7 signs you're acing a job interview

(MoneyWatch) Job interviews are stressful, not least of all because it's hard to tell if you're on your way to the next round or being crossed off the short list altogether. In a first interview, it's very rare for an HR person or hiring manager to offer you a job right off the bat. But there are some signs that you might be getting a call back shortly -- or even a job offer. Here are seven to look for:

The interviewer uses "forward-thinking" language. The person you're speaking with might reveal what they're thinking through subtle hints. "Listen closely to see if the interviewer is giving you any verbal cues about the future," notes Amanda Haddaway, author of "Destination Real World: Success after Graduation." "For example, the interviewer might say things like 'once you start,' or 'when you join the team.' "

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He or she asks follow up questions. Are you being ask to expand on something you've said? That's a great sign. "If an interviewer has tuned out or is just going through a checklist of questions, they will not want to dig deep by asking follow-up questions," says Carolina Ceniza-Levine, career coach with Six Figure Start and co-author of "How the Fierce Handle Fear: Secrets to Succeeding in Challenging Times." They may also ask for their calls to be held or for a later appointment to be pushed back in order to focus solely on you.

Your interviewer is nodding or leaning in. In addition to verbal cues, you may receive non-verbal signs that indicate the interview is going well. If they're leaning in, making good eye contact or nodding, chances are they haven't dismissed you as a candidate. "The hiring manager's body language is demonstrating increased interest in what you have to say," says Lynn Taylor, workplace consultant and author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant."

The interviewer is convincing you instead of quizzing you. If they want you, they'll want you to want them -- and try to sell you on the company and position. "Once the interviewer starts spending a good deal of time telling you how great the company is and why, you can feel very good about your prospects," says Taylor. They may also be curious about where else you're interviewing.

You're not rushed out. A busy recruiter probably won't waste much of his (or your) time if they're not seriously considering you. "If the interview goes well over the allotted time, you've aced it," says Bruce Hurwitz, CEO of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing. "Nothing makes me happier than when a candidate for one of my executive recruiting clients tells me he had an hour-and-a-half or two hour interview."

You're introduced to many people. If the hiring manager is considering giving you the position, they may introduce you to potential co-workers or managers. "If this is not planned, this is a good sign that they want you. If they pull someone out of a meeting, even better," says career coach David Couper, author of "Outsiders on the Inside: How to Create a Winning Career...Even When You Don't Fit In!"

The final handshake is firm. Not all handshakes are created equal. It's not an exist science, but a limp, dismissive one may be a goodbye salute, whereas a firm grip may be a "see you soon" gesture. "Does it go beyond just a handshake, such as grasping your arm, too? Is your shoulder lightly touched while shaking hands? All are [good] signs," says Meg Montford, executive career coach, president of Abilities Enhanced, and author of the career blog Career Chaos.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons user Damian Yerrick

[egbetokun]

Very revealing. Last time someone I know interviewed for a position he got the question, 'So can you start immediately or later, like around Fall?' Later the same day he was literally convinced to go have lunch with potential colleagues. Needless to say, he got the position.

[stevekaze]

I've been on both sides of the interviewing table in my career and I have found that I don't always receive the same courtesy I tried to provide those I have interviewed. I'm presently involved in internal interviews at my employer and even being on the inside, it is difficult to gain impressions of how I've performed on interviews. There must be a secret training course on "having a Poker-Face" that I must have missed.

I've made it a policy when interviewing others, not to lead them on or waste their time if I'm not interested as to not cause them to miss out on a better fit elsewhere and I tried to be timely in response to facilitate that.

[CT-Bio]

The places that would hire me -- I wouldn't work for. The places that refuse to hire me -- some of those sound great. Needless to say, I'm self employed.

Some guy is interviewing me and he gets up to the point where he asks me to ask him a question. So I ask some general question, and the guy jumps across his desk to yell at me, "I'll do the questioning here." At this point I figure he's a looney-tune candidate, so I turn to a nearby desk and ask if the guy is OK? I get a yes, so I figure that the guy doesn't want to hire me. Turns out his boss wanted to hire me -- but I didn't need any looneys, so I turned down the kind offer.

[[e-mail]]

This is totall BS! I just had an interview and I was very cognizant of body language, interviewer and interviewee behavior etc. I was assured that I was a candidate in the running then I find out later that the interviewer was looking at other candidates while stringing me along for the "ride". This period occured for days, weeks and then later months until I decided to pursue other opportunities. There is a lot of unprofessionalism out there and an interviewer who recognizes these body language signs can give a false impression that the interview is going well when it is not. In other words, there really is no definite signs that a person is acing the interview. Body language can be faked or misinterpreted so take these signs with a grain of salt.

[Bruno_I]

You can usually feel whether the interviewer is neutral (you're just another schmuck looking for work), or "negative" (they already made a decision not to hire you), or "positive" - they need you for the job. In my experience, some interviewers would try to be "cool" but in most cases you'll notice it - like Lynn Taylor says, either in the body language, or them trying to convince you. I got a clear "positive" reaction when interviewing for my current job - later found out I was the only suitable candidate.

[mostinterested]

It's good to watch out for "Terrible Office Tyrants (TOTs)" when interviewing, too, because the interview is a two-way street. You might ace it, but be careful what you wish for! Interesting site at www.tameyourtot.com And poignant LOL video of TOT childish bosses at: http://*****/8hfq7

[AddassaMari]

"TOT" nice pun.