The waiting is agonizing. You went through the whole process—resume screening, phone-screening interview, first and second face-to-face interviews—and still you don’t know if you will get the position.

Ask any candidate and you will find that this is the tensest part. Regardless of eth industry and sector, the waiting is always the hardest part.

In this regard, recruitment processes are similar all over the world. After the rigors of the selection process, the call for final interview appears like the final stage of the process. However, once it is over, candidates realize that instead of being over, the waiting part has just begun. Many say that the anxiety of waiting to hear from the recruitment people is the most unbearable part of the entire recruitment process.

Part of this anxiety comes from the suspense that is creates after the final interview. You know that the interview went well and that you impressed the interviewers. However, you also know that there could be other candidates who could have impressed the interviewers equally. This knowledge increases the desperation that you feel.

How likely are you to get the job offer and what may be holding it up?

Behavior based interviewing training professionals say that you should be able to assess your own performance in the interview pretty accurately. The most important thing to remember here is that once you have made it to the final interview, you only have to beat one or two candidates to get the job. However, the hard part is the fact that the other candidates could be as good as you are.

Here are the 4 clues that you did well and are likely to go on to the next step in the process:

1. The interview seemed to speed by and yet it took much longer than had been scheduled. This is a good sign that your interviewer was glad to spend the time getting to know you and giving you every opportunity to evaluate the job and company. This is also an indication that you did not feel the anxiety during the interview.
2. The interviewer was thoughtful in the replies to your questions.
    It shows the interviewer was anxious to address your concerns and answer your queries accurately and completely. In other words, the interviewer was invested in developing a trusting relationship with you. This is a very good sign that you have been selected for the job. A person usually reserves this level of respect only for their peers.
3. You are invited on a tour of the facility or campus. Such an invitation sets you up to meet people with whom you are likely to work. If you had not favorably impressed the interviewer, there would be no need to show off the offices or introduce you to other employees. A word of advice: be assured that your tour guide will be asked for their impression of you so continue to be on your best behavior.
4. You are told with an encouraging smile that you will be called within a few days. This means that the decision is close at hand and that you are in the top tier of candidates.

But if you don’t hear within that time period, what gives? There could be many reasons why you are not contacted as promised. Perhaps another of the interviewees was sick and the whole process delayed in order to be thorough and fair. Perhaps a key stakeholder in the hiring process was away on business and the final decision could not be made without their input. Holidays or vacations can delay the decision-making as well.

If it makes you feel any better, you could contact the interviewer or the recruitment people. Usually, these people are able to give you a fair idea of the status of the recruitment process. However, some organizations frown on the practice, so it is better to ask before actually calling.

You need to bide your time as patiently as possible. Know that the company is anxious to bring a quality worker aboard as soon as possible. No organization can run smoothly when a key position is open. If your interview went well, take heart and good luck.