Job Interviews: Is It Always a Bad Sign If the Interview is Short?

How Long Should An Interview Be?

There is no single answer to how long a job interview should be. In general, interviews can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half, but this varies widely based on several factors.

Let’s start with a common question about the average length of an interview.

What’s the average length of an interview?

The average length of an interview is between 45 minutes and an hour, and an entire day at the most. Phone interviews, on the other hand, are often shorter.

Ultimately, the average length depends on the type of interview. Let’s talk about averages for different interview types to give you a more accurate picture of how long you should be sitting in the hot seat.

Initial screening interview

An initial screening interview is typically a brief conversation designed to filter out unqualified candidates before advancing to more in-depth interviews.

This type of interview generally lasts 15 to 30 minutes. The goal is to verify basic qualifications, gauge interest in the role and determine if the candidate meets the essential criteria required for the position.

Phone interview

Phone interviews are often the first step in the interview process and are used to further assess a candidate’s fit for the role.

These interviews typically last around 20 to 30 minutes. During this time, you’ll be asked common interview questions about your background, professional skills and experience, and your interest in the position and the company.

Video interview

Video interviews are increasingly common and can serve as either an initial screening or a more detailed assessment.

The duration of a video interview can vary, but they typically last between 30 to 60 minutes. This format allows interviewers to evaluate not only the candidate’s qualifications but also their presentation skills and ability to engage remotely.

In-person interview

In-person interviews are usually more comprehensive and can vary significantly in length.

On average, they last between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. These interviews often involve behavioral questions that explore the candidate’s experience, skills and cultural fit more deeply. They may also include practical assessments or tasks relevant to the role.

Panel interview

Panel interviews involve multiple interviewers questioning the candidate simultaneously.

These sessions are usually more structured and can last anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours. The length depends on the number of panel members and the complexity of the questions. This format allows various stakeholders to assess the candidate from different perspectives within the same timeframe.

If your interview was short, don’t panic. There may be positive reasons why your interview didn’t last as long as you expected. After all, duration is only one of the signs that you did well on your interview.

What are some reasons an interview might be cut short?

There are several reasons why an interview might be cut short — and it’s not always bad! These can include:

• The interviewer quickly determined you were a great fit and had all the necessary information.
• The interviewer had a tight schedule and needed to keep the interview brief.
• You may have already answered all the key questions satisfactorily.
• The interviewer felt you were not a fit for the role early on.
• There were unexpected circumstances that required the interviewer to shorten the meeting.

Next, I’ll explain red flags you might encounter in a short interview and signs that it may have gone better than expected.

12 Signs a Short Interview Went Well

While short interviews aren’t the best sign, I know from personal experience that sometimes — especially in the first round of interviews — we might give even the best candidates a short interview due to tight schedules.

You can tell a lot in about 30 minutes, so short interviews aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Then again… sometimes a short interview is simply because we know right away, for any number of reasons, that it’s a bad match or the candidate didn’t do much interview preparation.

Here are some clues that help you know if a short interview might still turn out well in the end:

1. What was their body language? Were they leaning in toward you?
2. Were they smiling warmly and nodding as you answered? Was there good eye contact during the discussions?
3. Did they seem to get friendlier as the interview went on?
4. Did they spend time telling you things about the company, as if they wanted you to want them?
5. Did the interviewer look at you more often than at his or her notes or watch or the interview room door?
6. Did the interviewer start to tell you about what it’s like to work there, as opposed to what the job is?
7. Did you feel a sincere connection with the interviewer?
8. Did the interviewer seem to respond warmly to your answers?
9. Did the conversation flow well and feel relaxed?
10. Was your availability to start the job discussed?
11. Did the interviewer say anything about scheduling a next visit?
12. Did the interviewer mention any upcoming plans or future goals of the company?

12 Signs a Short Interview Went Poorly

Regardless of the reason an interview is short — fit, scheduling, or other factors — there are still clues to help you figure out if it didn’t go well:

1. Did the interviewer smile less as the interview went on?
2. Did the interviewer look at her notes or watch or the interview room door a lot?
3. Did you get a feeling the interviewer was thinking about something else, especially as the interview went on? (You can almost feel them removing themselves mentally when it isn’t going well.)
4. Did the interviewer’s eyes start to narrow (and maybe eyebrows too) as you answered, rather than being open and nodding approval?
5. Was the interviewer’s body language one of leaning back watchfully or holding herself somewhat rigidly, with eyes not connecting too often?
6. If you asked about next steps at the end, did she coolly say something like “We still have a lot of candidates. We’ll let you know.” rather than anything encouraging with a warm smile and good eye contact? (This is where your gut offers some clues when it comes to tone or any implied encouragement.)
7. Did the interviewer stop looking at you or look without any real warmth in her smile as soon as she said it was over and you began leaving?
8. Did the interviewer not mention next steps at all (or even say something encouraging about the process) if you didn’t bring it up?
9. Did the interviewer cut the interview short unexpectedly without explanation?
10. Did the interviewer seem distracted by their phone or computer during your responses?
11. Did the interviewer rush through your answers and move quickly to the next question without much engagement?
12. Did the interviewer end with a cool “good luck!” with none of the good signs to back it up?

6 Tips for Handling a Short Interview Effectively

If you are concerned the interview is not going well and you sense it might be cut short, there are a few steps you can take to improve your chances of acing the interview. I would suggest the following:

1. Show gratitude as you wrap up — no matter the outcome, express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. A simple thank you can leave a positive impression and show your professionalism.
2. Ask questions (if there’s a chance) — Take the opportunity to ask smart questions about the role, the team and the company. This shows your genuine interest and engagement.
3. Stay positive and be confident — Maintain a positive attitude and confidence throughout the interview, even if it seems short. Your demeanor can leave a lasting impression.
4. Don’t overthink the negative moments — It’s easy to dwell on perceived mistakes, but try to focus on the positive aspects of the interview. Everyone makes minor errors, and they often matter less than you think.
5. Follow-up no matter how you’re feeling — Always send a follow-up email after the interview. This shows your appreciation and keeps you fresh in the interviewer’s mind.
6. Request feedback if you don’t get the job — Politely ask for feedback on your application or interview performance. This shows you are open to improvement and value their opinion.

Final Thoughts

Please don’t take any potentially good sign or bad sign as the ultimate answer to how you did in your interview. Interviewers come from different backgrounds and personalities. The most aloof interviewer could actually have thought you were great. And vice versa. Some people are nice to everyone, but that doesn’t mean they like everyone.

While you can use these signs to help you get a general idea of how a short (or long) interview went, the truth is you can’t really know how you did until you hear from them.

In the meantime keep looking no matter how much you want any one particular job — you never want to put all of your eggs in one basket. Place your resume in one of our resume templates, fill out each section with our job-specific content suggestions, tailor it to the specific job listing, and then download and send!

With persistence and the right strategy, you’re bound to get an offer, even if it comes from another role you go after. Don’t give up!

Create your resume