How to Tell You’ve Had a Winning Interview

Three people in orange shirts with medals around their necks.

We’ve all been there—you walk out of an interview feeling you have nailed it, only to receive an email saying, “We’ve decided to move forward with another candidate.” You are confused. What could have happened? You are frustrated because you sensed it all was positive.

As a former recruiter, I can tell you that many people felt they did when interviewing with me, only to have me reject their application. That is because having a pleasant interview experience doesn’t necessarily equate to being effective as an interviewee. In this blog post, I’ll tell you where you may be misleading yourself and what signs you should look out for to get a sense of interviewing success.

Common Signs Job Seekers Believe Indicate Success

Let me tell you, I always made the people that I interviewed comfortable. I was pleasant, looked out for their comfort, and always started the interview with chit chat. I tried to build rapport quickly, because when people were comfortable with me, they tended to talk, and through being open, I could learn a lot about them. One of the most common assumptions that the interview went well is that if the interview feels like a natural conversation. But sometimes, interviewers, like me, are skilled at making people feel comfortable. Yet, we have to decide to move people through the process not solely on our rapport, but whether they explain how they candidate the job better than other candidates.

Another sign that can be mislead interviewees is the interviewer’s body language. I always had neutral body language. Yes, I would smile, nod, and make eye contact with the person I spoke with. I was being fiendly and respectful. However, these gestures could simply part of how I built rapport (see above), not necessarily a reflection of my interest in hiring the person.

Some people believe a longer interview can be a sign that things went well. While a longer interview is a much better sign that a shorter interview, it isn’t necessarily the sign that people think. Many people think that if the interview runs over time, it’s because the interviewer is especially interested in them. That could be the case, but it also could be due to the interviewer’s thoroughness in making sure to ask all their questions. And if you went on a bit longer with your answers, the interviewer may need to extend the interview time to finish asking their questions.

Another misinterpretation many job seekers have is the interview atmosphere that feels casual and relaxed. While a friendly atmosphere is nice, a more formal atmosphere and pointed questions does not mean that the interview did not go well. Interviewers and employers have different preferences for how they want to conduct their interviews. Keep that in mind. 

Another common misunderstanding is believing that discussing next steps means there will be next steps. Sometimes, it’s just a routine part of the interview. As an example, I always ended my interviews with next steps for the candidate. It was a good way to signal that the interview was at an end and to help the interviewee know the process. The language I used never indicated that a next step would definitely be another interview. I could never make that guarantee, since a hiring manager would need to be conferred with first. 

Lastly, some consider the mention of salary or benefits during the interview a good sign. However, employers sometimes bring this up to gauge your expectations or to see if they align with the role, not necessarily because they’re ready to make an offer.

True Indicators of a Winning Interview

So, instead, what should you really look for? Whether your background, experience, and skills align with the job and company culture. There are good signs that the interviewer is interested in you.

Language That Reflects Shared Values: Listen for phrases or comments from the interviewer that mirror the values you've discussed. For example, if you mention the importance to you of being highly entreprenurial and the interviewer responds by emphasizing how they need this on the team, that is a potential indicator that you and the interviewer are aligned.

Recognition of Your Unique Contributions: Pay attention to when the interviewer acknowledges how your specific skills, knowledge, or experiences could benefit the team or company. Phrases like, "That's exactly what we're looking for," or, "We could really use someone with your background in X on the team," are strong indicators that you are being seriously considered for the role.

Discussion of Future Collaboration: If the conversation shifts to how you would work with the team, handle projects, or contribute to specific initiatives, it shows they’re beginning to visualize you in the role. For example, they might say, “We have a new initiative coming up that aligns with your experience in X. How would you approach it?” This shows they’re already thinking about how you’d handle real-world challenges within the company.

Enthusiasm About Your Ideas: You might be asked about your expertise or ideas on current challenges the team/organization is facing. Notice if the interviewer is excited about your suggestions or your approach to certain challenges. Getting positive feedback like, "That’s a great idea," or "I love your approach," suggests they see you as a fit.

Detailed Questions About Your Experience: Are you getting interesting follow-up questions to your answers, asking for more specifics? When the interviewer digs deeper into how your past work or approaches align with the job’s requirements, it can mean they want to know more about you and are seriously considering how you would perform in the role.

Also, after the interview, pay attention to the follow-up communication. A prompt and positive follow-up from the company is usually a good sign. This can be a follow-up from the recruiter about how you feel about the role after talking with the hiring manager or an email detailing the next steps and timelines.

Reflection Post-Interview

I have written previously about always doing an interview post-mortem (https://www.mycareergps.com/job-blog/maximizing-your-interview-success-why-post-mortems-are-essential). After each interview, it’s important to take a few moments to assess how things went. 

-Did you clearly communicate your skills and how they fit the role? 

-Were you able to articulate how you would add value to the company? 

-What questions did you find challenging to answer?

-Were you succinct in your answers, not adding irrelevant details, and running on?

Be honest with yourself about your performance. If there are areas for improvement, work on them. And if you aren’t getting offers and really have no clue why, engage a coach to help you. I do interview preparation, and when a client comes to me and says they don’t understand what they are doing wrong, I usually can identify a few issues within the first ten minutes of a mock interview. Awareness is key!

The more you learn from each experience, the closer you’ll get to landing that role where you truly can thrive.

Conclusion

It’s easy to walk out of an interview feeling confident because the conversation flowed smoothly or the interviewer seemed friendly. But these surface-level cues don’t always tell the full story. The true indicators of a successful interview lie in how well you communicated your value and how receptive the interviewer was to that message. Focus on your value, how you are different than other candidates, and the stories and metrics to showcase this. That is how you wow the interviewer and make a great impression.

Shelley Piedmont is a Career Coach who focuses on understanding your unique skills, interests, and aspirations and provides personalized coaching to guide you toward roles where you can truly thrive. Whether you are stuck as to what your next career move should be or need help with resumes, LinkedIn profiles, or interview preparation, Shelley is here to help you. Please set up an exploratory call to find out how she can help you reach your career goals.