10 Signs Your Job Interview Went Well

Great! You've made it! You are out of the interview and you have breathed a huge sigh of relief. Now the waiting game begins while the interviewer considers all the other candidates to make a decision as to who will get the job.

So, how do you know if the interview went well? There are signs during the interview that can be a good indicator.

• It was a lot shorter than the allotted time
• The interviewer looked bored
• The interviewer didn't take any notes
• If the interviewer took notes, he/ she didn't look up
• You stuttered your way through the answers
• The interviewer kept interrupting
• You turned up late
• You found the questions difficult
• The interviewer keeps trying to wrap up the interview

It may seem obvious, but if you answered all the questions without the interviewer nodding off or looking confused, you have taken a huge step forwards towards success.

If you planned your answers to questions in advance, you probably felt great when those questions came up in the interview.

How did the interviewer react? Did you look out for some positive signs? There are clues in their non-verbal communication that can signal you did well.

• The interviewer nodded in agreement when you answered most questions
• They smiled
• They laughed when you said something funny
• They appeared animated, happy and relaxed

Did you feel that your answers were succinct and contained just the right amount of detail? You should have a gut feeling here.

If the interviewer seemed interested in your answer to the initial question, then followed up with one in which he or she seemed to genuinely want to know more, this is a positive sign.

Did you keep the interviewer engaged in conversation, whereby each additional question was a natural progression led on from your previous answer?

Think about times when you have had a really great conversation with someone. It probably went along the lines of you asking a question and after their initial answer, the conversation was fluid and interesting. The same should have happened during your job interview rather than it seeming like a game of interview tennis; a back and forth interview question and answer rally.

If the interviewer asks you questions about your availability or how you might transition into the role, you know you are on the right track.

You will know in your heart of hearts if the interviewer paid close attention to your answers. How did they respond? Listen out for positive words, which reaffirm such as "Ok", "Great", "Lovely", "Splendid" and "Fantastic."

When you are on the telephone and telling a story, the person on the other end of the line will usually make sounds to confirm that they understand what you are saying or that they are enjoying your tale. We tend to use these as we don't have our non-verbal communication to show our interest. During a job interview, the hiring manager may also make positive sounds in addition to using words, so listen out for these. Even "Ah, hmmm and yep" can indicate they are in agreement with what you are saying.

You will probably have been given a time slot and know that the interview is predicted to last a set amount of time, such as 30 minutes or an hour. If the interviewer is trying at every opportunity to bring the interview to a close, you will know they are trying to get rid of you!

If on the other hand, they don't seem in a rush or run over the allotted time, this can be an indication that they are truly interested in hearing as much as possible about you, your skills and experience.

If you are given a tour of the organisation and introduced to the team at the end of the interview, this is a great sign! The hiring manager is unlikely to take the time out of their busy schedule to do this if they definitely don't want to see you again.

Don't worry though if they don't show you around. It may just be that they don't have time, or they will save the introductions for your first day.

For most job roles, references are not required until you have actually been offered the position. If the interviewer asks for your details of your referees, in particular time frames in which to deliver the information, you are definitely in the running for the job. The just wouldn't bother with this is they were certain you are about to be rejected from the process.

If the interviewer took the time to talk in detail about the role and what is involved on a day to day basis, you can be sure that they are trying to visualise you in the position and are looking to gauge your reaction. This can be a positive step forwards.

The job description will normally give an overview of the job, but if the interviewer is getting down to the nitty gritty of tasks and expectations, you have a golden opportunity here to ask more questions.

Listen out for the interviewer talking as though you are doing the job. Are they saying "When you are here..." or "The first task you will have to do is..."

It would be unlikely the interviewer would raise the subject of salary and company benefits if you weren't a strong contender for the role. They may ask what your salary expectations are - this is quite normal during an interview regardless of whether or not you are on the verge of an offer.

If the interviewer starts talking in detail about the compensation package on offer, such as company benefits, holiday entitlement and bonus structure, there is a reason they are divulging this information. Many companies don't want to discuss the finer details, which is a sensitive subject, unless an offer of contract is imminent.

If the interviewer gives you contact details of either themselves or perhaps others in the organisation and invites you to get in touch if you have any further questions, you are definitely under consideration for the role. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't fancy handing out my contact details to someone I never wanted to see or hear from again!

If do have any questions, take the time to think them over before you call. Make a list and use the opportunity to make one call or send one email with all of your questions. You don't want to fall at the final hurdle because you are deemed a pest!

Fantastic! You have been offered a second interview, so that obviously means you did well. If you weren't offered a second interview right away, a clue might be that it is on the cards if the interviewer says "See you soon."

You may be asked about your availability or the interviewer may talk about the next stage in the selection process. These tend to be positive signs that you are a strong contender.