Waiting for your interview can be nerve-wracking, but so can waiting to hear from the hiring manager after an interview!
If you are wondering about signs your interview went well, you are likely feeling pretty good about your conversation and anxiously awaiting to hear back.
Here are some specific signs your interview went well.
7 Signs Your Interview Went Well
1. Good nonverbal feedback
If you received good nonverbal feedback such as head nods, smiles, and reassuring eye contact, your responses likely allowed you to connect with the audience. Remember, most hiring managers are looking for candidates that are a great fit for the organization’s culture and that your personality would complement their team. If you received good nonverbal feedback during the interview, it is one of several signs your interview went well.
2. Drill-down questions were asked
Most hiring managers and interview panels will have a set list of questions they ask candidates for consistency. In fact, some organizations will require the same questions to be asked to ensure equality between interviews and candidates. But, if you were asked a drill-down question or a question that requires you to expand on a certain part of your response, you have intrigued the hiring manager, and he/she wants to know more about you. This is a great sign!
3. The conversation was natural and easy
Perhaps you left your interview feeling confident because it felt so natural! That is one of the best feelings! Whenever I participate in interviewing candidates, I truly want the interview to be conversational. If a candidate is relaxed, you get to know them better (and vice versa). If you felt like the interview was conversational or had a very natural flow, both are signs your interview went well.
4. Personal connections were made
One sign your interview went well is if a personal connection was made with your work or someone in your close, professional network. For example, if you talk about an event you have planned or a program you coordinated in the interview, and the hiring manager has attended, participated, or heard positive feedback, that connection can greatly benefit and help make you memorable!
Similarly, if you and the hiring manager have a close, mutual connection in your professional networks, this can also be a great sign. For example, perhaps the hiring manager asks if you worked with Jane Smith at XYZ company. If you did and worked very well together, you can explain that and make a personal connection. Not only might this make you more memorable, but it could also boost your credibility. And, don’t be surprised if the hiring manager reaches out to Jane for a quick reference check.
5. You were offered a tour or personal introductions.
If you were offered a tour or personal introductions to team members after your interview, this is a sign your interview went well! If your interview had not gone well, the hiring manager likely would not invest this extra time.
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If you felt confident your interview went well, but you were not offered a tour or other introductions, don’t panic. The hiring manager may have been on a tight timeline or may have strict human resource policies that must be followed.
6. Future steps were discussed.
Sometimes a hiring manager will be very forward at the end of the interview and talk about the next steps. This could come in the form of any of the following:
Any mention of the next steps can be incredibly reassuring to a nervous and hopeful candidate. I also believe it shows foresight, organization, and diligence on behalf of the hiring manager, which is a great sign!
7. You feel confident the position is for you.
Have you ever left an interviewing feeling like that job is “the one” for you? If so, the interviewer may have done a great job explaining the job, the company culture, and related it to your experiences and interests. Trust your gut! If you feel like the interview was great, it’s a sign your interview went well!
What should you do next?
If you feel like there are several signs your interview went well, congratulations!
Take a moment to breathe and celebrate! You’ll also want to send a timely thank you email, if you haven’t already, to communicate your gratitude and highlight something memorable from your interview. The email doesn’t need to be lengthy, but it should be sincere and concise. Use this article and template as your guide!
Please don’t get discouraged if you are here because there were signs your interview went well, but you didn’t get the job. There may be factors you are completely unaware of in play. In my article, Why didn’t I get the job after a great interview? I explain some reasons this may have happened to you.
What if your interview didn’t go well?
If your interview didn’t go as well as you had hoped, or you are not confident the position or company is right for you, don’t dwell on it. Instead, hold your head high and keep looking! In the meantime, you can also hone your interview skills!
My website is full of some great interview resources to help you make your next interview a standout conversation:
In addition to the free resources on my site, I also offer tailored, one-on-one interview preparation sessions. Go into your next interview confident and ready to communicate your experience and skills!
