candidate and the employer. Like in any meaningful conversation, it goes both ways. The interview evaluates if you’re a good fit for the role and organization. On the other hand, you’re gathering additional information to determine if you’d like to work in the company. If you’ve done a good job in impressing the interviewer with your qualifications, they would try to sell the role and the company to you to further convince you that you’ve come to the right place.

If at some point the interviewer changed the subject of discussion and tried to impress you with all the great things they have to offer, it’s a good sign that the interview went well. Did they highlight the benefits, growth opportunities, and other things you could gain from working in the company? Did it feel like the interviewer is campaigning to bring you on the team? If yes, it’s an indicator that they want you to work with them. 

6) The interviewer spoke as if you were already hired

During the interview, you can expect to hear more details about the role from the hiring manager. This may include what you would be doing post-hire. Listen and pay attention to the interviewer’s choice of words. This will help you establish a better perspective on the message being sent. Did they speak as though you’ve already been hired? Were you given more details about the ins and outs of the role? Language like “this is what you’re expected to do”, or “this is where you will work” suggest that they can already see you as part of the team.

7) They told you they liked what they heard

In some cases, simply listening to the hiring manager can help you figure out how well an interview went. There are interviewers who can be straightforward and tell you that your qualifications are exactly what they’re looking for. This is an obvious indication that they believe you’re a good fit for the job. If you’re unsure, you can ask the hiring manager if they have any reservations about your resume or qualifications. You can also check with them what their ideal candidate for the position looks like. Their response should help you gauge how you’ve performed in the interview.

8) The interviewer shared their contact details

Interviewers are unlikely to provide their contact information to all applicants. So, when they are open to sharing their direct contact details and having more interactions with you, that’s a great sign. While an email address or phone number is far from “yes you’re hired”, it suggests that they want to talk to you again. This is a strong indicator that they consider you a strong candidate for the position or you could be the chosen one.

9) You were provided details of the next steps

When the interview ended, did the hiring manager seem eager to move to the next steps fast? Did they inform you of a follow-up interview request? Were you told when you could expect to hear from them? If your answer is yes, it’s a sign that you got them impressed with your qualifications.

If the interviewer says, “We’ll reach out to you with a job offer next week.”, it’s an obvious sign that you won the job. Specific, comprehensive, and time-driven statements can be more positive. On the other hand, it might be a different story if they say “We’ll get back to you.” More vague and short information about what to expect next in the process may mean you did not rock the interview.

10) Your interviewer responded to your thank-you notes after the interview

58% of human resources (HR) managers believe that thank-you notes are somewhat helpful for candidates. So, some candidates send thank-you notes after the interview to stand out from the competition. However, it’s very common for interviewers to not reply, especially if the interview went poorly. In fact, 60% of candidates have reported that they have been ghosted or didn’t hear back from a recruiter after an interaction. So if you’re one of those who tried their luck in sending thank-you notes and received an immediate response, it could be a sign that you passed the interview.

Did you get most of the signs above? If so, then that means you did well in your interview. However, keep in mind that a good interview does not guarantee that you will advance to the next level of the recruitment process. Until your recruiter confirms the offer, don’t put your job search on hold. If you need help with interview preparation for your next application, we are here to help.