So You Tanked During the Interview — Or Did You?

Maybe you walked out of the job interview feeling deflated. Well, that’s the way a lot of people who eventually get offers feel. Before you start thinking you’re out of the running, think about these things:

Did the Interview Go Long?

More than body language, think duration. You would have been thanked for your time and shown the door early in the interview if you weren’t in the running. Hiring managers often hold back enthusiasm and connection when they interview because they’re starting to think of your interaction as the beginning of a negotiation. And if they’re starting to think salary they may not want to exude an overeagerness for your skills because that could drive the price up. Imagine if someone was selling you something. Would you tell that person “I just have to have it!” Not a great bargaining strategy, right?

Tough Questions

You were getting grilled and thrown off your pace. Surely that means they hate you right? The exact opposite could be true. It’s OK if you got thrown off your pace and perhaps even seemed hesitant. It was the interviewer’s goal to create that moment and the fact that it happened is a good thing. It’s OK if it was a little awkward. You likely will have to be able to perform in awkward situations at times if given the job.

Odd Questions

They asked you why are manhole covers round and you laughed. You said you didn’t know why they were round. They said because it’s the only shape that won’t fall into itself. You chuckled again. “Huh!” you said. Does that mean you blew it? No, it doesn’t. That was a gotcha question and getting it right isn’t important. Admitting to not knowing something quickly and amicably is actually a really great skill, and you demonstrated it. Now you know why manhole covers are round too!

They Kept You Waiting

The longer you’re allowed to stick around the office the better. If they weren’t interested in you and scheduling was a problem, you would not have gotten interviewed. The fact that time was made for you is a great sign.

Sometimes you leave an interview feeling sky-high and never hear another word. Sometimes you leave an interview and feel as low as a grasshopper, then get a call the next week. It’s really hard to read hiring managers. Don’t give up hope, especially if any of the above happened.

About NextGen

NextGen is the brainchild of longtime telecom professionals with nearly 50 years of experience and millions of dollars in Telecom Recruiting Services. We focus on establishing long term relationships with our clients and candidates so we can recruit the best and the brightest in the telecom industry. This ‘quality over quantity’ approach is at the heart of everything we do and has resulted in successful job placements at Fortune 1000 firms worldwide.

Posted in