Signs You Got the Job After an Interview

Signs You Got the Job After an Interview | Examples | Resume.com

While it’s good to be realistic in your expectations after a job interview, there are a few subtle signs you can look for that may indicate your interview went well. After an interview, you may feel anxious as you wait to hear back from the hiring manager about their decision. In this article, you can discover the signs that might indicate you got the job you interviewed for.

Signs an interview may have gone well

You can tell your interview may have gone well if you notice any of these signs:

The interviewer uses definitive rather than vague language

Interviewers typically use vague language throughout the interview process intentionally to prevent a candidate from getting their hopes up for a job offer. But if they feel strongly that you are the right person for the position, they may unintentionally switch from using vague language to using more definitive language.

Examples of an interviewer using definitive language instead of vague language:

  • Saying ‘when you begin’ instead of saying ‘if you are chosen’
  • Saying ‘you will be expected to’ instead of saying ‘the person we hire will be expected to’
  • Saying ‘you will be working with’ instead of saying ‘the person in this position will be working with’

The interviewer says they like what they hear

Sometimes, an interviewer will be even more direct and specifically tell you that they like what you have said during the interview. Throughout the interview, you can listen for signs the interviewer agrees with what you are saying in your responses. The more the interviewer likes your answers to their questions, the more likely you are to receive an offer for the job.

Sometimes the interviewer makes it very clear that they like your response. For example, they may respond with a statement like ‘those are the same qualities we’re looking for in a candidate’ after you answer a question about your strengths. They may also use more subtle statements such as occasionally saying ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ in response to your answers.

The interviewer’s body language indicates they like you

Even if an interviewer is really good at keeping their language vague and not making statements that show they like what you are saying, their body language may indicate that they like you.

Examples of a few good indicators that could be a sign that the interviewer likes you:

  • Maintaining direct eye contact
  • Shaking or nodding their head in approval
  • Smiling throughout the interview
  • Leaning in closer to you

While these signs could just be the interviewer being polite and professional, they may also be an indication that they like what you are saying and think you are a good candidate for the position.

You receive an invite for another interview

Receiving an invitation to participate in another round of interviews is usually a good sign that the phone screener or initial interviewer was impressed by you. Recruiters and hiring managers typically have a lot of candidates to consider, so being asked to participate in another round of interviews usually indicates they still think you are a good candidate as they narrow their candidate pool down.

The hiring manager tells you what’s great about the company

Interviews typically consist of the interviewer asking you a lot of questions to determine whether you meet their qualifications and will fit in with their culture. If you realize that the interviewer or hiring manager has switched from trying to make you prove you are a good fit for their company to trying to market the perks and benefits of working for their company to you, this could be a sign that you will receive a job offer.

Interviewers and hiring managers may do this if they think you will receive multiple job offers and they want to make sure you choose to accept theirs. They may also do this to try to make sure you like their company just as much as they like you.

The conversation turns personal or casual

The majority of your interview will likely be professional while the interviewer tries to determine if you are a good fit for the position. But if the conversation turns personal or casual at some point during the interview, this could be a sign that the interviewer has already determined you are a good fit for the job and wants to learn more about your interests and hobbies to see if you are a good fit for their company.

The interviewer discusses compensation or benefits

Many companies will only begin to discuss compensation and benefits packages in detail with serious candidates. If the interviewer begins negotiating salary, telling you about the benefits the company offers or asking you what you would need to accept an offer from them, these are all good indicators that you may receive an offer. They may do this if they want to be sure the details in the job offer will be acceptable to you.

The interviewer discusses next steps

If the interviewer begins to discuss the next steps at the end of the interview, this could be a sign that you will likely hear from them again. This is particularly true if they begin to offer information about the next steps without you having to ask about them. This could include information about contacting your references, conducting a background check, choosing a start date or informing you of a time frame for when you should expect to hear back from them.

They give you a tour of the office and introduce you to other employees

If the interviewer offers to give you a tour of the office at the end of your interview, this is also a good sign that you may receive a job offer. Usually, they are offering to give you a tour because they want to make sure you will feel comfortable and know where to go when you begin working with them.

Likewise, if they bring other employees, supervisors or managers into your interview for you to meet, or if they introduce you to them while giving you a tour of the office, this could also be a sign that you may receive a job offer. They normally do this when they want to make sure you feel welcome within their team.

The interview runs over its scheduled time

If the interviewer spends more time talking to you than the interview was scheduled for, this is also a good sign that they are considering giving you a job offer. Typically, interviewers will not spend a lot of time with candidates they know they are not interested in. The interviewer being willing to spend extra time with you is a good indicator that they are interested in learning as much about you as they can.

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