20 Signs You Will Get the Job After an Interview

If there’s one thing that brings about stress when applying to jobs, it’s the uncertainty. Of course, you always want to get a job offer. However, whether you’re given the job or not, if you are given clear feedback, you’d be better equipped to take the next best step. Those days after an interview where you aren’t quite sure where you stand can be simply maddening, especially if you feel like you did a good job.

While you’ll probably never be able to tell with certainty which way a recruiter is leaning, there are a few signs you can look out for that indicate good news. So the next time you get the urge to send a third or fourth follow-up to your recruiter or agonise over a mental play-by-play of the interview, take a breath and simply reflect on whether these twenty good signs were present.

1. There’s Certainty in their Language

Interviewers try not to get candidates' hopes up. So they often speak about job scenarios without referring to the specific candidate. For example, they may say something like “The person in this position would do XYZ,” or “If hired, we expect the candidate to start at this time.” However, if they believe you’re the right person for the job, it may unintentionally come across in their word choice.

Look out for language that features statements such as “This is where you’ll be working”, “These are your teammates”, or “Our HR rep will get in touch with you to get training started”. They are essentially statements that depict your presence in the company.

2. Positive Body Language from the Interviewer

On a similar note, even if an interviewer is trying to play it cool, their body language may hint at their enthusiasm for you as a candidate. Look out for cues such as smiling in response to your answers, enthusiastic nods, or even attentiveness.
Positive body language shows that the interviewer is interested in the conversation you’re having. They are happy with what they hear and are keen on getting to know you. This is a hint that the interviewer is likely considering you for the job.

3. The Conversation Turns Casual

The meat of an interview is going to be all business, after all, that’s how an interviewer determines whether or not you’re well-suited for the job. But if the conversation takes a casual turn after that, it’s good news. Though this may seem out of place in an interview, it is a positive sign.

A sudden change in the tone of the conversation signals that the interviewer is now equipped with all the information they need to make the decision, and they are now making full use of the time left, even if it means discussing non-critical topics.

4. Their Answers are In-Depth and Detailed

If an interviewer thinks you have little chance of getting the job, you might notice the answers to your questions become brief and sparse in detail. On the other hand, if they think you are a strong candidate, they may feel compelled to give you more in-depth information.

This is something to look out for. If the interviewer appears to be taking the time to make sure you have all the answers you need, you’re at the top of their list.

5. They Say They Like What They Hear

Sometimes, your interviewer may explicitly state that you've got the skills and experience they're seeking. They may also use words such as “great”, “exactly”, or “makes sense”,  in response to your answers.

There are several ways this opinion could come across. Let’s say you asked the interviewer what the ideal candidate looks like. If their response runs along the lines of, “The ideal candidate would be someone with work experience similar to yours. Someone with a passion for learning and the ability to lead at the same time. I believe you fit the profile quite well, in fact.” Other times it could be more subtle with statements such as, “We love what we’re hearing”, “Everything looks great so far”, “I believe you’d be a great fit here”, and so on. 

6. You Get More Details About the Role

When you find the interviewer taking you through the various perks and benefits that come with the job, it reveals their interest in you. If you aren’t being considered, they would not take the time to talk about perks, as this would be futile. 

Interviewers detail your benefits so they can provide you with reasons to choose this job over others. They would not be doing this unless you’re possibly being given an offer.

7. You Get Introduced to More Team Members

It might be exhausting to be introduced to team member after team member during a marathon in-person interview. But, rest assured, this bodes well for your candidacy.

One of the best signs that your interview went great is when the interviewer brings in people from your future team to meet you. This allows team members to meet you and get a sense of your fit. In jobs with high competition, recruiters often choose candidates who are more likely to gell well with the team.

8. You Meet Senior Management

The corollary of the above is meeting the senior management in the company. This could mean a meeting with the founders, team leads, or even the people who would be directly above you in the reporting hierarchy.

Again, this is a sign that the interviewer is impressed by you and wants to give senior leaders a chance to meet you, even if only briefly on your way out of the building. If the candidate shortlist has closely matched applicants, these are the make-or-break interactions. So, remember to put your best side across even in a quick encounter outside of the interview room.

9. They Try to Sell You the Company

If an interviewer goes from making you prove that you're a good fit for the job, to highlighting all the great things their company has to offer, you know that you're in their good graces.

This one is probably one of the clearest indications that you will be hired. When the conversation moves to where the recruiter is telling you why you’ll love the company, they are subtly trying to convince you to accept an incoming offer. They’re giving you points to take into consideration if you were to choose between their offer and others’. Although it may not be an explicit confirmation, this is pretty close.

10. The Interview Runs Over

Along the same lines, the interview taking longer than expected could be a sign that you smashed the interview. More often than not, schedules are pre-decided and the interviewer has several other matters to attend to. If you find them investing more time into your interview, they are likely impressed.

Keep in mind though, that this is largely context-dependent. If you're running over because the interviewer keeps rephrasing the same questions, for example, they may feel you're not giving clear enough answers. On the other hand, if they seem genuinely enthusiastic and excitedly dive into a variety of topics, that's a good thing.

11. They Ask When You Can Start

This is one of the clearest indicators that the interviewer is interested in you. Through your application process, you may have already answered questions that point to your notice period or relieving date. If they are aware of these details, this question is an indicator that they’re trying to put you into their schedule.

If you’re unsure about whether the question means you have a confirmed offer, you can check with them for some clarity. Once you’ve answered the question, you can ask the interviewer whether this means you’re being given a formal job offer and if your proposed starting date is acceptable.

12. They Ask if You Have Any Other Interviews

If an interviewer wants to offer you the job, then the power shifts to you, especially if you have interviews lined up for other vacancies elsewhere.

The only way for a hiring manager to know for sure is to ask. So this is one of those red-letter questions that if asked, should make you feel more confident that they are genuinely interested in you. They are hoping to know how many other potential employers they are competing against.

13. You Get Details on the Next Steps

If the interviewer says "We'll reach out next week with an offer", you've got it in the bag. But the next steps don't have to be that specific to suggest interest. They may instead explain the rest of the hiring pipeline, the processes involved, your next point of contact, and so on.

On the other hand, if your interview concludes with vague statements with no clarity, it’s not the best outcome. For example, if the interviewer says, ”We’ll get back to you”, or “We’ll be in touch”, you’re looking for clear details on future communication, timelines, and contact information.

14. They Use Specific Dates

The best clarity comes when the hiring manager gives specifics. For example, if they say "You will hear from us within 7 days", then you know you are high on the list of candidates.

If the interviewer is less committed to dates, that is not necessarily a terrible sign. It could mean that they have flagged you as the first reserve option in case their preferred candidate is unable to accept the job offer. If you can't be at the top of the list, the first reserve is the next best thing. So try to be positive about this and hope that the phone rings. 

It's always acceptable to follow up with a polite inquiry if you don't hear anything after 1-2 weeks, especially if you have other interviews in the pipeline.

15. Your Follow-Up Gets an Immediate, Positive Response

Interviewers usually meet with a number of people, most of whom will send them a thank-you email right after the interview. Realistically, they don't have the time to reply to everybody individually. Especially if the email is from a candidate who was less than compelling. So, if they take the time to respond to yours quickly, graciously, and personally, that may signal interest.

It is now common practice for candidates to send out follow-up emails after interviews. However, the recruiter is not obligated to respond to every email they receive. Therefore, receiving a positive response from the recruiter should alleviate much of your concern.

16. The Interviewer Asks About your Hobbies and Interests

It’s always a great sign if the interviewer takes some time to get to know you better. Sometimes, you may find them asking you about your hobbies, how you like to spend your free time, what your personal goals are, and more.
This shows two things. First, the interviewer does not mind investing time into your interview. They’re opening up their schedule to ask you questions that do not directly relate to your job fit. Second, they have all the information they need to ascertain that you’re great for the role. They now have the time to get to know you better.

17. They Check your References

Checking references for each candidate can be tedious. Especially if the list is long, and competition is high. Therefore, most recruiters only choose to check references and make calls once they’ve narrowed down the top candidates. 

So, if your references receive calls from your potential employer, you know you’re at the top. In some cases, the interviewer may explicitly mention that they will be checking your references soon. This too is a good sign. 

18. They Discuss Salary and Pay

Recruiters will not ask you about your salary expectations unless they are genuinely interested in you. If they’re close to deciding on your candidature, they are likely to ask you what your ideal pay looks like, to see if they can match it.
Getting numbers on the table is always a sign of interest. Apart from talking about the salary, the interviewer may also talk about the pay structure, bonuses, and benefits. This part of the conversation may also turn into a negotiation.

19. You’re Given a Tour of the Facility

It goes without saying that this applies exclusively to in-person interviews. After your interview, the recruiter may offer to show you around the facility. If you’re offered a tour, always say yes. 

In giving you a tour, the recruiter is giving you a glimpse into what your work-life would be like at the company. They may also run you through the unique features of the facility to indicate that you would be comfortable there as well. This effort indicates serious interest.

20. They Ask You What You Think of the Company

The most important sign is when the interviewer wants your opinion on the company. Once the recruiter has all the information they need, they are then looking to gauge your interest in the company. If you’ve managed to impress them, they want to know if they’ve done the same for you. 

Your answer to the question shows the recruiter whether or not you identify with the company and can see yourself as a part of it. It is also worth noting that your enthusiasm can push your chances of getting hired. Mutual enthusiasm in collaboration is what really seals the deal here.

In Conclusion

This list could go on and on, but we have summarised some of the best ways to know if a job interview has gone well. There are some common threads to note here: word choice, body language, power shift, levels of trust, and engagement.

When you attend more and more interviews, you will likely develop your own sense of when things have gone well. This will feed back into your interview technique in a positive way, even allowing you to rescue an interview that has gone off track.

Until you gain that experience and instinct, the examples above are a great starting point for your mental 'bingo card' of positive signs. The closer you get to a full house, the more optimistic you can be about landing the job.