Are all job interviews hard to read?

Question

I went for a 5 hour job interview today and I have NO idea if I got the job or not! There was a lot involved (role play, typing test, one on one interview etc). I didn't realise the interview would go so long so I didn't have any lunch beforehand. By the end I was barely functioning (massive sugar low)!

Do you find that you pretty much know whether or not you've got the job, or is it a mystery for everyone?

Answer 1

Your experience sounds grueling. The thing to remember to do during of the interview process is to find out who will be making the hiring decision, when the decision will be made, what the criteria are for making the decision, and then presenting yourself as the obvious choice for the position based on those criteria.

If you don't have any idea of how the prospective employer will come to his or her decision to choose the candidate to hire, it is difficult to put those pieces together in your thank you e-mails to everyone with whom you interviewed (also an important step). I wish you the best in getting the job you want, but always remember to be inquisitive in the interviewing process: You're selling yourself, and you need to know how to relate your assets and experience to the needs of the employer. Good luck!

Answer 2

Unless they tell you have you the job, then yea, I think they are all hard to read. I have the hardest time tell if they interviewer is being nice or if they seriously think I am a good candidate for the position. Sometimes the interviews go a little rough because the interviewer is inexperienced or because the interviewer is trying to see how you handle under stress. There is such a thing as a stress interview, where they will purposely try to stress you out to see how you cope.

I don't think I've ever been 100% sure after an interview. I've had interviews go great, and then never gotten a call. I've had graduate school interviews that have gone horribly, but I still got accepted.

Good luck!

Answer 3

It is most important to understand what they are looking for in a candidate. Once you have this information, you can respond verbally in a list fashion with very relevant examples. Let's say the job listing says they want the following (or they have told you this in person): - Someone with high attention to detail - Self starter - Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel Prepare a custom answer to the job description prior to the interview and use it when asked "Why should we give you this job". An example based on the job description above might look like this: "You are looking for someone with a high attention to detail. I have a significant level of experience with this from my experience as ... (list your experience, this may be with a school club, summer job/internship, class study group, or at home if you are involved in a family business). You are also looking for a self starter. I gained this valuable experience when I ... (list an example of how you were a self starter. Maybe you were an eagle scout, or started a scholarship or club at school. Maybe you took the initiative to pick up garbage when no one else did or you tutored your friends etc.). Finally, you want someone skilled in Word and Excel, and I have been using those programs for X years, plus took the following high school courses that furthered my expertise ... (list the courses). Therefore, based on what you are looking for, I believe I am extremely qualified for the job." If you do just a little research and a little preparation, preparing this kind of list with examples should be a cinch and take you ten times farther than the rest of the candidates because 1) you took the time to know what they want and 2) you were able to easily apply your relevant experiences to prove you have what they want. Good luck!

Answer 4

MYSTERY

my last job I thought the interview went terrible, and I got the job.

Answer 5

Not all job interviews are hard to read, but some are. That's about all we can say with any certainty.

Answer 6

You can never tell,ive been for about 20 job interviews in my life and when i thought i had it, i didn't and when i thought i didn't i did...so i have concluded you never know....good luck.