Administrative Sparkle Blog

I always get nervous with job interviews. Well, interviews in general. Your resume gets you in the door, but the interview gets the job. What are some of the signs you can be tuned into that give a favorable impression that you have a good chance of landing that job? These are not hard and fast rules that you will get the job. After all, there are no guarantees. However, if you don’t see these signals, you won’t get your hopes up. Body language speaks louder than words. So here we go.

10 Signals That the Job Could be Yours

1. Smiling when you smile.
2. Consistently open and warm body language.
3. Relaxed forehead.
4. Maintaining eye contact and paying attention to what you are saying.
5. Nodding when you are speaking.
6. Leaning toward you.
7. Seeming more enthusiastic midway through the interview.
8. Offering to show you around after the interview.
9. Walking around desk to shake your hand when leaving (no barriers).
10. Walking you all the way to the reception area and lingering while you leave.

I have to admit, in my own personal experience, whenever I was given a bit of a walk-around and shown the location and the people of where I would be working, I received a call shortly thereafter of a job offer. However, I have been walked to the entrance with conversation and not necessarily landed the job (although I do believe I was one of the top candidates). Also, the jobs I was offered, the employer processed through the interviews in the same day. I would be asked if I could be an hour later or later in the day to meet with another interview.

I remember one day having gone on four interviews in the same day. Keep in mind four interviews in a day is really exhausting! It’s way too much to be talking about yourself (this is where you get to brag about your accomplishments) and it is physically exhausting and stressful on the body.

Back to point… Nevertheless, I was actually only booked for one interview that day. It was early in the morning. After the first interview, I was scheduled to come back later that same day for a second interview. I then received a call for an impromptu interview for a different department in the same building. Finally, I was called for a last interview for a quick meet and greet with the hiring manager from the impromptu interview, who actually offered me the job on the spot.

Rarely does hiring on the spot happen, but it still happens. Also, when the initial call comes in for an interview, I try to get a time slot that is at the back end of the interviewing process. Management is exhausted with the process, already itching to make a decision, having seen the unskilled and unprepared, and ready for that final great interviewee. That would be YOU! You’ve come prepared, dressed professionally, calm, centered, confident (but not cocky), and pleasant to interact with.

What experiences have you found that could be an encouraging signal to a job offer? What tactics do you use to prepare to be the best candidate and shine in an interview? What traits do you believe stand out in a solid candidate? Do you have a surprising tale of where you felt like you had the interview from hell and was actually offered the job? Share your story. Funny, sad, enlightening, crazy, goofy. Would love to hear from you.

To your success!