You did it. You landed an interview, dressed to impress and had
great conversation, and you think you might actually have a shot at
getting a job offer.
But is there any way to actually know if the interview was in your favor?
Many times, job seekers
are so focused on what they did wrong in an interview that they don't
think about the many things they did right. While no signs are 100
percent foolproof, there are definitely some indicators that you have
won over your interviewer.
Justin Honaman, director of customer intelligence
at Coca-Cola Customer Business Solutions, says that although you may
think you've executed well in the interview, don't stop the process
there. Even if all signs point to a job offer, you should follow up effectively to complete your career transition.
Here are 10 signs that indicate you rocked your interview:
1. Round two
The easiest way to gauge short-term success is if the interviewer asks
you to return for another round of interviews. If he wasn't interested,
he would be evasive as whether or not you could expect to hear back
from someone. "The hiring manager does not want to waste any more time
interviewing you if you are not a fit," Honaman says. "Invitation to
the next round is a win!"
2. References please
Why would you be asked for references unless someone cared to learn more about you? "A firm
will not spend the time to do background checks and talk with
references if you are out of the candidate pool," Honaman says.
"Provide specific, knowledgeable references and bring those to the
interview."
3. Meet the team
It's a good sign when the hiring manager
chooses to introduce you to the team on the spot, or mentions that
there are some people you should meet. If he wasn't interested, he
wouldn't take the time in making acquaintances.
"Leaders are protective of their team and will not risk introducing a
candidate if they are not a potential fit to join the organisation,"
Honaman says. Remember that the hiring manager may request feedback
from the team on their first impressions of you, so be nice to anyone
you meet.
4. What are the transition steps?
When a company is interested in you, you'll be asked things like the
amount of time needed for a transition or what noncompete agreements
might be in place, Honaman says. "If the hiring manager
is interested in moving forward with an offer, they will typically ask
what steps need to be taken for your departure from your current
organization so that you can assume the new role," he says.
5. Money and sense
Depending on what stage of the interview process you're in, it could be
a good thing if you're asked about salary expectations. It demonstrates
that the company might be willing to invest in you. Honaman suggests
answering this question with caution:
"You can have the absolute best interview ever and be dead in the water
if you answer this question incorrectly," he says. "The question comes
in two forms: 'What are your salary expectations?' or 'What is your
current compensation?' Arrive at any interview with current
compensation details written down for your own reference -- if asked --
and have an idea of how you will answer this question."
6. HR smiles
The human resources representative or recruiter
is generally a good indication of how things went in the interview
process. Take note of his comments after the interview; he is your
first contact during the process and is often a guide to the projected
outcome.
7. Your turn
When the interviewer spends a lot of time answering your questions,
it's a signal that he wants to sell you on the business, the team and
position rather than you continuing to pursue the role, Honaman says.
"In most interviews, the hiring manager will ask if you have any
questions as standard procedure, but spend less time with questions and
answers if the interview has not gone well in their mind."
8. Let's keep rolling
If hiring managers
are uninterested, they typically look for ways to wrap up the
interview. "At times, interviews will go well beyond the allotted time
as the hiring manager or interview team wants to know more about you,
or share with you more about the organisation and role," Honaman says.
If they are not interested in your candidacy, they won't drag out the
interview.
9. Nonverbals speak
Nonverbal signals are often a good predictor of interview performance.
Pay close attention to the interviewer(s) and observe such nonverbal
cues as taking notes, smiling, nodding or asking probing questions,
Honaman says. "At the same time, if an interviewer is taking few notes,
looking at their watch repeatedly [or] not asking detailed questions,
the interview may not be going well."
10. Cultural fit
The more a hiring manager
talks about how you'll fit into the mold at a company, the better.
"Most leaders are looking for candidates that can easily fit into a
team environment or operate well as an individual contributor," Honaman
says. "If the hiring manager is interested in your taking the position,
they will share additional details about the culture and shift into
'sales' mode on the organisation."
Again, none of these are sure-fire signals that you've gotten the job.
Plus, even though you did everything right, there is always the chance
that someone else did, too. But if you continually see a couple of the
above signals you'll know you've at least got a shot.