6 Signs that You're not Getting the Job

Ever left an interview somewhat confused about how it went? Whether you recognize it in the moment or it slowly dawns on you after you’ve replayed it in your head, at some point in your career, you’ll have experienced a bad interview. The reasons may vary but the signs are pretty obvious. Here are the top ways to know you’ve had a bad interview.

1. It got cut short

A shorter interview is not always a reason for concern. But if you were supposed to meet the team and end up leaving after the first person, it’s usually an indication that the first person made an executive decision that you’re just not the right fit.

2. You’re not being sold on the job or the company

Yes, you’re the one selling yourself to be selected for the role. But that doesn’t mean the interviewer doesn’t have a responsibility to sell you on the job or the company. After all, you may have choices and they have to ensure they’re doing their best to have you accept an offer should you receive one.

3. You feel no real connection to the interviewer

Even if you’re not the best at building rapport, you need to make a connection with the interviewer to get to the next level. But the burden of connection doesn’t lie solely on your shoulders. Interviewers should try to make candidates comfortable so they really get to know them. If the interviewer didn’t try to make a connection or you felt you just kept getting your wires crossed, it’s certainly not a good sign.

4. Questions are asked & answered — & that's it

A good interview feels like a conversation. It’s not an interrogation or a fact-collecting session. An interview should be a give-and-take that flows naturally and where follow-up questions arise from what is actually being said. If your interviewer is just firing away questions and moving to the next after each answer, they are probably just going through the motions until they can find a reasonable moment to end the interview.

5. Salary & availability don’t come up

While salary is often discussed in detail as you get closer to the offer stage, an initial interview should touch on your salary expectations. The same goes for your availability. Once these are established, there’s no reason to worry if no one brings it up again in your subsequent interviews. Also, just remember, if you’re in a state that has passed a salary history ban, you don’t have to divulge your current salary, only what you’re looking for.

6. You just know

OK, the truth is many people have had what they thought were bad interviews only to be called in for the next round. But if you’ve had a seriously bad meeting, you just know. Trust yourself and listen to your gut. If you can salvage it in anyway through your follow up, it’s always worth a shot. At this point, you’ve got nothing to lose by putting yourself out there, acknowledging that it didn’t go as well as you had hoped and asking for a do-over or sending materials that support your request.