Top Signs You Didn’t Get the Job: What to Look Out For
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Signs to Look Out for During the Hiring Process
Job interviews can be a huge stress even for experienced professionals. According to the stats, a job-seeker can apply to 27 jobs before landing one interview. So, it is perfectly natural that you leave the interview wondering if everything went smoothly, or you need to keep looking.
| Topics | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. Lack of enthusiasm from the interviewer | details... |
| 2. The interviewer shows negative body language | details... |
| 3. You only get short answers to your questions | details... |
| 4. The conversation goes off-topic | details... |
| 5. You don't get the chance to ask your questions | details... |
| 6. The interview ends early | details... |
| 7. There is no discussion about the next steps | details... |
| 8. No follow-up communication from the interviewer | details... |
| 9. Delayed or uncertain decision | details... |
| 10. You Were Overqualified or Underqualified | details... |
| 11. Lack of Enthusiasm or Interest | details... |
| 12. Bad cultural fit | details... |
Although nobody can give you a definite answer, there are a few signs indicating that the interview process went not as well as planned. Keep reading for specific signs showing that the hiring manager will not be reaching out to you with a job offer.
12 Interview Signs That Could Mean You Didn't Get The Job
If you are nervous whether the interviewer sees you as a suitable job candidate, watch out for the signs below.
During the job interview
1. Lack of enthusiasm from the interviewer
During the job interview, most hiring managers try to interest you with the opportunity and sell the job to you. If the hiring manager doesn't give you much information about the company, team, and your role beyond the job listing, there is chance that they don't think you are the right person.
Another bad sign is when the interviewer acts like they don't want to be there. They get distracted to take a phone call, looks through resumes of other job-seekers, or looks at the clock. All these signs indicate that they've made up their mind and now are waiting to end the interview.
2. The interviewer shows negative body language
Pay attention to the body language of the interviewer. If they avoid eye contact, don't smile, or display closed-off body language (crossed arms or legs), it might subtly show they don't see you as a suitable job candidate.
These signs might not be a big deal if the conversation flows naturally and positively. Yet, if you observe them as the hiring manager asks very few questions and looks disengaged, they indicate that the interview isn't going great.
3. You only get short answers to your questions
During the conversation, it is important to ask your interview questions about the company, position, and career prospects. If the interviewer sees you as a qualified candidate, they will be eager to answer your questions. However, if you only get 'yes' or 'no' responses, chances are that they don't see you as a good candidate for the job posting.
4. The conversation goes off-topic
One of the goals of the interview is to evaluate your skills and achievements, and how they can benefit the company. If the hiring manager doesn't discuss your achievements, professional goals, and motivation, it is an obvious sign you won't get the job. They just want the interview to go faster so they could focus on other candidates.
You can get more proactive during the job interview, bring up your biggest accomplishments and align them with the company's goals. You cannot be sure that this strategy will lead to a job offer, but it is worth trying.
5. You don't get the chance to ask your questions
A good job interview ends with "Do you have any questions for me?" Interviewing is a two-way street, and you should get your questions answered, too. If you didn't get the chance to ask your questions about the company culture, work environment, and how they give constructive criticism, it's not a good sign. Maybe your salary expectations were too high or they don't see you as a cultural fit. One way or another, they probably don't see you on the team.
6. The interview ends early
Typically, a comprehensive in-person interview lasts about 30 minutes. It may last even longer if the interviewer sees you as the best candidate and want to discuss the position with you further.
A short interview is usually a bad sign. If the interviewer only asked a few questions and doesn't give detailed responses to yours, they have probably made a decision. So, if they suddenly call it a day, it shows that they don't see you as a strong candidate and don't see a point in continuing the conversation.
7. There is no discussion about the next steps
At the end of the job interview, most companies inform you about the next steps. If the interviewer ends the conversation without specifying what will happen next, they don't see you as a dream job candidate.
There is a chance that the interviewer got overwhelmed and simply forgot to mention it, so there is no harm in asking. Yet, if they give you a vague response and no timeframes about the hiring decision, it indicates that you will probably not get a job offer.
What to do when you feel that the job interview is going in the wrong direction? According to the stats, in the first 90 seconds of the interview one-third of the recruiters have already made up their minds. However, you can try and take the initiative. Ask the interviewer whether they would like to discuss your qualifications, skills, or mention your achievements. This approach might not help you get the job, but will show you as a proactive candidate.
After the Job Interview
8. No follow-up communication from the interviewer
If you don't hear from hiring manager after the interview, it could be a sign that they’re not interested in moving forward with your application. Not all employers will keep you updated on the status. Most of them are overwhelmed with applications and only get back to candidates they are seriously considered for the role.
If the process consists of multiple interviews and they don't get back to you with the date of the next one, it also shows they will move forward with other candidates.
9. Delayed or uncertain decision
Most hiring managers make decisions quickly to move forward with the hiring process. If they don't give you a definite response about the progress or making a decision is delayed, it could be a sign that they’re not sure about you as a candidate.
Reasons why you didn't impress the hiring manager
If the interview didn't go great despite that you have relevant experience and work history, you are probably wondering what might have gone wrong. Here are the most common reasons for interview rejections:
10. You Were Overqualified or Underqualified
Hiring managers usually look for candidates who can perform a specific range of tasks. If you are under qualified, you will need more training, which means time loss and additional expenses for the company.
On the flip side, if you are overqualified, you will probably expect a higher compensation and leave the company soon when you get bored with tasks. To get fewer rejections, try to apply for jobs that matches your skill set exactly. If you want to get a job you are overqualified for, try to downplay it. Remove the advanced degree, managerial experience, and other signs that you are overqualified.
11. Lack of Enthusiasm or Interest
Recruiters want candidates who show enthusiasm and interest in the role. If you look dull, unengaged, and the conversation isn't flowing smoothly, they might decide that you aren't interested in the position.
Convey enthusiasm - mention something you particularly like about the job, why you appreciate the company's values, and ask many question about your prospective job.
12. Bad cultural fit
Cultural fit often determines how long you will stay with the company and how productive you will be. If you fail to get along with the team, it will affect your productivity and the overall team performance. In the corporate world, recruiters often reject qualified candidates who are not the right fit.
Say, if you worked in a collaborative environment with friendly communication style, you will struggle in a fast-paced, highly competitive team. However, this is not necessarily the bad thing, as it is best to find a company that matches your work style.
What to do after the job interview?
Whether your interview went good or bad, here are the steps you should take:
- Use follow up emails.Sending a follow-up email is a good way to stand out as a professional. Reiterate the key points of the interview and showcase your interest in the role. Even if you don't get the job, the hiring manager will appreciate it.
- Learn from your mistakes. Look back at the interview and think about what you'd like to do differently. Maybe, you didn't brilliantly respond to some questions, didn't research the company well, or your interview outfit was not quite appropriate. Thus, you will avoid these interview mistakes in the future.
- Try not to overthink. Even if the interview fell flat, try not to overthink it. Each professional has brilliant and awful interviews, and not everything depends on you. Don't get discouraged and keep looking for the right opportunity.
- Prepare for future interviews. Don't put all eggs in one basket, and keep attending interviews until you have an offer. Keep working on your interview skills, apply for jobs, and attend interviews.
The hiring process is often unpredictable, and you can never know what to expect from the job interview. By paying attention to the signs above, you will better know if the interview went well or you failed to impress the recruiter. Even if it wasn't your lucky day and you didn't get the job, it's no time to get discouraged.
Continue with your job search, and hone your interview skills to handle your next interview perfectly. If you experience interview stress and anxiety, check our our guide to beating interview stress.
What if you are getting not enough interviews?
If you have the right skills and experience but rarely make it to the initial interview, your resume might be the problem. Send it to our resume writers for a free review, and we will point out what exactly you should fix to hear from employers more frequently. It is free of charge and takes 3-4 business days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Long Should You Wait to Hear Back After an Interview?
Career experts suggest waiting one to two weeks to hear back from the company. The deadline depends on the company size, job seniority, and how urgently they need a candidate. The best idea is to ask the recruiter about the time frame, and reach out to them. Send a polite follow-up email expressing your continued interest to check the status of your candidacy.
Can You Still Get a Job After a Bad Interview?
Bad interviews can be discouraging, but don't let them undermine your self-worth. Usually they only mean that you are not the right fit for the company, and vice versa. However, even poor interviews can lead to offers sometimes, for example, when the interviewer had a bad day or a bad interview was the way to check your stress resistance and persistence.
Should You Ask for Feedback After a Rejection?
Nobody likes getting rejections after interviews, but you can turn them into learning experience. Politely ask the interviewer to provide feedback about your performance during the interview, and if they are willing to share, use these insights to improve your interviewing skills for the future.