Job hunters are all too familiar with red flags during the interview process, warning them to run away. It doesn’t happen too often, but once in a while, you can catch a break and find a wave of green flags, indicating that this will be the right fit.
Here are green flags that you’re doing well, the interviewer is vibing with you and all signs point to a job offer.
The Subtle Turning Point From Typical Interview Questions To A Casual Conversation
There is a turning point in the interview when you notice a subtle shift in the conversation. The interviewer pivots from asking the traditionally bland, cliché questions, such as “please tell me about yourself,” and starts focusing on you as a human being.
They’ll start pointing out your commonalities. You both live in the same town or attended the same college. The connection opens the door to pleasantries and playing a game of trying to think of the people you both know and reminisce over shared experiences. The interviewer stops with the standard corporate, cold and clinical facade that human resource professionals and hiring managers put on to show that they are serious and mean business, and starts smiling and laughing.
The More The Interviewer Talks, The Better Your Chances Are
Although the conversation is flowing and you’re getting excited, don’t dominate the interview. Allow the interviewer to do most of the talking. This runs counter to commonly offered career advice. The more the hiring manager talks, the better the position you’ll be in. As the person keeps speaking, there’s a feeling that the candidate must be great because they’re enjoying the conversation and feeling excited about finding a suitable applicant. Basically, the interviewer talks themself into liking you. To keep this going, ask open-ended questions that will keep the interviewer talking.
Things Start Looking Good
It gets better when the interviewer brings up the subject of compensation, benefits, vacation days, paid time off and all the amenities and perks offered by the company. When the person brings up the names of people that you’ll be working with and offers interesting tidbits about their personalities, the green flags are waving.
The interview feels like time is flying by and you discreetly check the clock. You realize that the meeting has gone over the allotted time, and the interviewer doesn’t seem to mind or try cutting it off. This is another wonderful green flag. It’s like a first date that is going well and neither party wants it to end anytime soon.
It is music to your ears when the hiring person politely asks, “I know you’ve been here for a while. I don’t want to be rude, but do you possibly have some more time to meet the team?” The green flag shows that they feel you’re the right match and would like to corroborate their impression by introducing you to some of the people you’d be working with.
When the interviewer begins itemizing what you will be doing on a daily basis, as if you already have the job, it’s a green flag. This may be followed up with offering a little insider gossip about the company and some of the people, managing expectations for when you start.
More green flags are when the hiring professional asks if you have other offers pending and how soon you can start.
If They Say This At The End, You’re Probably Getting The Job
When the interviewer ends the meeting by giving you a tour of the office and points to an area saying, “Here’s where you’ll be working,” the green flag is waving strongly.
This may be followed up with providing detailed next steps in the hiring process and offering details of how you can navigate the different personalities of the colleagues and managers you’ll be meeting with.
Before leaving, the HR professional or hiring manager says, “It was a pleasure getting to know you. Your background and skills are right on point. If you’re interested, I’d love for you to come back to meet with a few more people. In the meantime, could you please get three references and check if there are any stipulations in your employment contract that we need to be aware of?” Then, it’s followed by, “Christine in human resources will get everything set up. I look forward to seeing you again. It was a pleasure meeting you!”
Don’t Worry If An Offer Isn’t Immediately Extended
While all the green flags are waving and you end the interview feeling great and empowered, don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear right back. There are larger issues that companies need to contend with. Runaway inflation, high costs, supply chain disruptions, a likely recession, layoffs, job offer rescissions, geopolitical issues and a plummeting stock market are all concerns of business leaders. The uncertainty leads to inertia. Lately, many companies are slow-walking the hiring process, as they need to cut costs and are concerned about the future.
If you feel like you’ve been ghosted, take the initiative and get in touch with the people with whom you interviewed with. Politely, email, text, LinkedIn message or call the interviewer to let them know you are still interested and gently inquire how long the process may take and whether you are still in the running. If you are fortunate to know an insider at the company, ask if they could fish around to see what is going on.
In the interim, remain positive. It’s not you; it’s happening to almost everyone. To play it safe, keep working hard to save your current job. Hedge your bets by seeking out recruiters and going on other interviews.
Source: Forbes
