There’s nothing worse than a waiting game. And after you go in for a job interview, the waiting may be your biggest struggle. As you sit and wait to hear back from the interviewer, your mind will wander. Did the interviewer like you? How was your first impression? Did you say something wrong? Instead of agonizing over whether or not you got the job, look for signs that the interview went well. All of the following actions are signs that your interview was a success.
1. They Ask to Check References
Although some employers check references at the start of the hiring process, most employers choose to do the reference check at the end of the interview. If, at some point during the interview, your interviewer asks to check references, there’s a good chance they will hire you for the job. As long as your references have positive things to say to you, a job offer may be in your near future.
Keep in mind that this isn’t a guarantee of a job offer. Early on, an employer may just go through formalities. Pay attention to when the hiring manager asks to check your references. If it’s before your interview, then the request means nothing.
2. They Ask About Other Interviews
During the interview, the hiring manager might ask you if you have any other interviews or job offers. This is usually a good sign, as the only reason to ask this question is to find out about their competitors. If they didn’t have a genuine interest in offering you a position, the employer wouldn’t ask about other interviews or offers.
There could be other reasons for an interviewer to ask about your other prospects. If they ask the question before the in-person interview, the employer may be trying to learn more about their competition. This question is only a good sign when the employer asks it during your interview.
3. They Ask About Your Salary Requirements
As a preliminary measure, an employer might opt to ask about your salary requirements. In the early stages of the hiring process, this question is normal. But, during an interview, this question takes on new meaning. It’s likely that they consider you a serious candidate for the job.
4. The Job Listing is Gone
A few days after your interview, do a little sleuthing. Go to whatever site you originally saw the listing and search for the position. If nothing comes up in your search, it’s safe to say that the employer found a suitable candidate.
While this means someone will receive a job offer, it doesn’t mean you will be that someone. It’s merely a good sign, and you should remain optimistic about your prospects.
There are other possible reasons for an employer taking down a listing. Sometimes, the listing expires and they need to repost it. At other times, the employer takes down a listing to post it somewhere else.
5. The Interviewer Seems Excited
If you’re good at reading people, you may be able to tell that your interviewer is excited about you. Usually, interviewers try to remain blank throughout the interview. But you might excite them enough for them to lose their poker face. In this case, there’s a chance you will have a job offer.
Some interviewers are friendly people. Therefore, you should try to tell the difference between being friendly and being excited. Pay attention to body language and other cues. Did the interviewer seem excited by something specific you said? Or, were they excited the moment you walked in the door? If they didn’t seem excited until after you made a comment or answered a question, then you may be getting a job offer.
In some cases, it’s impossible to tell whether an interviewer is being nice or is impressed by you. Once again, there’s no easy way to know that you will be the recipient of a job offer.
6. They Offer You the Position
While this is an obvious sign that the interview went well, it’s also one worth mentioning. It doesn’t happen frequently, but some hiring managers offer applicants the position on the spot. They would only do so if the manager was highly impressed with the way you conducted yourself during the interview.
A job offer can come in several ways. For one, the interviewer could directly offer you the position. They might ask you when you want to start, or question whether or not you will accept a job offer. In any case, don’t feel obligated to answer immediately. If you’re not sure you want the job, take a day to think about it.
7. They Send a Written Job Offer
Once you get a verbal job offer, the next step is a written job offer. Another sure sign that your interview went well is a written job offer. Once you receive the offer, you can start to celebrate. There’s no taking back the offer, so you can put your job search on hold and get ready for your future.
A written job offer is the best thing that can happen after an interview. Although it might take days or even weeks for an offer to come through, a written job offer is proof that you had an impressive interview.
Should You Stop Your Job Search?
As you’re waiting to hear from the hiring manager, you might wonder if it’s time to give up the job search. After all, you may have reason to believe that the interview went very well. Despite your beliefs, you shouldn’t stop searching and applying for jobs. The only time you should be sure of a job offer is when you receive a direct offer.
Therefore, the only time to stop a job search is after you receive a great offer. Halting the search any time before then could leave you scrambling to seek new opportunities. Only stop your search after you received and accepted a job offer.