How To Tell if Your Interview is Not Going So Well

John Krautzel
Posted by in Career Advice •


It takes hard work to get to the interview phase of a job search. When you finally land a job interview, prepare by studying standard interview questions, rehearsing your responses and creating a list of questions to ask during the meeting. Even if you're prepared, things might still take a turn for the worse on your interview day. Look for three key signs that indicate your interview is not going too well.

1. Discern Any Boredom

Interviewers often demonstrate their disinterest in several ways during a job interview. Notice if they check their phones regularly, get distracted easily or seem more interested in the computer screen than in what you have to say. These are all nonverbal cues that let you know what's going on inside the mind of interviewers.

Does the person in front of you smile and make eye contact when you speak? Does he lean forward and engage with you as you describe various work scenarios? Does the recruiter maintain a positive attitude throughout the interview? If the answer to these questions is no, then the interviewer's body language, or nonverbal communication cues, are clues that the job interview is not going well.

2. Look for Reactions

As you tell your success stories with zest and passion, pay attention to the reactions of your interviewers. During a successful job interview, smiles, approving glances and nods demonstrate your potential employer's interest as he intently listens to everything you say. Failing to get a positive reaction is a sign that you're not connecting with the interviewer and the interview is not going well. It could also mean the interviewer already determined you're not the best fit for the job.

It's also possible your interviewer has his mind set on another candidate, someone who already met with and thoroughly impressed the employer before your scheduled job interview. If the interviewer already has his sights set on someone else, getting him to focus on you might be difficult or close to impossible.

3. Wait for the Wrap

Does the recruiter ask you questions after the job interview? Did he tell you about the next steps? These are normal aspects of a successful interview. If the people you're trying to impress don't show an interest in your or mention anything about the next phase of the job interview process, then your meeting may not end that way you hope. All is not lost, however. Learn from the experience, and keep improving your job interview skills until you land the perfect position.

Knowing how to read a person's expressions or gauge their interest during a job interview can help you prepare for what might happen next. Don't fret if recruiters feel you're not a good fit for the company. Continue to work on your interview skills, as the perfect job for you is likely with another employer.


Photo courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    Thanks @Dordrina for your follow up. A thank you note truly can make the difference between getting the job or not. But you want to take some time to think about what you want to say on the thank you note. More so than just thanks for your time, blah, blah. You want to make it personal. You want them to be able to see you when they read it - to remember the interview they had with you. You have to remember that companies will schedule a ton of interviews every day - some of them just minutes apart. So that hiring manager sees a lot of people before making a decision. You want to be the candidate who stands out. Maybe you were asked a question that you couldn't answer during the interview (brain freeze due to nerves!) but, as soon as you walk out of the interview - bam - here comes the answer to that question. Include that in your thank you note. You get the idea. All the best and keep us all posted.

  • Dordrina Arrington
    Dordrina Arrington •

    Thanks for the information. I probably showed being over confident. Handing them a Thank you card right after them interviewing me was just an experience that I will learn from.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Dordrina thank you for your comment. I have to ask, did you write anything in the thank you cards? Maybe it was okay to do it that way but I would think it would be best to depart from the company and then write them up. Take some little tidbit from the interview and mention it - just to bring you back to their mind. Remember, they are probably interviewing several candidates each day until they find the one they are looking for. Bringing up something from the interview is a good thing. Maybe there was a question that they asked that you couldn't answer - typically due to being nervous. Answer it in the thank you note. I, personally, would not do it the way that you did but would write them up and then put them in the mail. A lot of job seekers just send a thank you email afterwards. Although acceptable, it seems very impersonal.

  • Dordrina Arrington
    Dordrina Arrington •

    I gave them the thank you cards in their hands.

  • Dordrina Arrington
    Dordrina Arrington •

    After the interview I gave them a thank you card right after from Hallmark cards. Is that ok

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Dordrina Arrington thanks for your comment. There really is no true way that you know for sure that you landed the job unless they say - you are the one; when can you start! After a few interviews you can really start to tell if they are interested or not - just by their demeanor and the questions that they are asking. When they start asking specific questions about the actual position and how you fit in, then they are interested. When you are finished with the interview, ask for the next steps. Then, immediately afterwards, fill out a thank you card and put it in the mail. It's amazing the difference that can make. Several years ago I was competing with one other person for a business analyst position with a great company. I had the opportunity to interview with several people at the company. When I left, I sat right there, in my car, in their parking lot and wrote out my thank you cards for each person. I put them in the mail and two days later I received a call that they wanted to make an offer. So it works. Try it and let us know.

  • Dordrina Arrington
    Dordrina Arrington •

    You are so right. I would like to ask, how do you know if you landed the job after the interview stage. Other than the company calling you?

  • Helen Jackson
    Helen Jackson •

    It is so right! Great job.

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