Five Signs Your Interview Is Going Well

As a job seeker, you’ll spend a lot of time preparing for interviews (hopefully using some of our helpful resources!). There’s a lot to cover when preparing for interviews, as you want to do the necessary research, practice accordingly, and stand out (in a good way). We’ve often covered the pitfalls you can fall into during interviews, so let’s try the opposite approach. How can you know that your interview is going well?

If you’ve done the proper work beforehand and know the signs to look for, there are clear signals things are going your way. Watch for these green flags at your next interview, and that coveted job may soon be yours!

The interview ran long

Interviewers set a certain amount of time aside for each interview for a reason. If things aren’t going well, you likely won’t use the allotted time. But if the interviewer keeps chatting and asking you questions and there’s a delightful back and forth, it shows a clear interest in you as a candidate.

Time is money, friend, and recruiters don’t want to squander it. Career coach Emily Liou says that recruiters don’t want to waste either party’s time if it’s not a good match. “But when we found a stellar candidate, we would try to spend additional time to flush out what we needed to know to make an informed decision,” Liou said.

Just like when on a date, if you find yourself talking long after expecting to go home, things are going well. You may even get offered a second interview right away to continue the conversation!

You meet other team members

Depending on the position, relevant staff members you’d potentially work with may sit in on the interview. But if your interviewers take you on a tour of the office and introduce you to potential coworkers, that’s a very good sign.

According to Indeed, this is because they think you’re a good fit for the company’s environment and are excited to introduce you to the team. Remember, companies aren’t just looking for skills but for someone that aligns with their corporate culture and chemistry.

“If you got to meet some management or upper-management staff, take it as a good sign that you’re being seriously considered for the role.” –Alison Doyle

The interviewer sells you on the company

In any interview, you’re interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. You’re choosing to work there just as much as they’re choosing to hire you.

Zippia’s Sky Ariella says there will be a subtle shift from the interviewer learning about your skills and experiences to giving you the hard sell on the company. This includes discussing the culture, the company perks, exciting landmarks, and your day-to-day duties. If they want you to like the company, it’s a good sign they want you at the company. And seeing their excitement is a valuable window into the corporate culture. If they seem to genuinely be excited about what they are offering and it doesn’t feel like a canned pitch, that’s a green flag.

It’s even better if it seems to take a tangible turn. If they say “This is where you’ll be working,” or “You’ll work with these team members,” they may already be thinking of you as a team member.

The conversation turns casual

Again, organizations want to hire people they think will be a good fit for their team. No one is going to hire someone they don’t want to work with no matter how qualified you are. It’s always good to find a way to connect with your interviewer on a more personal level to build rapport and stand out.

Forbes’ Jack Kelly points to the subtle moment when the conversation turns from prepared questions to genuine personal conversation. If they start pointing out things in common and looking for shared personal experiences, they’re likely viewing you as a person they could work with.

“The interviewer stops with the standard corporate, cold and clinical facade that human resource professionals and hiring managers put on to show that they are serious and mean business, and starts smiling and laughing.” -Jack Kelly

The body language is positive

Perhaps the easiest way to tell if you’re nailing the interview is by judging the body language of your interviewer. We can learn to control our physical and verbal ticks, but some behaviors still shine through.

James Hawley writes that an engaged interviewer will nod, smile, and argue with things you say while opening the floor for you to elaborate. The more engaged they seem and the more they invite you to say, the better you’re doing.

“Does the recruiter seem engaged with what you’re saying? Are they leaning forward when you say something particularly incisive? Smiling? Do their eyes have some spark in them?” –Elliot Kaplan

Wrap up

You won’t get every interview you feel good about, but these examples are clear indicators you’re doing well. An interview has just as much to do with your personality and culture fit as it does your skills, and if you find the conversation flowing and the vibe to your liking, that’s an excellent sign the job may be yours.

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Ditch These Phrases To Become More Confident

Whether you’re applying for your first job, branching out into a career change, or you’re an experienced leader, confidence is crucial in establishing yourself in your career. Becoming truly confident in your work life can be a lifelong process, but there are small steps you can take right now to lay the necessary foundation.

By doing something as simple as self-monitoring the language you use on a daily basis, you can avoid phrases that portray a lack of confidence. When you use the right language, not only will you appear confident to others, but you’ll convince yourself as well.

Ladder’s Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes’ Christine Comaford, Inc’s Marla Tabaka, and CNBC Make It’s Kathy and Ross Petras cited some key phrases to ditch in order to exemplify confidence. We’ll categorize them and highlight a few of the most egregious examples.

Verbal qualifiers

“Almost: “I think I’ve said almost everything about that.”” -Christine Comaford

The core of what you’re saying can express your idea effectively, but a single word or innocuous phrase will take the power away from your message. In the above example, the speaker could have finished strong, but the phrase “I think” and the word “almost” take the wind out of the sails.

Qualifying words like the two above lead to being perceived as a weak leader or speaker. When you use these words, you aren’t owning the statement you’re making, and you’re disconnecting from your feelings, according to Christine Comaford. These words take the authority away from the speaker, making you appear weaker.

Med School Insiders lists adding “Does that make sense?”, “Know what I mean?”, and “I dunno” as other common qualifiers nervous speakers will add to the end of their ideas that express a lack of confidence.

Simply removing the qualifiers keeps the core of your message intact while making it appear stronger. Marla Tabaka provides the following:

“I just feel like this is an important problem for us to explore.” vs. “This is an important problem for us to explore.”

Which sounds more confident to you?

Being indirect or cliched

“I just wanted to check in…” – Kaitlyn McInnis

No matter who you’re speaking to, you have agency. While you should always be respectful, just because you aren’t in a position of power doesn’t mean you have to be meek. Make the most of your time by speaking clearly and confidently.

Opening an email with “I just wanted to check in” and closing with “Looking forward to hearing from you” are common cliches that Kaitlyn McInnis says to avoid. These phrases, and the ones like them, are dancing around the subject instead of getting to the heart of the matter. These phrases can even make it sound like you’re apologizing for simply requesting information or a follow-up.

“I hope this email finds you well” is another fan non-favorite. Not only is it a massive cliché, but no one actually talks like this. It’s a greeting of the inexperienced. A simple “good wishes” or “I hope you’re having a great day” feels more natural and sincere.

Over apologizing

“Sorry to bother you, but…”- Kathy and Ross Petras

Tying into the above point, the problem with many of these words in phrases is that they appear overly apologetic. You shouldn’t feel like you’re impeding on someone’s time with a necessary request.

Apologizing when necessary is something everyone should strive for, but when you’re following up or asking for clarity, you shouldn’t feel excusatory.

Kaitlyn McInnis suggests finding ways to turn an apology into a thank you. If it took you a while to respond to an email, thank the sender for their patience rather than apologize for the tardiness. We all have things come up, and everyone should be willing to forgive the occasional late email.

“Sorry to bother you” is one of the most guilty examples. Kathy and Ross Petras say that you can appear much more confident and less self-deprecating with a simple “excuse me.” It’s a polite way to garner attention without belittling yourself. Remember—being direct is a sign of confidence!

Wrap up

We all fall victim to these weak phrases, and some of them are so ingrained in our vocabulary that we don’t even realize it! Take some time to self-reflect and analyze your language choices. You can even go back to previous emails or texts to see if you’re guilty of these practices. Avoid qualifying language, be direct and sincere, and don’t apologize simply for existing. These small steps will go far in making you sound confident to your peers and, with luck, yourself!

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How To Answer “Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?”

Today’s career paths are much more nonlinear than they were years ago. There’s a high chance you won’t stay with the same organization throughout your entire career. Even if you like your job, outside circumstances may change things, including layoffs, the need to relocate, or something unexpected like the pandemic.

Hopefully, you can leave the organization on good terms and have a valuable reference down the road. Whether on good terms or bad, you’ll need to be prepared for interviewers to ask, “Why did you leave your last job?”

Why do employers ask this? According to Job Search Strategist Hannah Morgan, it’s because future employers genuinely want to know, and they learn a lot about you based on your response.

Make sure not to alienate yourself with your new employer with a bad answer on why you left your previous one. Take time to prepare, and embrace these philosophies before you answer why you left your last job.

“Asking you why you left your last job helps the employer understand you – your motivation, how you handle challenging situations, and your goals. They are looking for any red flags that may eliminate you such as reoccurring issues with bosses.” -Hannah Morgan

Be honest

The first unmistakable tip is to be as honest as you can with the interviewer. You might not have left your last organization on the best terms, and it happens. But it’s easy for employers to find out the truth. The new organization may contact your old one, and you don’t want to put your references in an awkward position by lying to them and forcing them to perpetuate your lie. If you lie, it will come back to bite, and you’ll look even worse.

“If you have to spill the beans, be sure to stay unemotional, calm, and even-toned in your responses. Try to take the spotlight off the negative and focus on what you’re hoping to be involved with in your potential new role.” -Jennifer Parris

If you were fired or laid off, you need to be honest about it, but these aren’t necessarily deal-breakers for a new company. Natalia Autenrieth says to own your part in whatever may have happened and find a positive that came from the experience. Be truthful, but focus only on the facts and what you bring to the organization.

Indeed reminds us that that doesn’t mean you have to reveal every detail though. Stick to the relevant facts and move on quickly. You can answer the question honestly without making negative remarks about your previous employer.

Be positive

Your previous job might actually deserve potential negative remarks. There are many organizations with outdated practices that contribute to a toxic environment. No need to sugarcoat it—many jobs suck!

But this isn’t what your potential employer wants to hear. Just as you wouldn’t want to talk about your ex on a date, badmouthing your “ex” in an interview makes you look petty and as though you focus on the negative. There are two sides to every story, and your side may not appear as clear-cut to an outsider. And the new employer might wonder how you’ll speak about them in the future.

Instead, learn how to spin things in a positive direction. Lily Zhang suggests always including a positive about the last organization while still being honest. If you want to advance your career, you can talk about the need to find growth and a challenge. If the leadership is bad, you can talk about how you love the mission of your last company but think you need a different sort of environment to succeed.

Focus on the future

Your potential employer has a genuine interest in why you left your last job because it provides them clues on what type of person you are. You aren’t in taking a meeting to go over old news—you’re there to provide value to a new organization. So while answering this question in as honest and as positive a manner as you possibly can, make sure to tie things into what you offer the new company.

If you weren’t happy with the work you were doing or the growth opportunities your old job provided, you can turn this into a positive for your new employer, Hannah Morgan writes. It shows that you’re taking charge and looking for a change, and it paints you as someone who is proactive in dealing with an issue.

FlexJobs’ Jennifer Parris says to be confident when answering this question. Almost everyone leaves a job at some point in their lives. Answering with confidence while being truthful and positive shows that you’ve left that position behind you and that you’re looking forward and ready for new challenges in a new role.

Wrap up

Don’t bring the baggage of a discarded job with you to a new one. Employers want to know why you left your last job so that they can get a sense of what type of employee you’ll be for them. Be honest and positive, even if you didn’t love your last job. Keep things focused on the future and what you bring to the table. Practice your responses, and you’ll position yourself as the ideal candidate!

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Four Reasons Not To Take The Job

Not every job you’ll get an offer for will be your dream job, unfortunately. We can’t always be picky about every opportunity that comes our way. Sometimes we need the money, and sometimes we need to gain experience so we can get that dream job down the road. But even with these truths, there are plenty of good reasons to decline a job offer.

We’ve previously covered red flags to watch out for in job descriptions, but things won’t always be readily apparent, and a good interview won’t always mean a good workplace. With any job offer, you’ll need to trust your gut on whether it’s the right fit for you. With a little help from the experts, we look into four of the most common and powerful reasons to decline a job offer.

The offering isn’t good

Ultimately, we work so that we can live our lives. We hope you can find a job that feels like a calling, but even the people with the best work-life balance need to eat. Generally, if a job is paying below market value or not willing to provide what you’re worth, you won’t want that job.

Monster’s Mark Swartz says that although there are sometimes good reasons to take a pay cut, it isn’t ideal. And it isn’t just salary, but the job title, the benefits package, and potential vacation time all fall under this category. If you feel you didn’t get what you deserved, it might be a while before you can schedule a change. This can lead to anger and resentment, making the position even worse.

Thankfully, this is something that can be fixed or acknowledged early in your interview process according to Indeed. Despite what others might say, don’t be afraid to ask about salary early in the process. If it’s not to your liking, you have options to fix things before declining the offer, including:

  • Try to negotiate the compensation package with the prospective employer
  • Request that a salary review is done a few months into the job potentially after probation
  • Decide if the employee benefits on offer compensate for the lack of salary

The people aren’t great

But money isn’t a cure-all for everything, and plenty have left jobs that paid well that were otherwise unpleasant. If your bosses or coworkers don’t seem up to par, you may want to save yourself the headache and decline.

Jen Hubley Luckwaldt mentions the old adage “Workers don’t quit companies. They quit managers.” Studies consistently back this up, with bad bosses being a common reason for employee departures. Your direct supervisor should be one of the people in your interviews, so pay close attention to them. What are they like, and how do they describe their work style? Luckwaldt says that while you won’t be able to tell everything about them in one quick meeting, you should be able to get a good picture of whether you can work with them or not.

Your potential coworkers can be a great clue as well. What is the energy like in the office? Do people seem engaged with one another? Pay attention to body language and try to pick up on any clues you can.

“If the job is in Engineering, for example, it matters who is running Manufacturing and who is running Sales. If these latter managers are not competent, what the Engineering team designs may not be fully realized as viable products, and Sales may not be able to sell them.” Nick Corcodilos

The company isn’t a good fit

Most companies have good people, but if the culture isn’t great, it will trickle down. People want value in their jobs, and if a culture seems off or the company appears to be failing, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any value.

If you found yourself getting ghosted or the communication felt poor during the interview process, that’s a bad sign. The mission statement might not be something you agree with, or you might have different priorities. And sometimes, what works for one person doesn’t for another. A fast-paced office might be the dream to some and a nightmare to others. The company might not be bad—just not right for you. And that’s okay!

Beyond culture, there are many other signs a company might not be right for you. Beth Braccio Hering lists a revolving door of employees, a bad reputation, and no clear path to advancements as signs the company isn’t doing things right. Meanwhile, Ask The Headhunter’s Nick Corcodilos suggests looking up the company’s finances and trying to talk about them in the interview. It won’t do you much good to accept an offer if the company is close to bankruptcy!

The quality of life is poor

Sometimes a job might look fine on paper, but enough little things add up, and the job might be a poor fit for your lifestyle.

One of the most common reasons to decline a job is because of the commute. Maybe the job is amazing, but it’s just too far away to reliably get there or your kid’s school is in the complete opposite direction. You’ll have to ask yourself if it’s worth it.

“Getting to and from work should not be the most exhausting part of your day. If it is, you’ll arrive to your job with frayed nerves and get home in a bad mood.” Mark Swartz

Another example is if you can’t agree on remote or hybrid work model. If you’re looking for some sort of balance and the employer isn’t offering what you need, it’s okay to look elsewhere.

Wrap up

In the long run, it’s better to decline a bad job offer than to accept and quit shortly after. Constant quitting can affect your pay grade and career trajectory down the road. If the money, the coworkers, the company culture, and the effects to your quality of life seem poor, don’t feel bad about declining an offer. We hope that knowing there are good reasons not to accept a job and knowing your worth as an employee can help steer you to a job you’re excited about, not just one that pays the bills!

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Curating Your Social Media As A Job Seeker

Whether for business or pleasure, social media usage is on the rise. We’ve come a long way from the MySpace days, and now a social media presence is an expectation rather than a hobby. We’ve previously stressed how vital a strong LinkedIn existence is, but even your personal accounts across the web are relevant to your job search.

Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and even Facebook make up your digital footprint, and this is something all job seekers must be aware of. A 2018 CareerBuilder survey found that 70% of employers use social media sites to vet candidates, and that number has surely risen since then.

“70% of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates (on par with last year), while 7% plan to start… And that review matters: Of those that do social research, 57% have found content that caused them not to hire candidates.” –CareerBuilder

Make sure your profiles are helping rather than hurting your job aspirations. Keep your social media profiles safe for work by following these strategies!

Avoid anything unprofessional

Some of the basics should be fairly obvious. You might not be actively trying to generate “content” on every platform, but be wary of what you post. Even on accounts that are completely personal, you don’t want to share anything offensive, overly risque, divisive, or overly argumentative.

Your personal pages are your personal pages, but employers are wary about hiring a candidate that might make them look bad down the road, and the previous study mentioned that over 50% of employers that have researched candidates’ social profiles found something that caused them to look elsewhere.

Google yourself

If you want to see what your potential employers can see, throw your name into Google, or your preferred search engine, and see what comes up. You can use Incognito mode or a different computer if you’re afraid of your regular system’s biases.

From there, you’ll be able to see how an outsider will view you. What pops up first? And is it flattering? By Googling yourself, you may find questionable profiles or posts you don’t even remember, and you can take necessary action. If nothing else, you can see which accounts need to be made private.

If you want to be really thorough, David Cotriss recommends setting up a Google alert on yourself to regulatory see if anything comes up.

“If you appear on an undesirable website, try reaching out to the webmaster to remove you. Ask people who have tagged you in inappropriate posts on social media to remove you as well. You can be sure employers will do a Google search on you, so why not be one step ahead?” –Michael Moran, recruiter

Look into privacy options

Every major social media platform has some sort of privacy settings, so you’ll want to learn what they are and curate them to your needs.

For example, if you only use Facebook to keep track of birthdays and keep up with what your high school friends are up to, it may not matter. But if you regularly post pictures of nights on the town, you may want to keep an eye on who can see that content.

It can be worth having both a private and public profile on the same site, depending on your needs. A public-facing Instagram and a personal one can have completely different content, and only the public one will be viewable to employers.

Keep an online presence

Even if you have a few less-than-professional things pop up during your self-scout, your first instinct shouldn’t be to put everything on private and delete every account. David Cotriss writes that 1-in-5 employers won’t hire a candidate that has zero online presence. This can make it seem like you have something to hide. Cotriss also says that deleting a profile won’t always hide all offending content, and employers may be able to see cached versions.

Instead, keep some accounts active and engaged. Make sure all of your contact information is up to date Keep your LinkedIn profile updated regularly, have nice conversations on Twitter, and keep telling your friends happy birthday on Facebook. You’ll be able to connect with people that can help you, and you’ll seem like a real person.

Engage carefully

“The good news is you can leverage social media to build your image as much as to wreck it.” –Jeff Lipschultz

Now that you’ve curated what you’ve already put into the digital world, make sure you continue good habits by making your engagements worthwhile. Alessandro Biascioli says to be choosey about your likes and follows, especially on public profiles. It’s not hard to see what posts you’ve liked and who you engage with. If you’re liking divisive content, you’ll scare employers aware, but if you’re engaging with professionally relevant content, this can be viewed as a plus.

Meanwhile, Alison Doyle says that you don’t need to connect with everyone. Quality is better than quantity, and you’ll be much more likely to find value or offer value to others in a more curated network.

“Put aside all the trash talking and trolling on Twitter and consider using it to your advantage. Look for your tribe on the site. Seek out trending topics that align with your skills and background. Then, weigh in with your comment, offering your unique perspective.” –Jack Kelly, Forbes

Wrap up

Social media is an endlessly valuable tool that needs to be used correctly. At its best, you’ll show off your personal brand and make valuable connections. At worst, you’ll frighten potential employers. Google yourself to see what employers can see, and clean up as necessary. Avoid posting anything vulgar or unprofessional and familiarize yourself with different platforms’ privacy options. Keep an online prescience, and make your engagements count!

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