How to Assess Your Chances Durring a Job Interview
Updated:2008/04/28
How to Assess Your Chances Durring a Job Interview
Hate waiting by the phone after a job interview? This intuitive
approach to reading your interviewer can help you determine whether
the job's a slam-dunk or whether you're more likely to have the
door slammed in your face.
Steps
- Observe your interviewer carefully so you can read the signs
that mean they have decided not to employ you. Take note of facial
expressions, tone of voice, body language, and other cues.
- Act as you would usually do in an interview don't let on that
you're trying to see if their lying but if you think they are just
look for small signs like sweating or repetitive motions such as
scratching their head or rubbing their eyes.
- Check to see how many times the interviewer breaks eye contact
with you as this may be a sign that they don't feel confident in
you.
- Pay careful attention to compliments. Good interviewers will
help you understand your strengths whether they hire you or not,
but false compliments may be a bad sign - for example, if you're
mostly quiet in an interview and they say you're articulate.
- Watch for career advice towards the end of the interview - it
might be a clue that you won't be offered the job. Of course, it
could also mean the interviewer is already trying to mold you into
a great employee. Either way, the person is giving you feedback
after interviewing you - this is a golden opportunity to get a
potential employer's assessment of your strengths and
weaknesses.
- Listen for the "kiss of death." If the interviewer says
something like "don't take it as a blow if you don't get this job,"
it's likely that you should keep on looking.
- Watch for signs of discomfort and dishonesty. If the
interviewer wipes their palms on their suit before shaking hands,
the interviewer may be nervous, too. This could be a sign of
dishonesty - or the person might just be hot and uncomfortable. By
this time, you should have a good idea which applies.
- Ask! If you can't read the interviewer at the end of the
interview, work up your courage, smile, and look him in the eye,
and ask directly: "I appreciate your taking the time to interview
me. How did I do?" The interviewer's face will probably reveal the
answer. Don't press too hard, and be gracious whether the news is
good or bad.
Tips
- If you want to succeed in the interview, then be prepared, stay
calm, maintain good posture and eye contact, arrive 5-10 minutes
early, and always tell the truth - honesty goes a long way.
- Don't read too much into non-verbal cues; even if the
interviewer doesn't seem very excited about you, you might still
get the job. Some people just aren't very enthusiastic or
encouraging.
- If you are almost certain that you didn't get the job remember
the No.1 rule is trust your gut instincts if you feel like you
didn't get the job then keep on looking. Otherwise, congratulations
on your new job!
Warnings
- Don't fly off the rail if all the signs are there, you might be
wrong so just relax and keep your cool.
- Finish the interview, even it's not going well. If the
interviewer is unprofessional or demeaning to an extent that makes
you very uncomfortable, it may be appropriate to politely tell the
interviewer you are no longer interested and leave. Otherwise,
stick it out and see what you can learn from the experience.