How can I tell if it’s just a courtesy interview or they’re taking me seriously as a candidate?

[Anonymous]

I reached out to my friend who runs a business (she’s CEO) and I asked if there are open positions and I sent her my resume. She said the existing job posting on the website is for someone super specialized in that area of tech — but she said that the company does opportunistically hire for other tech roles not advertised on the site. I told her I’m very interested and she introduced me to HR and we had a discussion. Next step is with the actual tech hiring manager then I guess I’ll find out afterward if I got it. This is a small company and I know her personally — I doubt she’d screw me over in any way or waste my time. It seems like if they had nothing available and didn’t like me they wouldn’t have offered to interview me for somethjng not on their website - she could have just said there’s nothing available.
Anyway I’m still in my head about this lol. Would love to see what anyone thinks.

[ItsJill]

Consider how long and in depth the interview goes. A courtesy interview would last barely ten minutes.

[exitseven]

You can usually tell if the interview does not last a long time and they do not seem very interested in anything that you have to say,

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO

[strateguy632]

Always serious because "time is money " you have a chance.

[AI Opinion]

It's understandable to feel uncertain, but the steps taken indicate genuine interest. Connecting with HR and arranging an interview with a tech hiring manager are positive signs. Given your personal connection with the CEO, it's likely she's advocating for you genuinely. If the company didn't see potential, they probably wouldn't have proceeded with these steps. Focus on preparing for the upcoming interview to showcase your suitability and enthusiasm for potential roles. This process typically reflects a real consideration of your candidacy, especially with personal referrals and informal opportunities. Stay positive and confident in your interactions.