6 Signs You Got the Job

Interviews are full of uncertainty, and as you wrap up your final conversations, you will be eager to look for signs you got the job. An excellent interview can emphasize relevant skills and experience, leave a good impression on your future boss and colleagues, and lay a good foundation for entering the workplace.

At it’s core, the interview is an interaction between people: the interviewer(s) and the interviewee. Throughout the interview process, there are a couple of key indicators to look for that suggest your interview is going well. So, what are the good signs that your interview went well and they are likely to hire you? Here are 6 signs you will get the job:

1) Watch for Leading Microexpressions

Generally speaking, even if the interviewers are professional and neutral, their microexpressions can't hide their interest in you. If you have seen the TV show Lie to Me, you probably have a basic idea of microexpressions, and how they can potentially give away what a person is thinking. While it’s hard to identify what exact microexpressions correspond to signs they will hire you, if they are consistently nodding or giving looks or sounds of approval, you’re on the right track.

2) Listen for Specific, Definitive Language

Interviewers are usually cautious about their language, but if they are using words that indicate positivity or more long-term implications, that’s a leading indication you might get the job. For example, if the interviewer says "when" instead of "if" or says "you will" instead of "you would," these words choices can serve as a sign you got the job after an interview.

3) Pay Attention to the Questions Asked

During the meeting, an interviewer may dial back their professional tone to instead interact with you more casually. Don’t worry – this does not mean they are not interested in your qualifications (if that were the case, they would probably end the interview quickly). More likely, they feel satisfied with your professional background and want to learn more about you on a personal level. If they begin to steer their questions to your interests both in and outside of work, your past experiences and references, or even where you went on your last vacation, this is a great sign that you aced the interview. You can choose to be professional or loosen up yourself, but never understate the good conversation that is generated from these simple questions. Your answers can demonstrate that you’re a fit for both the job and the culture of the company or team you’re joining.

4) Assess the Level of Detail Discussed

Most of the time, interviewers try to be objective and neutral. They usually talk about the company, its culture, and the role in question as broad entities. When they start talking to you about specific work and projects using language that goes beyond that found on the company’s website or job description, it may indicate that they view you as a serious candidate and that you have a higher probability of receiving an offer.

5) Listen for Signs You’re being “Marketed” to Others

If the interviewer takes you on a tour of the office, allows you to meet other colleagues on the team and in the company, and treats you like you’ve already accepted an offer, you are in the driver’s seat. Additionally, if the interviewer introduces you to a senior leader, even having a simple, 5-minute conversation is a good sign you got the job. Think about it from their perspective: when the interviewer recognizes your potential, they will be more comfortable introducing you to their co-workers and boss. They want you to meet critical stakeholders, but they also want their team to meet you and sign off on your candidacy.

6) Determine Whether or not Money was Discussed

When the interviewer confirms that you are the right person for the job, they will often ask you about your compensation expectations and begin to emphasize the total rewards packages their company can offer, should you move forward.

Whether you negotiate at the end of the interview or at a later point when you receive a formal offer letter, it helps to prepare answers to common compensation questions in advance, using tools like Salary.com’s salary wizard to determine your worth in the market. Salary.com offers HR-reported data for thousands of jobs based on industry, region, and position, and you can adjust these ranges to reflect your own education and experience.

Signs the Interview Did not Go Well

You may be wondering if there are any signals that clearly tell you that the interview has not gone well. Here are some common indications you may need to begin looking for another job application to complete:

The interview time is much shorter than the scheduled time, and the interviewer behaves absentmindedly during the process
The interviewer is looking for and discussing your lack of experience or other shortcomings
The interviewer keeps talking about the difficulty and pain points of the job, in order to make you feel negatively about the job and let you down more easily
The interviewer avoids discussing compensation entirely, or indicates they need to discuss it with upper management

Of course, you don’t need to feel down if you see one or two “failure” signals. The interview is a two-way communication process. If you feel that you are enjoying this interview process and have fully expressed genuine interest in the company, then the interviewer is more likely to reciprocate those feelings and come away with a positive impression of you.

Feeling confident that you will receive an offer? Our free salary wizard can help you negotiate a competitive total rewards offering.

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