Once you schedule your first job interview with a company, it is important to correctly assess the success of the interview. Otherwise, you may wind up wasting time and energy following up with the company when your time could be better spent attending additional interviews. To learn these assessment skills, take a look at the following tips for determining job interview success and failure.
The Interviewer Continually Mentions Other Candidates
Your job interview may not be off to a good start if the individual conducting the interview continually mentions other candidates, refers to their positive qualities repeatedly or insists on discussing the number of well-qualified candidates he has already met. These statements may be subtle signs the interviewer has already begun to make a decision but still has to carry out a pre-determined number of interviews or honor interview appointments already scheduled.
The Interviewer Fails to Discuss the Scope of the Job
A job interview may not be a success if you get to the end of the interview only to realize the interviewer completely skipped over talking about job responsibilities, the scope of the job or the job description itself. Failure to discuss these important details with you may mean the interviewer is having difficulty seeing you in the role being filled; it can be a clear sign you are not being strongly considered for the position. While it is not a sure sign you will not get the job, consider it a reliable clue and work to continue your job search while you wait to hear back from the company.
The Interviewer Does Not Ask Follow-up Questions
If you went into great detail about your skills, discussed your resume and attempted to demonstrate your abilities, only to get little-to-no response from the interviewer, it may not be a good sign. While you may be able to salvage the interview by asking several well-timed questions of your own, keep your options open while you wait for a call back.
The Interviewer Fails to Educate You About the Agency
During a job interview, if an interviewer thinks you may be a good fit for the company, he likely tells you a bit about the company and asks you if you have any questions. If the interviewer does not mention the company at all during the job interview, it may be a sign the interview itself is not going well.
The Interviewer Seems Preoccupied
If you notice the interviewer seems preoccupied, checking his phone or email or speaking with another employee during your interview, it may be a sign the interview is not going well. The interviewer should clear his schedule and devote his attention to you if he is interested in hiring you for a position within his agency.
While these clues are not a guaranteed determination of job interview success, they provide you with a useful set of guidelines for assessing the outcome of an interview and may help you determine your chances of being called for a second job interview.
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