You meet a lot of great people at work—especially if you’re new to the area specifically because of that job. That being said, many people find their really good friends and even significant others while at work. But knowing how to tell if a coworker likes you can be hard because of maintaining professionalism.
The trick is being able to tell if a coworker is just being friendly or if they’re actually trying to date you. This can be really difficult simply because everyone at your job is probably very professional and friendly, which makes it really hard to tell who’s actually trying to flirt with you because they like you.
Be cautious when dating a coworker
Being involved with someone at work can be a really fun thing, but it can also be really risky. You see them all the time, and you have to put on a professional face even if you’re dating them so people don’t think of you in an unprofessional manner.
That being said, some places even have policies banning dating coworkers—in which case you would have to be REALLY careful if you did get involved with someone at work because you wouldn’t want to get fired.
How to tell if a coworker likes you and is trying to date you
Before we start talking about how careful you should be when dating a coworker, we have to figure out if they like you in the first place! Since it can be hard to tell when someone is showing a bit more interest in you or if they’re just being nice, you may want a few signs that show their true intentions.
#1 They talk to you more than they do others. If you have noticed a certain coworker talks to you much more regularly than they talk to anyone else in the building, it’s a sign they might like you. People tend to talk to those more when they like them versus when they’re just being polite at work.
#2 Their shifts somehow changed to match yours. If you never used to have shifts that aligned and now suddenly you do, it could be a sign that they like you and want to spend more time with you at work.
#3 They wander over to you and ask pointless questions. If you started to notice that they’re popping up a few times a day to ask questions that are completely obvious to answer, it’s because they just want to see you more and have an excuse to talk to you.
#4 They look at you in group meetings. Have you ever caught their eye in a group meeting? Has it ever happened multiple times in the same meeting? Then this is a sign you’ve just caught them goggling at you because they like you and may be trying to get you to notice them.
#5 They act more excited/talkative around you versus other people. You can easily tell when someone likes to talk to a person versus when they’re only doing it because it’s polite.
If you’ve noticed that they’re coming around you in a very light, excited, and happy mood when they talk to you and are just calmly polite when they speak to others, it’s a really good sign that they like you.
#6 Their body language suggests they do. Body language gives almost everything away. Are they turned toward you when they talk? Do they lean closer to you when they get the chance? Do they fidget with their clothes when they see you approaching?
All of these are body language indicators that someone likes you. If you notice this happening a lot during your conversations, then they’re definitely into you.
#7 They make long eye contact. Eye contact is another powerful body language indicator that someone is into you. However, in a professional setting most people make eye contact when speaking.
The difference is how long it lingers when you’ve finished talking. Do they take a pause and walk away still holding your eyes? If so, they like you.
#8 They bring you coffee/do other nice things for only you. If you’re surprised with coffee at your desk when you’ve had a busy morning by the same person multiple times, they most definitely like you and are trying to make a good impression so they can date you.
#9 They talk to you about life outside work. If you’re discussing something work related and they change the subject to something about your home life or what you like to do for fun, they might like you.
By doing this they’re prolonging the conversation and trying to get to know you outside of work so they can decide if they really would like to date you or if you two have anything in common.
#10 They give you a silly nickname. Sometimes your coworkers give you nicknames if you messed up on the first day or just to give you a hard time. However, if one specific person has made up their own nickname for you and refuses to call you anything else, it could be a sign they like you.
