That signpost up ahead... it's The Twilight Zone... the period when you don't know what the hell is going on with your job interview. But let's shed a little light on the subject.

Before the interview is over, you need to know what's next. Or at least try to find out. Unfortunately, though you might expect the interviewer to be the one driving the train, it ain't always so. Often, the interviewer is a screener, a buffer or a non-player, and they just report to the real decision-maker. From there, it's up to them. Experience has taught me that from this point, you've got about less than a 50-50 chance of ever hearing from them again. Sounds crazy, but there are a zillion reasons for this.

I once interviewed for a gig and thought it was a done deal. I followed up by phone and e-mail and then started seeing postings for a job above the one I'd pursued and realized that they'd decided to create a new position. I wasn't interested (or qualified) so I dropped it, but I assume that during the internal consultation process, the principals realized that they needed to deal with that need first. I wasn't upset, but a little surprised that they didn't figure this out earlier. I'm sure mine wasn't the only applicant's time they'd wasted.

But before you walk out the door, ask what's next: Who is the decision-maker? When will they make their decision? Will they be contacting you? If you don't hear from them by the end of the week (or whenever), is it OK if you get back to them? Who should you call? What number (or e-mail address)?

It's also a good idea to ask — sometime during the interview — if there are other candidates for the position and if they're internal (within the company) or external. You may not get an answer, but surprisingly, you often will. If there are internal candidates, you may also get an indication whether or not they're seriously being considered for the job. Some companies have to post jobs externally, even if they have someone already lined up, but it never hurts to ask. Just be cool about it.

Following up after the interview is important, though doing so doesn't ensure that they'll follow up with you. Regardless, it's good manners, at the very least, to send a note (by e-mail) thanking the interviewer for their time and consideration. You can also reinforce your value as a candidate by expressing your interest and enthusiasm for the company and the gig. But don't overdo it. And don't send flowers, candy or anything else to the interview — unless you just fell in love and don't care if you get the job or not!

The next step is the toughest: waiting. You shouldn't bug anyone, so just chill. Or actually, DON'T chill; keep looking for a job. Even if you think you aced the interview and nailed the gig, there's no guarantee that you actually did. Pretend you didn't, in fact, and keep looking.