A resume with all professional details lies on the table, all eyes are on the candidate, and finally the torrential downpour of interview questions comes to an end. Plenty of job seekers consider an interview to be an absolute horror. For some applicants, fear starts to kick in at the next step: the waiting period between the interview, and the next contact from the hiring manager. “Did I get the position, or not?”
We can’t guarantee that the position is yours. But we can give you a few hints – if any of these situations sound familiar, chances are good that your interview was a success.
The Conversation Goes Deeper
When the interview begins to speak concretely about the company culture at the organization, and the daily schedule of the position, you can definitely take this as a good sign. Regarding the job in question, who would be your first contact? How often does your department gather for meetings?
Are there regular team events? Is there a chance for employees to receive trainings? A recruiter would never explain this if they weren’t interested in you as a candidate. Some interviews last for a mere 20 minutes, but other interviews could go for hours.
It’s typically a good sign if the conversation lasts longer – an interviewer takes up considerable time, and it’s an indication that your partner considers you to be a good candidate, if you’re worthy of several valuable hours of her day.
Finally, this also means that the hiring manager (and if they happen to be in the room, your potential boss, too) can probably imagine you all working well together in the future – and that they’ve got plenty of important questions to ask you, as a candidate and as a future colleague.
Questions about your availability and potential start dates are also a great sign. If your interviewer is already asking how soon you can start, you can take this as a sign of definite interest.
A Comfortable Dialogue Develops
Ideally, conversation should flow so comfortably and effortlessly with your interviewer that you both find yourself wondering where the time has gone. It’s a sign of a good conversation when both participants can ask and answer one another’s questions – and no one interrupts, or cuts their partner off, before giving them a chance to answer.
Trust yourself to pose interesting and useful questions when you find the right opportunity to do so. When your interviewer expresses interest in you, he’ll gladly consider and answer thoughtfully.
Don’t forget to consider body language when gauging the atmosphere.
Look for signs that the conversation is going well – if your interviewer smiles frequently, nods in agreement, and happily considers your answers to all of your questions, these are good indications of a successful interview.
Touring the Facilities
A quick peek into your future office? A visit to your potential employees in the new department? Or a tour of the cafeteria and company fitness studio?
If your interviewer takes you around for a tour of the facilities and introduces you to colleagues, this is a great sign of a successful interview – take it as such.
Companies usually interview five candidates, sometimes more, to visit the office for an interview. For hiring managers, it’s demanding and time consuming to provide each candidate with a full tour of the company, and it’s a waste of time for the colleagues to get to know each candidate personally.
So if you’re being shown around the offices, shaking hands with potential colleagues, you can leave your interview with a good feeling – chances are good that you’re a strong candidate in their mind.
Before the interview, be ready for the possibility that you may meet future colleagues. Try to keep 2-3 topics for smalltalk in mind. It’s common practice that other colleagues that you come in contact with may be asked to give their opinion, and you want to make sure that you leave every single person with whom you come into contact with a great impression of yourself.
Do your best to stay relaxed, calm and natural in every conversation with your new potential colleagues. They’ll remember you for it, and that can only work in your favor!
About the Author:
Felicitas Wilke studied business and journalism and attended the Deutsche Journalistenschule. She works as a freelance journalist in Munich. She enjoys writing about topics affecting the economy and has a passion for Scandinavia. She is a keen supporter of the black and yellow football team Borussia Dortmund.
