A job interview can be one of the most stressful experiences of a young manager’s life. However, even those of us that are seasoned and have been on more job interviews than we would care to admit can sometimes get rattled or confused about how well the interview went. While you may think a shared interest with the interviewer gave you an edge, it may not have been any more than just that, a shared interest.
Rather than overthinking what happened or mistaking a shared interest as giving you a lock on a position, look for these signs that the job interview went well:
Developing a Rapport – did the interview feel very formal or did you feel more like you were discussing the position with a friend? This may not be as important during the initial stages as it is when interviewing with a direct supervisor. Everyone would prefer to work with someone they are comfortable with, so developing a rapport with the interviewer will go a long way to locking down that position.
Going Overtime – generally speaking, time limits are adhered to when interviewing, especially in the later stages. Try to get a general idea from HR how long the interview will last and compare that to how long your interview took. If you were over the time generally allotted for the interview, it means the interviewer had more questions than usual and had no problem backing up his or her day to further explore these areas with you.
Can You Stay? – this is the magical question. When you are asked if you have the time to meet with individuals other than the interviewee you had anticipated, there is a very good chance this is being done so they can push you through the process as quickly as possible. This is often a sign the interviewer is looking for additional opinions to back up their assessment of you, which you can assume is positive at this point.
Asked About Other Opportunities – if you are asked about other opportunities or where else you have interviewed, the interviewer may be getting squirrely about how quickly they need to lock you up before someone else snags you.
Scheduling the Second Interview – if you are not asked to stay, having the second interview scheduled before you walk out the door is the next best thing. The company clearly wants you to know they are interested, so this is a very good sign that things went will on the initial interview.
Now that you know how to tell if the interview went well, check back next week when we explain what you should be doing IF the first job interview went well.
Are you struggling to find the right opportunity? Maybe you need some coaching on how to do better in job interviews? If you are a hospitality manager, let JDI help you find your dream job. Our staff will guide you through the process, including helping you develop your resume as well as interview tips that will help you ace your interview. For more information about our hotel recruiting services for hotel managers, click here.