Workplace romances can be a reason to look forward to going to work every morning and break the monotony of your day.
Do you think you can spot some signs a female coworker likes you, but you are not entirely sure about it? You don’t want to put yourself out there, only to be rejected, followed by awkward interactions at work and gossiping around the water cooler.
This list of tell-tale signs will bring you clarity about whether or not your female coworker sees you as a romantic interest.
Subtle signs a female coworker likes you
1. She smiles at you
I’m not talking about that little smirk she gives when passing every other colleague in the hallway while saying good morning under her breath. I’m talking about when you walk into the room, and she lights up and smiles from ear to ear, or when she can’t help herself smiling while listening to you speak. Look around the office and notice how Fran, the sixty-year-old from accounting, smiles at you, compared to the smile of your possible crush. There’s a big difference, you just have to pay attention to it!
2. She finds reasons to be around you
Have you ever noticed that when you’re in the kitchen making coffee, she happens to be in the kitchen as well warming up her lunch? Or that you seem to ride the elevator together a lot? If these things happen all the time, they are not coincidences. When a woman enjoys your company, she will go out of her way to spend time with you, even if that means making an extra trip to the bathroom just so she can bump into you in the hallway.
3. She makes eye contact
Do you look across the room and catch that gorgeous coworker gazing at you? Does she hold that gaze just a little bit longer than usual, or smile and blush out of embarrassment when you make eye contact? When women find a man really attractive or are thinking about him, they gaze at him sometimes without even noticing. Believe me, it’s a good sign!
Does she hold that gaze just a little bit longer than usual, or smile and blush out of embarrassment when you make eye contact? Click To Tweet4. She seeks physical contact
Not all women are affectionate, but when we have a crush on someone and want them to know about it, we tend to be a bit more touchy-feely. Does she reach out and touch your arm while laughing at one of your dad jokes? Maybe she fixes your hair when it’s out of place? Or perhaps she pulls her chair up so close that your legs are brushing against each other? These are definitely signs of flirting. Ask yourself, does she do this with everyone in the office? If not, your coworker might be into you.
5. She compliments you
It feels good to compliment someone, especially when it puts a smile on their face and boosts their confidence. When your female coworker compliments a picture on your desk, or the new shirt you’re wearing to work, or the way you laugh, she’s doing it intentionally. Women notice the little things, and verbal affirmations are just other forms of flirting.
6. She talks about you to other colleagues
Talking about someone to your coworkers is definitely not the most obvious way of conveying the message that you like that person. Still, in a shared environment, such information is bound to travel. When a woman is digging a guy, she enjoys talking about him and wants to share those feelings with her work friends. Was she hoping that it would remain a secret, or maybe she is hoping that it would be leaked to you? It doesn’t even matter. Either way, she’s talking about you in a positive light, and that’s a great sign.
7. Other people are starting to notice
We usually believe that we have our crush under wraps, but it’s far more noticeable than we think. Besides, long workdays can get boring, so gossiping about love affairs within the office kills time. If your colleagues are noticing, then she is being pretty obvious. It also usually means that they see the chemistry between the two of you. So, if you’re worried about the boss finding out, don’t bother. They usually know before you do.
8. She does sweet things
Nothing says I like you, like a coffee delivery in the morning or a note on your desk when you’re having a stressful day. The fact that she memorized your coffee order and is thinking about you before she even gets to work and goes out of her way to make your stress-filled day a little bit better means a lot. If she was bringing coffees to everyone in the office daily, I would say that she’s just a lovely person. Maybe the gesture is just friendly, but she obviously thinks that you stand out from the crowd if she shows exceptional attention to you.
9. She remembers details about you
How many conversations have you had at work just to pass the time or to be nice to that new hire, only to forget everything they told you the very next day? Why is that? Sometimes we’re not giving that person one hundred percent of our attention because we’re not invested. Besides, it’s just small talk, right? Well, not necessarily. When she remembers stories that you’ve told her, facts about your upbringing, and your future goals, it means you have her undivided attention. She’s clearly interested in getting to know you better.
10. She gives you a nickname
Whether you like that she calls you ‘chuckles’ or not, it’s still endearing. A nickname is very similar to a pet name because it’s personalized, and it is something only you two share. If she has come up with a nickname for the two of you as a pair, even better! It may be cheeky, embarrassing, or even nerdy, but if it makes you laugh, then her attempts are working. Pay attention to the meaning behind the nickname too.
11. She sits next to you at lunch or in a meeting
Sitting close to the other person is a pretty subtle hint of attraction, as it might be just an attempt to finish that conversation from earlier. However, in combination with other signs, it can demonstrate her interest in you. There are multiple seats in the board room and even more lunch options, but she chose to sit beside you. When someone wants to spend time with you, it’s because you make them feel good. Maybe you make her laugh, or make her feel safe, or give her those butterflies in the stomach. Either way, keep doing what you’re doing because it’s working.
12. She remembers special occasions
When we were kids, birthdays were a big deal. Your parents would pick a theme and invite all your school friends over to celebrate. The older we get, the less flashy these birthday celebrations become, and they tend to be more intimate. Heck, you’re lucky if your parents call you and your workplace includes you in the office calendar. It’s a nice gesture, but who really cares if Brad, the new intern, turned twenty-five today, am I right? If your female coworker remembers your birthday, gets you a little gift, or even plans a work party for you, that’s a sign that she’s interested in you.
13. She’s nervous when you’re around
Just because your coworker might like you, it doesn’t mean that she wants you to know that she feels this way. She may be embarrassed about her feelings o not comfortable exploring a relationship at the office. Maybe she is unsure that you feel the same way, or she may be tongue-tied when you’re around. In this case, she may avoid eye contact, her body language might shift away from you, and you will notice signs of nervousness when you’re around.
14. Her voice changes
There is definitely a difference between how we speak to our boss and how we speak to our loved ones. When she’s talking to you, does her speech pattern slow down, her pitch gets a little higher, and her words more intentional? These are all things that can shift when we’re talking to someone that we care about. Also, notice how talkative she is before and after you join a group conversation. She may seem more engaged once you show up.
Obvious signs a female coworker likes you
15. She asks personal questions
We don’t just ask anyone at the office about their friend group, family dynamics, hobbies, passions, and future goals. Water cooler talk usually consists of, “How was your weekend?”, “What did you have for breakfast?” or “Did you get that project done?” When a female coworker asks you personal questions, it means that she cares and wants to get to know you on a deeper level. Why does she do this? Because she wants to gain more insight, so she can ultimately find out if you’re compatible. The deeper the questions, the deeper the connection can go.
16. She is flirty
There are so many ways a woman can flirt, and men don’t always recognize the signs. When she is making prolonged eye contact, smiling at you, playing with her hair or necklace, and leaning into you when you speak, these are the signs that she is flirting with you. Other times flirting can be more obvious, like complimenting you, sending you selfies, initiating plans, asking flirty questions, and even making sexual passes. These are all signs that a female coworker likes you, but you’ll have to find out if it’s just a physical attraction or if she’s thinking long term.
17. She makes an effort to look good
I am sure she was attractive from the very start. After all, that’s why you’re trying to decipher the signs she’s giving off. But if all of a sudden you notice that your coworker is putting more effort into the way she looks at work, this is a good indication that she is trying to impress you. We’ve all done it before. We’ve put a little more time into styling our hair or took more time to pick out our outfit to impress that special someone. Just like many animals in the wild begin to put on a show during mating season, we tend to change our demeanor as well, so keep an eye out for these little clues.
If all of a sudden you notice that your coworker is putting more effort into the way she looks at work, this is a good indication that she is trying to impress you. Click To Tweet18. She texts you outside of work
Sure, maybe you both exchanged numbers one day because you had to complete a work assignment together, and the deadline forced you to communicate outside of work. But once that assignment was finished, did she keep you in her contacts for strictly work-related matters? If your coworker has been texting after work about topics that have nothing to do with your job, this is an obvious sign that she wants to keep the communication and momentum going.
19. She sticks up for you
It’s much easier to stay far away from workplace politics. Most of us don’t want to get involved in issues that can affect office dynamics. When you disagree with the majority in the room, and your coworker has the guts to stick up for you, she is taking a risk by going against the group’s opinions. She doesn’t care that she is risking to become a target after publicly admitting that she cares for you enough to support you. This can be a bold move in the workplace, and it says a lot.
20. She wants to be alone with you
When friends ask you out for drinks after work, it’s usually at the local bar and with a group of people. It’s an excuse to unwind after a busy day and connect with friends outside of your typical setting. Now, when your female coworker is inviting you out for lunch or for drinks after work and these invites happen to be for just the two of you, that means she wants to spend some alone time with you. She can’t do or say certain things at work, so being alone in a different setting allows her to demonstrate more affection and have more in-depth conversations. Don’t be that guy who always invites a friend along to make the situation more comfortable. If you like her, spend some time together to see if the intimacy grows.
Don't be that guy who always invites a friend along to make the situation more comfortable. Click To Tweet21. She worries about you
When you’re really late for work, does she text you to make sure you’re okay? If you’re absent for a few days because you’re sick, does she check up on you or offer to deliver some chicken soup? These are signals that she cares about you and your health and wellbeing, and she certainly likes you.
Smack you in the face sign a female coworker likes you
22. She asks you out
Don’t get surprised if a confident and assertive woman who knows what she wants and doesn’t see a good reason not to pursue it will ask you out herself. This method is also used by a woman who is fed up with giving you sign after sign, and you’re still not picking up what she’s putting down. These are no longer subtle signs your coworker has feelings for you. You can be sure she does! Use this opportunity to finally go out with that beautiful colleague you’ve been thinking about for a while.
Now you are officially armed with a list of signs a female coworker likes you. Just remember, if you’re noticing only one or two of these signs, it may just be a friendly interaction. If you spot ten or more of them, then you are on the right track. Just be cautious when exploring a workplace relationship. Always communicate clearly with one another about your intentions, take things slowly to really see if this is something worth pursuing, and create boundaries for when you’re working. Relationships that start as an office romance can be fulfilling and long-term. Just don’t forget to inquire about your company policies in regards to dating coworkers first. You may think that you can keep it a secret, but that is usually harder than it seems and may not be worth the risk.
