Going on a job interview can be really nerve-wracking. So it's often a relief when the interview finally ends... until you start to wonder if it went well.

This post-interview limbo is difficult, and even if you have a gut feeling about how it went, it's only natural to doubt your performance. While it is best to avoid rehashing and reviewing every word and action, the following signs may indicate that the interview went well: 

Your recruiter may have told you how long the interview would last beforehand. If the interview lasted longer than expected, this is a good sign. Indeed, a recruiter's time is precious! If they choose to spend their time to find out more about you, it is a sign that they are clearly interested in your profile.

Did you get the impression that it was relatively easy to talk to your interviewer? Did the interview feel more like a conversation than an austere question-and-answer session, and did the recruiter even take the time to chat more casually there and then?

If so, it's more than likely that you were able to create a good rapport with your interviewer and demonstrated strong interpersonal skills. In addition, if you've managed to establish a good rapport with them, the recruiter can more easily imagine you fitting in well with the team.

If the recruiter told you: "for this position, we expect you to..." and not "the selected candidate will have to...", again, this is a good sign!

If the recruiter goes on to explain in detail the ins and outs of the position, it means that they are already imagining you in the company and now want to give you a complete picture of the missions and what the position entails.  

When you answered their questions and talked about your background, did you get the impression that the interviewer was interested and attentive? Consider both their body language and answers.

If they leant in, nodded, smiled, agreed with what you had to say, and were particularly encouraging and positive after each of your answers (for example, you heard them say, "great answer" or "that's absolutely right"), chances are they were interested in what you had to say.

Did you walk out of this interview feeling excited and enthusiastic about the opportunity? Did your interviewer talk animatedly about the advantages of the position and the organisation, whether it be career development or the rewards and benefits offered? In short, did your interviewer take the time to sell you on the position, just as you tried to convince them of the relevance of your profile?

If so, your interviewer is obviously convinced that you are a good fit for the position and wants the feeling to be reciprocated. Be especially reassured if they have linked your specific skills and interests to some aspect of the position, as this indicates that they want the position to be a good fit for you, rather than another candidate.

Along the same lines, since the interviewer wants to convince you to take the opportunity, they made an effort to provide complete answers to all of your questions. If the recruiter provided enthusiastic and detailed answers to the questions you asked and checked in with you to make sure those answers were clear, it indicates that they wanted to convince you of the value of the position.

If the hiring manager introduced you to other employees towards the end of the interview, then, again, this is an encouraging sign.

Better still, if you felt like you got on well with these colleagues and made a good impression, then this will put you in good standing.

The recruiter will not take the time to introduce you to others in the company if they do not already have a good impression of you. This is especially true if they are senior stakeholders.
If you were introduced to a director or c-suite executive, then this is a sign that the interviewer knows these people will need to sign off their final hiring decision. Therefore they wanted to speed up the process by arranging a face-to-face introduction, so that they can see for themselves why you are the right choice.

Did the recruiter ask you about your notice period and when you could start work? They may already be thinking about the next step in the recruitment process.

You may also have been asked if you are still interested in the position, if you have scheduled or had other interviews with other companies. All of these questions suggest that the hiring manager is interested in your profile, wants you to be interested, and doesn't want to be left behind by the competition.

At the end of the interview, did the recruiter explain what the next step would be (i.e. a second interview) and when you could expect to hear back? By doing so, they are implying that you have a chance of getting to that stage.

Another good sign is that the interviewer ended the interview by inviting you to contact them if you have any questions, and they may have even handed you their business card. This indicates that they want you to have all the information you need to determine whether or not the position meets your expectations.

Be careful, even if you have observed and experienced all the signs described above, it does not mean that you have got the job. It's still too early to tell! So don't stop your job search. You have every chance of being selected, but if you are not, don't lose heart.

All these signs show that you have succeeded in your interview and that you are a serious potential candidate. In order to learn from this experience, ask your recruiter for feedback on what went well and, more importantly, what you could do better.