Three Ways to Judge How You Did in Your Interview

Evaluating your performance in a job interview can be tricky. After all, your judgement is clouded by thoughts, emotions, a lack of objectivity and personal biases. By using one or more of these methods, you can get a sense of your performance and identify areas to improve on for the next interview.

Self-Evaluation

The easiest way to figure out how you did in a job interview is to conduct a self-evaluation. While this method is neither foolproof nor comprehensive, it can give you a general picture of your performance. Directly after the interview, sit down and think about your performance. Consider all aspects of the session, from the time you arrived to how you behaved as you thought of answers to questions. Were you relaxed and confident? Did you remember to use anecdotes that prove your value as a candidate? Did you ask thoughtful questions? Give yourself a rating between 1 and 10 for each aspect of the interview, making an effort to be as honest as possible. The key to an effective self-evaluation is objectivity. If most of your numbers are high, chances are that you did well. Pay attention to the low rankings and work on those areas for the next interview.

Business Contact

After a job interview, the interviewers often talk amongst themselves about the candidate's performance, discussing who they liked and didn't like. If you have a contact at the company, you may be able to learn about these informal reviews. Before you get in touch, consider how it could impact your job search. If your contact is a friend and you can trust him to be discreet, feel free to ask about your performance. If your relationship is more of a professional nature, proceed carefully. Calling directly right after the job interview may be perceived as needy and inappropriate. A better solution is to wait until you see the person, mention that you interviewed at his company and see what information he offers voluntarily. In both situations, be aware that your contact may be reticent to share negative or hurtful feedback; if he is evasive or vague, you may not be getting the full truth.

Employer Response

The way an employer responds to you, both during and after a job interview, can provide valuable insight into your performance. While you are in the interview, watch the other people in the room. Do they seem genuinely interested and attentive, or are they staring blankly down at their notes? Are they engaging you in a lively discussion? Are they reacting positively or with interest to your anecdotes and answers? Have they expressed reservations? After the interview, put in a follow-up call to the hiring manager, who may offer clues about the company's response. In the end, the only certain way to judge your performance is through direct responses after the interview. An offer letter or an invitation to move to the next round are obvious indicators that you did well, as are positive comments in a rejection letter.

Judging your performance in a job interview can be difficult to accomplish. By combining an effective self-evaluation with external feedback, you can develop a clearer awareness of your strengths and weaknesses as an interviewee.

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