Indicators that an interview went well Forum

[Connor Benz]

Hi all,

since its spring semester and people are job searching and having interviews (while taking Property ) I wanted to share my interview experience and ask if these are indicators that the interview went well. I'm hoping some can give feedback or discuss what their interview experience was like.

So here is a summary of points of what happened in my interview:

- He kept taking notes on points that I brought up about myself
- He kept referencing a personal story about my mom I told him about (i.e. "like in your mom's case, or when this happened to your mom...")
- He laughed at a few of my comments
- We went off course and began discussing sports
- He asked if I wanted to work in the summer or fall and if I could work full time
- Discussed compensation
- He told me he had a few more interviews next week and I should expect a decision at x time and that he needs to fill the last 2 positions of 3
- He stated that my past work is aligned with they do at this job
- He mentioned at the *beginning* of the interview, after I told him about myself, that they are going to be hiring and that maybe I could end up working there when I graduate or potentially next year.

I guess I have HUGE anxiety about this because I need a job! Any thoughts would help.Thanks TLS Folks!

[ph14]

Hi all,

since its spring semester and people are job searching and having interviews (while taking Property ) I wanted to share my interview experience and ask if these are indicators that the interview went well. I'm hoping some can give feedback or discuss what their interview experience was like.

So here is a summary of points of what happened in my interview:

- He kept taking notes on points that I brought up about myself
- He kept referencing a personal story about my mom I told him about (i.e. "like in your mom's case, or when this happened to your mom...")
- He laughed at a few of my comments
- We went of course and began discussing sports
- He asked if I wanted to work in the summer or fall and if I could work full time
- Discussed compensation
- He told me he had a few more interviews next week and I should expect a decision at x time and that he needs to fill the last 2 positions of 3
- He stated that my past work is aligned with they do at this job
- He mentioned at the *beginning* of the interview, after I told him about myself, that they are going to be hiring and that maybe I could end up working there when I graduate or potentially next year.

I guess I have HUGE anxiety about this because I need a job! Any thoughts would help.Thanks TLS Folks!

Sounds like your interview definitely went well. But some parts of this you might be reading a bit too much into. I bet they say stuff like: "they are going to be hiring and that maybe I could end up working there when I graduate or potentially next year" to a lot or all of the candidates.

And more importantly, you don't know who else is being interviewed, their qualifications, who is doing the interviewing, etc. There's just a lot of variables you don't know. Best of luck to you though and it sounds like the interview went well so.

[Pancakes12]

From what you've said it sounds like you had an interview. HTH

outed and banned for anon abuse and posting in employment as a 0L

[soj]

I submitted some of my best job applications in Property.

[Connor Benz]

I submitted some of my best job applications in Property.

screw Property! I'm "studying" it now

[Connor Benz]

Hi all,

since its spring semester and people are job searching and having interviews (while taking Property ) I wanted to share my interview experience and ask if these are indicators that the interview went well. I'm hoping some can give feedback or discuss what their interview experience was like.

So here is a summary of points of what happened in my interview:

- He kept taking notes on points that I brought up about myself
- He kept referencing a personal story about my mom I told him about (i.e. "like in your mom's case, or when this happened to your mom...")
- He laughed at a few of my comments
- We went of course and began discussing sports
- He asked if I wanted to work in the summer or fall and if I could work full time
- Discussed compensation
- He told me he had a few more interviews next week and I should expect a decision at x time and that he needs to fill the last 2 positions of 3
- He stated that my past work is aligned with they do at this job
- He mentioned at the *beginning* of the interview, after I told him about myself, that they are going to be hiring and that maybe I could end up working there when I graduate or potentially next year.

I guess I have HUGE anxiety about this because I need a job! Any thoughts would help.Thanks TLS Folks!

Sounds like your interview definitely went well. But some parts of this you might be reading a bit too much into. I bet they say stuff like: "they are going to be hiring and that maybe I could end up working there when I graduate or potentially next year" to a lot or all of the candidates.

And more importantly, you don't know who else is being interviewed, their qualifications, who is doing the interviewing, etc. There's just a lot of variables you don't know. Best of luck to you though and it sounds like the interview went well so.

Thanks!

[sublime]

..

[A. Nony Mouse]

I mean, it's always more pleasant to come out of an interview feeling good than feeling like crap. But I honestly don't think you can ever really tell how it really went, except maybe if it was a true unmitigated disaster (like, you vomited on the interviewer/insulted the interviewer/forgot how to speak English). You have no idea what they're really looking for or how you compare to the other people they're interviewing. (In fact, it's pretty much just like how you have no idea coming out of a law school exam how you did, because you can't compare your performance to everyone else's.) You may have given the best interview you've ever given in your life, and someone else was just better/went to the right school/is related to the right client.

Basically, I want to quote the (sometimes) wise author of this post: Stop reading tea-leaves: Do the interview and move on.

(This isn't to say that you can't think about your own performance and how you could improve - you should probably come out of an interview thinking about what you, personally, would have liked to answer better so you can be better prepared next time. But do not try to read meaning into anything your interviewer said; some interviewers want to be liked and make everyone feel good about the interview, others want to give you a hard time and stress you out and see how you handle it, and rarely is any of it about you. Put it all out of your mind and move on to the next thing.)

[Connor Benz]

I mean, it's always more pleasant to come out of an interview feeling good than feeling like crap. But I honestly don't think you can ever really tell how it really went, except maybe if it was a true unmitigated disaster (like, you vomited on the interviewer/insulted the interviewer/forgot how to speak English). You have no idea what they're really looking for or how you compare to the other people they're interviewing. (In fact, it's pretty much just like how you have no idea coming out of a law school exam how you did, because you can't compare your performance to everyone else's.) You may have given the best interview you've ever given in your life, and someone else was just better/went to the right school/is related to the right client.

Basically, I want to quote the (sometimes) wise author of this post: Stop reading tea-leaves: Do the interview and move on.

(This isn't to say that you can't think about your own performance and how you could improve - you should probably come out of an interview thinking about what you, personally, would have liked to answer better so you can be better prepared next time. But do not try to read meaning into anything your interviewer said; some interviewers want to be liked and make everyone feel good about the interview, others want to give you a hard time and stress you out and see how you handle it, and rarely is any of it about you. Put it all out of your mind and move on to the next thing.)

I'm just out here trying to get a job man. It's real out here in New York.

[BLUERUFiO]

I mean, it's always more pleasant to come out of an interview feeling good than feeling like crap. But I honestly don't think you can ever really tell how it really went, except maybe if it was a true unmitigated disaster (like, you vomited on the interviewer/insulted the interviewer/forgot how to speak English). You have no idea what they're really looking for or how you compare to the other people they're interviewing. (In fact, it's pretty much just like how you have no idea coming out of a law school exam how you did, because you can't compare your performance to everyone else's.) You may have given the best interview you've ever given in your life, and someone else was just better/went to the right school/is related to the right client.

Basically, I want to quote the (sometimes) wise author of this post: Stop reading tea-leaves: Do the interview and move on.

(This isn't to say that you can't think about your own performance and how you could improve - you should probably come out of an interview thinking about what you, personally, would have liked to answer better so you can be better prepared next time. But do not try to read meaning into anything your interviewer said; some interviewers want to be liked and make everyone feel good about the interview, others want to give you a hard time and stress you out and see how you handle it, and rarely is any of it about you. Put it all out of your mind and move on to the next thing.)

Thanks for this. Very well said.

[jn7]

I have walked out of interviews thinking it went so well because the people were so nice/easygoing etc., but then I realize if they are so nice and conversational, then probably everybody walked out feeling the same way I did.

I think the only time you know anything definite about an interview is when it went bad, and you will definitely know when it went bad

[Danger Zone]

Number one sign that your interview went well: they call you.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

My experience is that it's hard to know . If it goes badly that's really obvious. I've never gotten a callback when I thought it was terrible. When I thought if went well sometimes I got a callback sometimes not. The job I accepted I got a callback less than. 5 minutes after the interview and then got offer less than 2-3 hours after callback.

[Connor Benz]

How soon should one send a thank you note? Or would a thank you email be better? I figured mailing a letter may be too long because you don't know if they are making these decisions with haste or are taking their time.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Send it immediately after the interview or the following day, if you're going to send one.

[horriblegb]

How soon should one send a thank you note? Or would a thank you email be better? I figured mailing a letter may be too long because you don't know if they are making these decisions with haste or are taking their time.

Because I probably over think everything, I wait until about 4:00pm, or whenever I get home, whichever is later, and shoot them a thank you email. I never wanted to seem too eager by sending an immediate email as soon as I got home, in 20 minutes, but I dont know if that is the correct way of thinking

[TTRansfer]

The only Number onesign that your interview went well: they call you.

[Connor Benz]

Send it immediately after the interview or the following day, if you're going to send one.

sweet!

[AntipodeanPhil]

My experience is that it's hard to know. If it goes badly that's really obvious. I've never gotten a callback when I thought it was terrible.

This. I've had probably 50+ job interviews in my life time, including at least 30 for legal positions over the past couple of years. You can know you're not going to get the job when it goes really badly, but that's about it.

The main problem, I think, is that some interviewers are just very good at making you feel like things are going well - because they're likable people, good at connecting, ask the right questions, etc. Unfortunately, it can be hard to know if it's you or if they're like that with everyone.

[dead head]

The main problem, I think, is that some interviewers are just very good at making you feel like things are going well - because they're likable people, good at connecting, ask the right questions, etc. Unfortunately, it can be hard to know if it's you or if they're like that with everyone.

Interviews are especially inscrutable if they are the product of lottery bids. In that case the employer may have absolutely no interest in you, in which case most interviewers will use it as an opportunity to shoot the shit and talk sports or whatever (although there are some who won't even attempt to appear interested).

[Connor Benz]

The main problem, I think, is that some interviewers are just very good at making you feel like things are going well - because they're likable people, good at connecting, ask the right questions, etc. Unfortunately, it can be hard to know if it's you or if they're like that with everyone.

Interviews are especially inscrutable if they are the product of lottery bids. In that case the employer may have absolutely no interest in you, in which case most interviewers will use it as an opportunity to shoot the shit and talk sports or whatever (although there are some who won't even attempt to appear interested).

Dude, we talked about sports at the end of the interview. He had a framed picture of Citi Field on his wall. We started talking about how he is a Mets fan and how I am a SF Giants fan

[Pokemon]

The best indicator that an interview went well is an..................................offer.

[dead head]

The main problem, I think, is that some interviewers are just very good at making you feel like things are going well - because they're likable people, good at connecting, ask the right questions, etc. Unfortunately, it can be hard to know if it's you or if they're like that with everyone.

Interviews are especially inscrutable if they are the product of lottery bids. In that case the employer may have absolutely no interest in you, in which case most interviewers will use it as an opportunity to shoot the shit and talk sports or whatever (although there are some who won't even attempt to appear interested).

Dude, we talked about sports at the end of the interview. He had a framed picture of Citi Field on his wall. We started talking about how he is a Mets fan and how I am a SF Giants fan

If you're an automatic callback they might do the same thing, which is why screeners or first-round interviews can be pretty inscrutable. But if it was more of a callback-style interview (which it sounds like), then it's probably a good sign, but you never know and the person interviewing you seldom has absolute decision-making power.