The Most Common Signs Your Interview Went Well + 5 It Didn’t

Did my interview go well? It is possible that sometimes you leave an interview thinking if you got the job. It can be an anxiety-inducing moment for some. 

Actually, there is a remedy to post interview anxiety for certain signs in the interview can tell you if it went well. However, it is hard to remember every detail from the interview—especially if you are nervous throughout the entire conversation—-and decide if you did well afterwards. The good interview signs can become blurry and even mix with signs an interview went badly when you are not familiar with them. 

It would be best to learn how to read the positive signs recruiters give during an interview. Taking a deep breath before, during, and after the conversation can provide extra clarity. Do try to reflect on it once it is over.

What is so good about knowing how to know if an interview went well? You can start preparing for the next phase (sometimes you will have to go through more than one interview or even take some tests) - extra preparation time will be handy.

Let us go over some of the most common signs that a job interview went well (they do not guarantee you will get the position, but are proof that you made a good impression)

✅ It lasted longer than expected.

How do you know if an interview went well? One of the most recurring signs is when it takes longer than expected. It reflects the recruiter's interest in the candidate. Do not worry if it is taking a bit longer than you planned - it is usually a sign you had a good interview!

✅ You were asked follow-up questions.

Interviews should never be one-sided. An interview should feel more like a conversation rather than going through a checklist. If the interviewer was engaged and kept asking follow-up questions it is a sign an interview went well. 

So, what kinds of follow-up questions are good interview signs? For example, when you tell them about your previous job experiences, they ask you to explain more about a particular role. They want you to dig deeper as your answer will reveal relevant skills to the position.

✅ You were introduced to other team members.

When recruiters introduce you to other team members, it is a safe bet for signs they will hire you. They are most likely testing if other team members approve of you. Remember to be polite and kindly introduce yourself to those you meet.

What about remote meetings? Usually, it is much harder to be introduced to others who are not one of the interviewers in an online meeting. However, if someone else who was not scheduled to be in the meeting joins the call, take it as a potential sign you will get the job after the interview process is over. 

✅ Your questions were answered in detail.

When the interviewer pays special attention to answering your questions, it is a sign that your interview went well. 

Well, it may not be a direct sign you got the job. However, providing detailed answers reflects the company’s interest in helping you make an informed decision about joining the company. Their enthusiasm to answer your questions is proof that the interview went well and that they are interested in you.

What counts as a good, detailed answer? Here is an example: When you asked the recruiter about the internal development status, they thoroughly explained the requirements and usual selection process, even sharing a few success stories to inspire you.  

✅ The interview was conversational.

It’s not a great sign when any side remains too quiet during an interview. When the interview flows like a conversation, it is a sign they will probably hire you. No employee would like to hire someone who does not have the interpersonal skills to maintain the rhythm of a conversation.

Therefore, it is a positive sign to get along during an interview. It makes it easier for the recruiter to picture you as a part of the team.

However, this rule does not apply to every company. In some cases, they have very rigid formats that give little to no room to develop a conversation. Do not take it as a sign your interview went bad. It is just a way to stick to company policies.

How to tell if a job interview went well in terms of conversation flow? Here’s an example: There were some smooth back-and-forth moments, follow-up questions, and even personal input from the interviewer - it was closer to polite small talk rather than an interrogation. 

✅ The interviewer showed positive body language.

Looking for signs you got the job? Nothing says the interview went well as receiving positive affirmations from the recruiter, such as their expressions when they heard your answer or replied to your questions.

Here are the most common positive body language signs that you had a great interview: Nodding, leaning forwards to hear your answers, maintaining eye contact, and smiling.

What about online interviews? How to know when a zoom interview goes well from the interviewer’s body language? It is a bit harder to read someone’s body language when you are not in the same room. However, you can still pay close attention to nods and smiles. They show engagement and listen actively - signs the zoom interview went well.

✅ The interviewer tried to sell you the role and company.

Pay close attention if you are looking for signs they will hire you. One of the most reassuring actions is when they try to sell you the job. They want to entice you to accept an offer that is likely coming. 

Look for the following signs to know if your interview went well: The recruiter described the job tasks using a positive spin, they were specific about the benefits and perks that come with the job, and they used your answers and connected them with the company culture.

✅ You were given the timeline of the next steps. 

Whether it is a regular interview or an online one, a sign that it went well is when the hiring manager explains what follows after the conversation finishes. Such action is more than common courtesy. They want you to know what to expect.

✅ Your follow-up email was responded to promptly.

Sending a follow-up email after the interview helps you go over some ideas you might have forgotten due to nervousness and lets you express gratitude one more time. When the recruiter replies quickly, it is a sign a job interview went well.

Immediate responses mean you are top of mind. Moreover, it is a good sign that the interview went well, and they want to keep you engaged. A follow-up email can be one of the signs that they will hire you. For example, they can send a thank you note before you do it or reply with an invitation for a second interview.

Now that you know the most common signs an interview went well, you can be certain you did a great job. But what should you do when, at the end of the conversation, the interviewers say “we'll be in touch.” What should you do next? Here are a few actions you may want to take:

1. Send a thank you note.

Sending a note or email to thank the interviewer can give them the nudge to consider you for the job. Even if you think you saw all the signs you got the job, please still dedicate some time to express gratitude. 

2. Write down what you’ve learned from the interview.

Learning from a big win is valuable. Take the time to write down some notes about the details you learned from the company and the stories you shared. It will come in handy later, especially if you noticed signs your interview went well and think you might be invited for another round, for example:

3. Don’t assume you will be invited for the next round or offered the job.

Remember that even if you noticed most of the positive interview signs we wrote about, nothing is 100% granted. Do not get ahead and wait until you have an offer before turning down other opportunities.

Cervantes once said, “to be prepared is half the victory.” Therefore, it is important to distinguish the signs an interview went bad so you can think of a better plan next time.

Let us focus a bit on dealing with negative responses now that you know how to tell if an interview went well. These are five signs that your interview did not go well:

💭 The interview ended earlier than expected.

A conversation that does not last as long as expected is usually a sign your interview went badly. More than likely, your answers fell short or did not leave room for follow-up questions. If you want your interview to go well, avoid giving yes/no answers, and try to catch their attention from the get-go.

Failing to cause a good impression can harm your application. For example, if your meeting was meant to last thirty minutes, but the interviewer cut it after the first four questions, it is a sign they ruled you out.

💭 The interviewer wasn’t engaged.

How to know an interview went well? You want the interviewer to be engaged in the conversation. It is okay if they break eye contact to check your resume or to gather a thought. However, if their mind was not on the interview, it is more than likely a sign that your interview did not go that well.

When recruiters are engaged their body language shows it. Eye contact is key in these cases, and so is active listening. How about an online interview? What are the signs that show the interviewer isn’t engaged and that an online interview did not go well? For example, the recruiter did not look at the screen or talked to someone else while you answered. 

💭 The interviewer didn’t mention the next steps.

When a recruiter does not explain the following steps, it might be a sign the interview went bad and that you are not moving forward in the hiring process.

However, some companies are much more secretive with their hiring process. If they don’t explain what is next, it might not be a sign they will not hire you but the standard procedure. You can try to address it in a thank-you email. However, if you still do not receive an answer, you better take it as a sign your interview went poorly.

💭 The interviewer didn’t ask if you had any questions.

When recruiters cut the interview without giving you a chance to clear your doubts, it is likely a sign you will not get the job. Consider how thorough their responses were if you had the opportunity to ask any questions. Short/unclear answers are not too promising either.

💭 The interviewer brought up negative aspects of the role.

A clear sign they will not hire you is when the hiring manager starts to describe the job negatively to discourage you. Try giving them a positive spin if you are interested in the position to show you are up to the task.

They could mention the long work hours, repetitive tasks, or the need to work on the weekends. However, try to distinguish between a recruiter who does not think you fit and one who gives you a friendly warning not to take the job.

It is hard to recover when you see many signs an interview went bad. However, do not give up just yet. You can still learn valuable lessons from interviews that didn’t went well.  

1. Write a thank you note.

Expressing gratitude can do wonders for you. Remember to write a thank you note or send a thank you email, regardless if you know your interview went well or if you think you saw the signs you will not get the job. 

Showing you are grateful might not get you the job this time, but it could put you in a better position for future job openings in the company or at least impress the recruiter and expand your network.

2. Reflect on the interview and think of ways to improve.

Reflecting on your mistakes can be the key to knowing how to turn those signs an interview went bad into a learning opportunity for a future one. Even if you feel defeated now, no one can take away the experience from you. Use it to your advantage and put yourself in a better position to ace it next time. 

For example, if you think your answers were not the best, analyze if it was because of nervousness or lack of organization. If you find the root cause, you can learn to tackle those weaknesses.

--- Originally written by Roger Rene Ortega Figueroa ---