It’s been a couple of days since your interview, and you’ve been anxiously checking your e-mail and refreshing your inbox every five minutes.

You took your phone out of silent mode, and you’re still checking for any missed calls that came through while you were in the shower.

You might have even checked the hiring manager's LinkedIn profile once (or twice), searching for any signs that might indicate whether they have reached a decision.

That’s when you decide to search on Google for “signs you will get the job offer after an interview”, just for some reassurance.

I get it – we’ve all been there! It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious after a job interview. Your friends and family might have advised you to keep it cool and not worry about it. As right as they are – ideally, you should try to relax – we know that’s easier said than done.

So to help you manage your emotions during this time of waiting, we’ve listed the most common signs that indicate you will or won’t get the job offer.

Naturally, we can’t guarantee 100% accuracy here. Even if the positive signs are all there, you can never be entirely sure until you receive that phone call.

Still, there are usually positive and negative signs that indicate which direction the company might go.

We hope this helps!

The Job Application Checklist: Have You Gone Through These Steps?

Before we go through our list, it’s worth mentioning that it’s almost always true that you must have checked all the boxes from the application process in order to get to the offer stage. This means:

✅ Going through all the interview rounds: This will vary from company to company, but recruiters usually disclose in the first interview how many rounds you will go through.

✅ Discussing the details: Recruiters can only make an offer if they know you’re aligned with the details of the role, such as the type of employment contract, working hours, whether remote, hybrid, or in-person, salary expectations, reporting, and so on. These conversations usually start early on in the application process.

✅ Delivering any tests needed for the application process: Some companies ask for one or two tests to evaluate if you’re a good fit for the role.

Made it through all of these steps? Nice! Let’s move on.

Signs You Will Get The Job Offer

If you’ve made it to the final interview round and you’re waiting for a “yes” or “no”, the best thing to do is to revisit your interactions at each stage of the interview process.

While the person you will report to is usually the ultimate decision maker, everyone plays an important role in the hiring process.

We broke down the positive signs from each interview round so you can calmly revisit each interaction:

Round #1: Initial Screening

The initial screening is usually done by a recruiter or an HR representative to assess a candidate’s qualifications and fit for the role and company.

It’s also when recruiters fill you in on more details about the company and role, like expectations for the role, working format, team structure, and more.

While the ultimate decision still comes from management, recruiters often have a say on whether or not the candidate is a good cultural fit. If you made a positive first impression with the recruiter, the odds are more in your favor!

The two main signs to look for after the initial screening are:

#1 They provide immediate next steps

One of the best signs you did well in an interview is if the recruiter provides immediate next steps, such as sending you the technical assignment or booking you for the next round of interviews.

Another positive sign is sending you any additional information from the company, like company presentations, recent news pieces from the company, team members' LinkedIn profiles, etc.

#2 They quickly reply to your e-mails

Trust me, when a recruiter finds someone who’s a good fit for the role, they won’t keep them in the dark and risk losing a good candidate.

Got a prompt reply from your interview thank you note?

Did they reply ASAP once you sent them your technical assignment?

Were they quick to check your availability for the next steps?

Chances are, you probably made a good impression!

Round #2: In-Depth Interviews

So you got through the initial screening, sent your technical assignment, and made it to the in-depth interview phase. Awesome!

This round can usually involve several back-to-back interviews with team members, managers, and sometimes even higher-level executives.

Depending on the company and the structure of the role, this might be the most important interview round. Sometimes it is even more important than the last round, which usually involves upper management, since here you’re talking to the people who you will directly work with.

These are some of the positive signs you can expect from this round:

#1 They show enthusiasm about your background

Did the interviewer show enthusiasm about something you shared during the interview, or is that displayed on your resume?

That’s a good sign! They probably saw a unique value that can be leveraged for the role.

Think about it: interviewers won’t be easily surprised if you check most of the boxes from the job description – that’s what they expect.

But if they show even a spark of enthusiasm about something from your professional experience – like a specific skill you mastered, a project you led, or a goal you reached – that’s saying: “This candidate has more to offer than I expected”. It’s setting you apart from the competition!

But don’t panic if they don’t show a ton of enthusiasm! Many interviewers might not show it – that’s why you’ll want to pay attention to the other signs. For example…

#2 They complement your technical assignment

Another positive sign is when they spontaneously compliment your technical assignment, especially if they point out what they enjoyed most about it.

And if they don’t complement it right away, but ask a few questions about your line of thought while completing the assignment– that’s a great sign, too! It means you grabbed their attention and they want to pick your brain a little bit more to get to know you better.

#3 They add thoughts to your answers and inputs

When interviewers build on your comments (instead of simply listening, nodding, and moving on to the next questions), it shows genuine interest and engagement.

This means that your background and experience spoke to them, and they have a good idea about what you can bring to the table if you’re selected for the role!

#4 The interview runs long

Did the interview run 10, 20, or even 30 minutes beyond the scheduled time?

That’s a great sign! This usually means the conversation was productive. Plus, it also indicates a pleasant interaction, which can be a sign of a good fit between you and the team.

#5 They ask when you would be available to get started

Shifting from hypothetical scenarios to concrete start dates is a very positive sign.

If they ask you about your availability to start, it can mean they’re seriously considering making you an offer and are trying to figure out how quickly they can bring you on board.

Round #3: Executive-Level (Directors, CEOs, etc.)

Nice, you made it Round #3! This is when you’ll be interviewed by executive-level leadership. It’s the final step of the application process for most companies.

If you weren’t informed about any further steps, then you’ll likely get an answer in the next few days!

And it might be good news if…

#1 The interviewer has context on your background

If at some point in the conversation, they mention something about your background, experience, skills, or even your personal life, that is a strong indicator of interest!

This means they have been briefed about you in detail and probably want to know more about you.

#2 They don’t ask the same questions from the other interview rounds

Another positive sign is when they ask questions you haven’t been asked before.

This is another indicator that they’ve been briefed about your experience and want to shift the focus on this interview round towards fresh topics that haven’t been covered yet.

Signs You Might Not Get The Job

We’ve all been there.

As much as we’d like to stay positive about the outcome, sometimes things don’t turn out the way we expect.

Typical signs you might not get the job offer include:

• Expressing concerns about your fit for the role: If the interviewer seems to focus too much on your experience or skill gaps, or repeatedly brings up potential challenges, it might indicate hesitation about your fit.
• Taking too long to follow up: If days pass without any word or the promised next steps, it could be a sign that they're considering other candidates more seriously.
• Lacking engagement during the interview: Lack of engagement or minimal follow-up questions on your answers can also be a negative signal. It might indicate that the interviewer is not sufficiently impressed or interested.
• The interview ends early: If the interview was scheduled for an hour but wraps up in 30 minutes, this might be a sign that they’ve already decided not to proceed with your application.
• They seem like they haven’t read your resume… or looked at your assignment: If the interviewer expresses a lack of familiarity with your resume or technical assignment, it might suggest they are already considering other candidates more seriously.

Even so, we still recommend you don’t get too hooked on the negative signs. It’s not a “No” until you’ve heard back!

Things You Need To Know Before You Say “Yes”

We know the wait can be rough. But it can also be very beneficial: it’s a good time to do some additional preparation you may not have thought of before!

Let’s say you get the job offer. Awesome! Before you hit “Reply” with an enthusiastic “Yes”, there are a few things you should consider, starting with:

Research On Company Culture And Values

Did you know the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work during their lifetime?

That's a ton of time, so be sure you’re making the best of it!

A positive company culture is directly tied to job satisfaction, productivity, and innovation. So it’s very important you research the company’s culture while you wait for a reply to ensure you’re making the right decision.

We all know that the company website and LinkedIn page can be biased, so the best way to make an impartial evaluation is by researching what employees and ex-employees have to say.

One way to do this is by looking up the company on Glassdoor and reading employees' reviews. We recommend filtering out the 5-star and 1-star ratings to get an idea of more realistic reviews!

If the company isn’t listed on Glassdoor, you can look up former and current employees on LinkedIn. Check for the average tenure and look for any positive or negative posts about the company.

Always Negotiate Salary

Negotiating salary is a huge part of the application process. Unfortunately, over half of professionals don’t negotiate – and it’s making them miss out on $634,000 over the course of their careers.

Some people are hesitant to negotiate salary because they don’t want to be seen as greedy. But most companies actually expect candidates to negotiate! This report from VidCruiter shows that 84% of employers always expect candidates to negotiate.

It is important to remember that there is a methodology behind salary negotiation. Our post, How To Negotiate Salary: 7 Winning Strategies from 93,000+ LinkedIn Data Points covers the best strategies for negotiating salary!

Understand The Compensation Package

The compensation package isn’t just salary, bonuses, and stock options. It can also include additional components like:

• PTO (Paid time off)
• Flexible hours
• Remote work or hybrid arrangements
• Health, education, and/or work-from-home stipend

Understanding these components not only helps you have a clearer view of the company’s culture, but can also help you negotiate your offer.

Didn’t Get The Offer? Here’s What You Need To Do

We know that not getting the job offer can be super frustrating. But don’t beat yourself up: it’s all part of the game.

As a next step, it’s a good idea to level up with solid interview preparation. This article guides you through winning strategies to ace your interviews, such as:

• How to answer core interview questions and anticipate additional questions
• How to conduct proper research on the company
• How to research your interviewers
• How to create a value-added project to seal the deal

Head over to our free interview preparation guide and start gearing up for your next interview!