It’s an unfortunate reality of the job search: sometimes you just don’t nail the interview. But how can you be sure that things may have gone sideways? Here are 3 signals that the interview might not have gone to plan.
A Quick Interview Session
Traditionally, interviews are set up to last anywhere from 30 minutes to more than an hour, with each company and position having different requirements. However, a general rule of thumb would be that is an interview only lasts from 10 to 20 minutes, there may not be reciprocated interest from the hiring team. A short interview is not an automatic problem – as we said, each organization is different – but it does not bode well for the interviewee going forward.
Lack Of Questions
A large contributor to a shorter interview is a lack of questions in the discussion, particularly questions regarding your experiences and qualifications. If there are not many questions, then the decision may already be made in the mind of the interviewer and the organization may not intend to bring you on board.
If the Hiring Manager Doesn’t Speak About The Role or Company
As an interview nears its end, it is customary for the interviewer to provide some context regarding the role’s responsibilities, the company culture, or even the compensation and benefits associated with the role. While you can always include this as a part of the follow-up questions that you have prepared, it can sometimes be a red flag if that door is not opened initially by the employer.
While none of the above signs are certain to spell failure, they may provide some insight into how the interview will result. But just because the interview did not go to plan does not mean it was a waste! You can use the lessons learned from the session to continue to improve your interviewing abilities when the perfect role and company for you comes along.