Signs You Didn't Get the Job After an Interview

Job interviews can be stressful, even for the most confident candidates. While preparing thoroughly can help you make a great first impression, there's always an element of uncertainty as you can’t predict how it will unfold - or whether you will get on well with the interviewers.

Although it's impossible to know the outcome until the employer makes a decision, there are often subtle clues that may indicate you weren't the successful candidate. These are not definite signs by any means - but they may be an indication that things may not have gone well.

Shorter Interview Than Expected

Although it is generally not a good sign if the interview only lasts 10 or 15 minutes - it depends on the nature of the role and the structure of the interview. If the interview is only conducted by one person and they are in a rush or it is a role that doesn’t require a lengthy interview process - such as a production operative or labourer, short interviews are common. However, if you are being interviewed for a professional role, you would expect the interviewers to conduct a thorough interview and go through each aspect of the job. In this case, a short interview suggests they weren’t asking many questions which - unfortunately, may reflect their interest in you. 

Scripted Questions

You can usually gauge the interest of the interviewers by whether they stick to a script or “go off- piste” during the interview. If the interviewers are asking a lot of questions, it shows they are genuinely interested in you and want to learn more. If they don’t - the interview might not have gone as well as you may wish.

The Conversation Suddenly Went Flat

If you have said something and the conversation suddenly goes flat - it might be that the interviewers have noticed a red flag. There is no way of going into a job interview knowing what these are so there is nothing you can prepare for with these. However, it does unfortunately mean that you might not be successful.

Feedback Takes a Long Time

One of the most obvious signs is that you don’t hear anything for weeks after the interview. If the interviewers are keen, they are more likely to get back to you within a few days. However, this will depend on when the closing date and whether they are still conducting interviews. The longer it takes, the less likely it is that there will be a positive outcome.

If you would like help with your interviews and preparing for success, we can help through our one to one consultations. We also provide CV packages to suit your needs. Contact us or order directly today.