Are Short Interviews a Bad Sign?

When you’re headed into a job interview, you expect to be there for a while answering questions and asking some of your own. But what if your interview is far shorter than you expected? Is it a sign you didn’t get the job?

Not necessarily. 

As one of the leading employment agencies in Miami, Future Force knows a short interview can mean any number of things – none of which reflect poorly on you. To put your mind at ease, below is a look at a few of them:

There Are Multiple Rounds of Interviews

A company may be putting candidates through an interview process that includes multiple interviews. The first interview, therefore, may simply be more of a screen in which the hiring manager is trying to determine how well qualified you are for the position and whether they think you’d be a good fit for the job.

If that is the case, the hiring manager will generally tell you that they will be bringing you back in for additional interviewing.

It’s an Open Interview Process

Many times, employers will invite in a variety of interested candidates to apply in person. This usually includes a quick interview to gain a sense of each candidate’s skill level and experience. Because these kinds of interviews generally draw a larger crowd, they are typically far shorter than scheduled face-to-face interviews.

It’s the Hiring Manager’s Interviewing Style

Some hiring managers conduct short interviews. They’re busy, know what they want to ask and get right to the point. They may feel confident in their ability to quickly assess you and move onto the next candidate, whether it’s a 15-minute interview or an hour-long one.

A Streamlined Hiring Process

The hiring manager may be anxious to get someone in the door. They may simply be using the interview process as confirmation of what they think they already know about you. If they like what they hear, they could plan to make a quick decision.

All that said, there are certainly times when a short interview could have some negative implications. For instance:

  • A hiring manager may realize after just a few minutes of talking with you that you’re not the right fit for the job. They don’t want to waste your time, or their own, so they cut things short.
  • They may have an internal candidate in mind for the position. As a result, the job interview is more for “show” so it looks like they’re interviewing a variety of candidates. But really, they already have a hiring decision made.

Short interviews aren’t always a bad sign. However, keep in mind, the more time you’re able to spend with the hiring manager, the better chance you’ll have of assessing whether the job is a good fit for you.

Need more help with your next career move? Call Future Force. As one of the leading employment agencies in Miami, we can work with you to get to know your background and skills, and then help you make a leap to your next great job. Simply contact us today to get the process started.