These are the signs of a bad interview. So what can you do better next time?

Let’s face it, interviews can be stressful, and you’d be hard-pressed to be totally on your game 100% of the time. Life happens, and sometimes circumstances are out of your hands. Maybe you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, you're dealing with family issues, or perhaps you're just getting a "bad vibe." Or, on the other hand, it could be that the interviewer just had a conflict with a co-worker, or got some bad news. Regardless, almost everyone has had an interview go badly at one time or another. 

Instead of wringing your hands or worrying that no one will ever hire you again, take the time to mentally review your encounter and figure out if there’s anything you can do better next time (and there will be a next time!).

In this article, we'll discuss the major signs you had a bad interview and ways you can make sure you'll have a good experience going forward, including:

• Five signs that the interview didn’t go well

• Three things you should never do in an interview

• Four steps you can take to ensure a better interview experience

5 Signs of a bad interview

Sometimes it’s hard to gauge your own performance in an interview setting, as we often tend to be critical of ourselves. We can second guess our answers, forget to mention something relevant, or perhaps even have a sweaty handshake. But how can you tell if your interview really went “pear-shaped?” While any one of the following things individually doesn’t necessarily signal that you absolutely tanked it, if they add up, it might indicate that you won’t be getting a job offer from them anytime soon.

1. The interviewer had negative body language

Body language often tells us more about how a person is feeling than their actual words. Was the interviewer leaning away from you? Did it look like he or she wasn’t paying attention to you, or perhaps looked bored? This in and of itself isn’t necessarily a red flag, as you’ve never met this person before, and this could just be their natural state of being.

2. The interview felt like an interrogation, not a conversation

Ideally, at some point in the interview, you will have developed some connection with the hiring manager, and it becomes more of a dialogue and less of a formulaic question-and-answer session. If they don't seem to be listening to what you have to say and they're just "checking boxes" off an interview form, it can generally be taken as a bad sign.

3. The interview was super short

In general, a successful interview should last somewhere between 45 to 90 minutes. Anything less than that isn't enough time for either of you to get to know each other. If the interview was cut short, and the interviewer didn’t take the time to tell you about the job itself, either the interviewer is bad at his or her job, inexperienced, or it’s just not going well and they decided to cut their losses.

4. They didn’t accentuate the positive

One would hope that the interviewer is excited about you as a candidate. But if the interviewer continually downplays the position as if he or she is trying to discourage you from the job itself, it might be a sign you didn't get it. Another clue is if the hiring manager keeps talking about your lack of experience and simply won’t move on to another topic, they might be trying to imply you’re not right for the job without coming right out and saying so.

5. They left the interview open-ended

If the interview went well, the hiring manager would probably give you at least a general idea when you’ll hear from them, even if they tell you they have more interviews to complete before they’ll be making a decision. If they’re vague or noncommittal in their response, that might be a hint as to which way they’re leaning. If you walk out of that interview with no idea when (or if) you’ll hear from them ever again, it probably didn’t go as well as you had hoped.

What are the top 3 interview mistakes?

Sometimes it’s not your fault the interview didn't go well, but there are things you might have done to ruin your chances of getting the job. That may sound harsh, but take the time to review your behavior. If you did any of the following, you might have made a critical interview mistake:

• You were inadvertently (or purposefully) rude. This includes being late, not knowing anything about the company or job you’re interviewing for, dressing inappropriately, or being disrespectful to anyone you encountered. Word gets around, and you don't want to be the “jerk” they were talking about in the break room.

• You badmouthed your old boss. Even if the situation was untenable, don’t be negative about a previous employer.

• You had poor body language. If you failed to shake the interviewer’s hand (if offered), kept checking your phone, or were slouched in your chair, that tells the interviewer you’re really not interested in the job.

4 Steps you can take to have a better interview experience

Even if you had a bad interview, all is not lost. There are things you can do to help boost your chances of having a great interview in the future, such as:

1. Take a moment to reflect on the experience, but don’t dwell on it. (Then write that thank you note!)

2. Make sure to do your homework. Learn everything you can about the company, as well as the job you’re interviewing for.

3. Consider asking for feedback. It may be that you simply didn’t have enough experience, but some interviewers might be willing to share the areas in which you can improve.

4. Be kind to yourself. Remember that one negative interview isn’t the end of the world.

Key takeaways

1. Signs the interview didn’t go well include poor body language, a quick interview, and a lack of follow-up questions.

2. Check your own behavior. You might have been inadvertently rude, or unprepared.

3. Reflect on your experience, learn from it, and take the necessary steps to ensure a better interview next time.