The waiting time between submitting a resume and the actual interview is uncertain. Even if job seekers wait long, they cannot hold hiring managers accountable for not replying. To avoid waiting forever, you may send a follow up email after one week following the sending of the resume.
Securing a job interview is partly based on luck. Estimates show that hiring managers only have a 10% to 30% chance of sending job interview requests to applicants. Receiving an invitation for a first interview signifies that you are among the qualified candidates from those who sent applications.
Getting through an initial interview is crucial to securing a job offer. Applicants should leave a good impression on hiring managers to move on to a second interview, if any. After the first interview, applicants may need to wait for another undeterminable period to know how the interview went.
While applicants can never be sure, there are a handful of signs an interview went well. Knowing these positive signs may help in dealing with job search anxiety.
Tell-tale signs an interview went well
There are a few signs applicants should observe during job interviews. You may take advantage of these instances to further succeed in your interview process.
1. Interviewer made a follow-up email or phone call
Receiving a follow-up email or call may be the most obvious positive sign that your interview went well. An interviewer becomes sharply selective during the hiring process. When one tries to get in touch right after an interview, it is a good indication that you have a fighting chance to land the job.
While it is a reliable sign, the follow-up email or call is not a guarantee of a successful interview. Many hiring managers send automated responses as a part of the hiring process. But when their answer is personalized and expresses genuine interest, consider it a good sign.
Not receiving a follow-up response is not necessarily a bad sign. Maybe the interviewer was too busy with other candidates. Wait for a reasonable time and send a respectful follow-up to the interviewer.
2. Hiring manager responds to your queries
One of the most notable signs your interview went well is when the hiring manager replied promptly to your queries. On average, hiring managers have a 37% to 44% response rate after an interview. They even take weeks to send a reply.
As explained earlier, hiring managers are always hectic during a job search. They will only communicate with candidates who would be the best fit for a specific job offer. If you receive replies, it is a great sign that a hiring manager has shortlisted you.
If you have not heard anything from your interviewer, one good way to raise clarifications would be to call them. There is no right or wrong way to call about a job application, but it can be a complicated move—exercise caution.
3. Interviewer enjoyed the interview process
Another good sign to look into is when your interviewer had a good time with you until the interview ended. Every hiring manager will conduct multiple job interviews in a row. Not every candidate will be memorable, but the one whose interview felt most dynamic will stand out.
How to know if your recruiter is highly interested in your interview? Observe their non-verbal cues. Reading and understanding an interviewer’s body language will be pivotal for any applicant. Examples of an interviewer’s positive body language include:
- Leaning forward in your direction.
- Mirroring your body language.
- Maintaining eye contact all the time.
Do not forget that a job interview should be enjoyable for you too. A promising job interview is a natural conversation that makes you feel confident about yourself. So when you are having fun in an interview, consider it a good sign.
4. Interviewer is interested in your job search
There are varied reasons why an interviewer would ask about the next steps in your job hunt. For instance, they may want to gauge your footing in other interviews. It is also possible that a hiring manager would ask about current job offers to analyze your expectations regarding job opportunities.
Try to recall if an interviewer asked these questions or anything similar during past interviews:
- Are you interviewing with other companies?
- Where else are you interviewing?
- When is your next job interview?
- Have you received job offers already?
When these questions consistently come up during a job interview often, it may be a subtle sign that you are considered a strong candidate. The more a hiring manager wanted to know about you, the better.
5. Interviewer asks your transition during the job interview
If a hiring manager asks about what you will need to transition into the company, consider it a good sign. A hiring manager will not ask unnecessary questions. If they throw follow-up questions as if you already landed the job, it is almost certain you did not have a bad interview.
The interview went well when the tone of the discussion shifted from skills assessment to how you might enjoy the company culture. In addition, it is not a bad sign when the hiring manager discusses the next steps of the hiring process even without you asking. In these instances, you may often hear the hiring manager say “when,” which is more reassuring than “if,” which can be situational.
6. Interviewer discusses company culture
In many cases, an applicant’s compatibility with the company culture is one of the most critical factors in a hiring decision. Employees who align with the workplace culture are more punctual, loyal, and productive than those that do not. When a hiring manager starts to talk about how you fit into their values and practices, it is a strong sign that your interview went well.
On the flip side, it may be a bad sign when an interviewer insinuates how you may not be compatible with their workplace culture. They may have arrived at this conclusion by reviewing your previous experience in another company.
7. Hiring manager introduces you to other team members
An interviewer may conduct a team or panel interview to filter the best picks from other qualified candidates. Sometimes, an interviewer takes the opinion of a specific team member to make the final cut and decide who will fill in the open position. Being a part of this interview may mean you are a preferred choice over other applicants.
The more team members you meet, the better. The hiring manager may have also intended other employees to be familiar with the potential new hires. Meeting new hires earlier could help incumbent employees adjust their expectations and make the needed adjustments.
8. Interviewer starts talking about money matters
It is a popular career advice not to talk about money in an interview, especially during the earlier phases. Inquiring about money matters can make you appear impulsive and unprofessional. However, that is not the case when the interviewer asks the same question. Perhaps it is one of the most suggestive signs your interview went well.
An interviewer mentioning compensation packages and benefits early on may be highly interested in you. Seasoned interviewers know if a candidate can be a perfect fit for a job even only after one interview. They cut to the chase by determining whether an applicant would be satisfied with what the company might be offering.
9. Interviewer gives positive feedback
Interviewers do not always provide feedback during or after an interview. When they do, and it is mostly positive, there is a good chance that they are impressed with you.
In this scenario, interviewers will often point out some of your most impressive features and express how they had a good time.
The lack of positive feedback and the interviewer’s lackadaisical mood may indicate they had a bad interview experience with you. You may have committed some job interview mistakes that discouraged them from considering you for the job.
10. Hiring manager asks for character references
Only attach a character reference sheet on your resume when someone expressly asks for it. It is not even a document often brought up during interviews. But when an interviewer asks for your character references, especially at the end of an interview, they could be seriously considering you for the position.
Invest time and effort in your character references. Ensure that the list includes reputable people who will vouch for you.
In addition to a reference list, there are other things to prepare to land the job of your dreams. Check out the job hunter checklist Skill Success prepared for you!
The sign you have been waiting for
Besides easing job search anxiety, understanding whether a job interview went well or not is about finding growth opportunities for applicants in other interviews. Not landing a job today is not a sign of failure. Instead, try to take it as a reminder to be better.
Reading this blog post should be a sign to improve your chances of employment. Skill Success has an immersive e-library of career development courses accessible anytime and on various devices. So keep grinding those career skills to have a higher success rate during your next interview!
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