How Is Your Interview Going? Ten Ways To Tell If You Are Nailing The Interview.    One of the hardest things about going on interviews is the uncertainty. Did you give a good performance? Did you connect with the interviewer? Did they think you were a good fit? This article gives you 10 ways that tell you how the interview is going, in real time, and two warning signals, with remedies, about a bad interview.    855 words.

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How Is Your Interview Going?

Ten Ways To Tell If You Are Nailing The Interview

Bill Cole, MS, MA
Founder and CEO
William B. Cole Consultants
Silicon Valley, California

One of the hardest things about going on interviews is the uncertainty. Did you give a good performance? Did you connect with the interviewer? Did they like you? Did they think you were a good fit? Will they make you an offer?

Unfortunately, interviewers will rarely directly tell you the answers to any of these questions. Instead, you need to become a good detective and discern this not-so-obvious coded material through intelligent observation and logical deduction, in real time. Here are 10 things to look for in a job interview that can tell you that things are going well.

1. Is The Dialogue Robust? Are you having a conversation, or are they or you doing all the talking? If you are talking more than 40% of the time, then that's too much. There should be a good give and take between the two of you. This creates a flow and rapport.

2. Is The Interviewer Asking Additional Questions Based On Your Answers? Some interviewers simply read questions from their prepared list and the interview feels like an interrogation or inquisition. If things are going well, the interviewer will react to your answers, and engage you in follow up, or clarifying questions. That means they are interested.

3. Is The Interviewer Asking If You Would Be Available To Meet Others In The Company? This is an obvious gateway to the next round of interviews.

4. Is The Interviewer Asking If You Are Interviewing With Their Competitors? This is a good sign. They may even ask if you have received an offer.

5. Is The Interviewer Asking About Your Availability? This is a clear sign that they are thinking seriously about you.

6. Is The Interviewer's Body Language Positive? If they make good eye contact, face you fully with their body, lean toward you when you speak, smile, nod, encourage you to speak more or joke with you, you know that these are very positive signals.

7. Is The Interview Going Longer That Expected? People like to spend time with those they like, or with those they want to know more about. The longer the interview runs, the more favorable it is for you. Interviewers who do not like a candidate will often find ways to cut the time short.

8. Is The Interviewer Talking About Off-Topic Material? Often, an interviewer makes their mind up about a candidate in the first few minutes, and spends the rest of the interview confirming this decision. Don't be put off if the interviewer seems to go off on random subjects, even having nothing to do with the position. It may mean you have struck gold, and that they are so relieved that you are the right person for the job, that they let their guard down and become more sociable.

9. Is The Interviewer Talking About Their Company At Length? If the interviewer believes you are a good fit, they will explain their company's culture, current and future initiatives to validate their belief that you are indeed a good candidate. They don't bother with this if the candidate is not desirable.

10. Is The Interviewer Encouraging You To Ask Questions? Most interviews typically allow a time at the end for you to ask questions. You should already be doing this throughout the interview so you create a flowing conversation. If the interviewer encourages you to ask more and more questions, that is their way of doing due diligence so they ensure that you know what you are getting into with their firm. This is a very good sign. They probably have decided to make you an offer.

Two Interview Warning Signals And How To Respond

These two warning signs must be noticed, and responded to immediately, or your interview is over before it begins.

1. Does The Interviewer Allow You To Go On And On With Your Answers? This is not a good sign. It means the interviewer is just going through the motions, and may be about to write you off. Start shortening your answers to bit-size bits of 30 and 60 seconds to create more flow in the conversation, and ask them some questions.

2. Does The Interviewer Seem Disinterested? If you sense in the interviewer boredom, disinterest, urgency to end the interview, or distraction, shift gears at once. Stop doing so much talking and start listening. Demonstrate that you are indeed listening. Ask the interviewer pointed questions like, "Do you have any concerns about my candidacy?" or, "Is there anything holding you back from offering me this position?" These questions get to the heart of the conflict you sense in the interviewer. They also allow you to respond to their concerns with targeted answers that help remove doubts in their mind.

I want you to nail your next interview. Knowing how to be a stealthy interview detective, in real time, is critical to maintaining your confidence in the interview room. Now you can read the interview situation, make wise judgments, and make the proper adjustments to your behavior, thinking and interview strategy, so they know YOU are the perfect person for the job. Good luck!

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This article is an excerpt from the Interview Success Guide, an indispensable tool you need to make your interview campaign a big success. This is a 216-page master blueprint that helps you understand and navigate the interview process so you can mount a successful interview campaign. This book has deep, insightful and immediately applicable interview wisdom that demystifies the world of interviewing. It also has over 400 questions, listed by category, for a variety of careers and jobs, which you could be asked in an interview. There are also over 1200 interview task reminders, questions and guidelines in checklist form so you leave nothing to chance in your job hunt. This guide gives you a step-by-step approach to mastering the interview process. Everything you need to do, from the moment you begin your job hunt to when you accept the position, is covered. We have thought of everything you could possibly need to know to conduct a comprehensive, smart job hunt campaign. Learn more about The Interview Success Guide and purchase it in pdf format, downloadable directly from this website. The Interview Success Guide eBook is also available in Amazon Kindle format and Barnes & Noble Nook format.


To learn more about how interview coaching can help you improve your abilities in media situations, oral test and exam situations, and job interviews visit Bill Cole, MS, MA, the Mental Game Coach™, at: www.mentalgamecoach.com/Services/InterviewCoaching.html.

Copyright © 2011- Bill Cole, MS, MA. All rights reserved.

Bill Cole, MS, MA, a leading authority on peak performance, mental toughness and coaching, is founder and CEO of William B. Cole Consultants, a consulting firm that helps organizations and professionals achieve more success in business, life and sports. He is also the Founder and President of the International Mental Game Coaching Association (www.mentalgamecoaching.com), an organization dedicated to advancing the research, development, professionalism and growth of mental game coaching worldwide. He is a multiple Hall-Of-Fame honoree as an athlete, coach and school alumnus, an award-winning scholar-athlete, published book author and articles author, and has coached at the highest levels of major-league pro sports, big-time college athletics and corporate America. For a free, extensive article archive, or for questions and comments visit him at www.MentalGameCoach.com.

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