5 signs your interview went well

Getting to the interview stage can already feel like a big win in your job search. But often walking out of the interview it’s hard to judge how it went. Many people tell us they don’t always remember what they said, even those who get the role.

So how can you tell if the interview was a success?

Your recruiter will be able to call you with specific feedback after they talk to the interviewer. In the meantime, there are a few ways to tell if your interview went well.

1. You were in the interview for longer than expected

Your recruiter may have specified how long the interview will last. A hiring manager’s time is precious, especially during a recruiting period. If they choose to dedicate this time to learning more about you, then they are clearly interested.

2. The interview felt conversational

Did you find it easy to talk to the interviewer? Did the interview feel more like a conversation than a formal Q&A session? If so, you likely built a good rapport with the interviewer and demonstrated strong interpersonal skills. Getting along with the interviewer probably made it easier for them to imagine you fitting in with the rest of the team.

3. You are told what you would be doing in this role 

This means that the interviewer said things like “In this role, you would be expected to…” as opposed to “The successful candidate would be expected to…”. 

The interview going into great detail about the ins and outs of the role is one of the signs that they are already imagining you in this position, and now want you to get the full picture of the role and what it entails. 

4. The interviewer seemed engaged

As you answered their questions and spoke about yourself, did you feel like the interviewer was interested? Consider their body language and their responses. If they nodded, smiled, and agreed with what you had to say, then chances are the interviewer was engaged with what you were saying. More so if they encouraged you to keep talking, it's because they liked what they were hearing.

5. You feel sold on the company and the role 

Did you walk out of this interview feeling convinced and excited about the opportunity? And is this because the interviewer talked animatedly about all of the best aspects of the role and organization? From what could you gain from its career-wise to the rewards and benefits on offer? If so, then the interviewer felt sold on your suitability for the opportunity and wanted this feeling to be mutual.

While a great interview doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll definitely get to the next stage of the process, it’s a step in the right direction. Don’t stop your job search until your recruiter confirms the offer. Hopefully you’ll get some good news soon.

Even if you miss out this time, a strong interview is a good sign for your job hunt, and the next role could be the one for you. Find out from your recruiter what you did well, and more importantly, what you could improve on, so that next time, you could be signing a job offer.