Overthinking after an interview - help!!

[sparkleapple15]

Just looking for a bit of perspective really, and wondering if anyone else has felt like this after a job interview…

I feel like I’ve completely spiralled into overthinking everything since I walked out the door!

The interviewer was lovely and engaging, and even said my presentation was “brilliant.” We chatted for almost an hour, and I felt like I got across what I wanted to say — though of course now I’m picking apart every word and wondering if I said something “wrong.” She mentioned one more interview was happening Monday (yesterday), and they’d be making a decision by Tuesday or Wednesday. No news yet, and I’ve convinced myself it means someone else has got it, and they’re just waiting for them to accept before letting me down gently.

They didn’t take many notes (said she was too busy talking to me!), and we even laughed a bit. It felt positive at the time… but now I’m second guessing everything. Part of me thinks if they really wanted me, I’d have heard by now. The other part says no news could still be a good thing.

Has anyone else experienced this post-interview spiral? Did anyone get a job when they thought they’d messed it up or assumed someone else would get it?

Not sure whether to expect a phone call or email….

Would love to hear any advice, reality checks, or shared stories — good or bad.

Thanks so much.

Oh god- I do this every interview. Every time. So I’m here just with a handhold.

whether you get it or not, I can tell you that eventually, you’ll find the job and team that embraces you, and you won’t have to twist yourself into pretzel shapes to try to make sure they understand you.

i was just on a hiring committee, so I got to see things from the other end, and that helped.

I can tell you this: no one fakes enjoying talking to someone. Regardless of whether you get this job, that you got on with them is a good thing, and you should follow up to let them know you’re interested in case opportunities open up in the future.

I am sure you did just fine. Though having been on the other end, where you’re sitting, I know it doesn’t help to be told that. God, it’s the worst feeling, going back over and analyzing everything one has said!

so if it helps at all, I can tell you this: as a hiring committee member, I wasn’t sitting in judgment of what people said. I was hoping they all did well. I felt genuinely supportive because we all know how scary an interview is.
I do not remember anything that happened with judgment of people. The people who didn’t get the job didn’t get it because we could only hire one person, and the person we hired fit the team and they had the qualifications we need.

if one of our applicants who didn’t get the job applied again later, none of us would have judgment around that.

it took me SIX times applying before I finally even got an interview at my current company, and I’ve worked my way up and won awards since then . They didn’t judge me. - they were impressed, and they were glad to finally hire me.

don't beat yourself up and don’t give up! You’re allowed to be human.

the right job will be glad to hire you.

It sounds positive and even if it's a no you did the best you could in the moment 🤞