How Do You Know an Interview Went Well?

You walk out of the interview. It ran long, they smiled, they said it was a great conversation. The honest answer to how you know an interview went well is this: most of the time you can't tell from inside the room. But sorting the signs into strong and weak ones helps you stay calmer while you wait.

Strong signs an interview went well

The only reliable sign is a concrete next step. What matters is not how the interviewer seemed to feel but the next step they offered you:

• A date discussed for the next round. If the calendar came out on the spot, or you were given the name of your next interviewer, the process is moving forward with you.

• A request for references. At most companies reference checks happen towards the end of the process. Still, it is not a promise of an offer.

• A decision date given, and a reply on that date. Giving a date is not a sign on its own; keeping it is.

Signs that can mislead you

The mood of the interview says little about the decision. These feel positive, but they often come from the interviewer's style or from a flow every candidate goes through:

• The interview running longer than planned

• A friendly atmosphere, lines like "we really liked you"

• Being introduced to the team or shown around the office

• Questions about your salary expectations, start date or notice period: many companies ask every candidate these

The reverse holds too: a short interview, one with hard questions, or a reserved interviewer can still end in a yes.

How do you know a video interview went well?

The same rule as in person: look for a concrete next step. Reading gestures and mood through a camera is even harder, which makes asking about the next step at the end of the call all the more important.

What should you ask at the end of an interview?

"What's the next step, and when can I expect to hear back?" It is a polite question and it gets you a date. Note the date you're given:

• The day after the interview you can send a short thank-you note. There are examples in the thank-you email after an interview guide.

• If the date you were given has passed, it's the right time for a follow-up. We explain how to write one in the follow-up email after an interview guide.

• If there's still silence after your follow-up, see no response after an interview.

On e-kariyerim, when you update an application's status you can also add the reply date the company promised. If the date passes without a word, you get a reminder, so you don't have to keep it in your head.