Getting mixed signals from a female coworker?
Can’t tell the difference between a flirtatious glance and a friendly smile?
I totally get that feeling—and it’s just right to get confused.
An expression could launch a thousand meanings. There’s also a big difference between complimenting the shoes and patting the shoulder that borders into a #METOO move.
Every moment calls for the right response in a nanosecond.
However, with 72% of women saying they’ve dated a crush in the office or had a relationship, this raises the chances for any guy.
Does this increase the odds for office romance? Yes, if she’s really into you!
With a few tips, I can help you read the signs a female coworker likes you, or if it’s just fake news disguised as a perky peer. You’ll get that coffee date in no time, and leave the over-friendly extroverts with their bowling nights.
It may be a tricky job, but remember that 89% of people get attracted to a coworker. That makes office romance just as bountiful, as bond paper or vending machine coffee.
Time to start reading the signals right. Let’s check out the 25 signs to tell if a lady coworker likes you:
1. Smile Like You Mean it
Smiling is the best way to know if someone likes you. A dazzling smile coupled with twinkling eyes shows that she’s crushing on you.
While there may be fake grins or forced smiles, nothing radiates genuine admiration such as an “I like you” kind of smile.
If she smiles and you see that blush reserved only for you, be the gentleman and smile back. A fleeting smile can have a long-lasting impact called subliminal priming—and that’ll surely give anyone a high.
Did you know
A smile of just a mere four-hundredths of a second (what researchers refer to as subliminal priming) is enough to produce a mini emotional high in others; it makes people see things around them in a more positive light.
-@womenshealthmag
2. The Engaging Conversation Starters
Next comes the everyday greeting, the witty one-liner, or just the small talk. If a smiling female coworker works up a “Hey, early bird!” or “Have you tried the new coffee place two blocks away?” then something’s cooking—especially when she does that every single day.
Finding excuses to talk to you or ask about your day shows that she is interested and wants to know more about you.
3. Looks at You with Keen Interest
A telltale sign of infatuation is when she looks at you frequently. If you’re worried about a stain on your shirt or gum on your shoe, her dreamy eyes would tell you otherwise.
A bonus clue is when she looks at you from top to bottom, and it’s not because she’s sizing you up. She wants to remember how you look and what you’re wearing for her mental keepsake.
4. Tries to Make Eye Contact
Every time you look at her, she seems to be gazing at you. It could be a moony expression or just staring at your deep brown eyes, wanting you to look back in return.
Eye contact is another indicator she’s into you. It could be in a meeting or just the cafeteria line—that look of wanting a deep connection.
5. There are those shy moments too
A near-eye contact moment may be interrupted with an abrupt look to the opposite side. Busted!
When caught unaware or staring too long, the best way to cope is to look anywhere else but you. It’s a suddenly shy moment coupled with a blush that’s impossible to hide.
6. Peek-a-boo. I see you!
For some inexplicable reason, you’ll see her pop up everywhere you go. When you need to perk yourself up, you’ll see her suddenly taking her morning coffee—again.
She’s even getting water just when you were about to—when she’s obviously about to go home.
You’ve got to applaud her logistics. She’s making herself visible so that you’d notice her more and spend more office time with you.
This tactic is also consistent with the study that the higher the exposure means the greater the chances of attraction. I’m willing to bet on that.
7. Loves to Talk to You
Have you ever noticed how animated her stories are when she’s talking to you? But when asked about her weekend, she just responded with a dull, “Fine.”
A female coworker who likes you will strike an enthusiastic discussion with you and bring up topics that interest you.
If she doesn’t know you too well yet, she‘ll ask all the right questions so that the next elevator talk could progress into a water dispenser chat. Next thing you know, she’s memorized your list of food allergies.
8. Gives You the Special Treatment
She is usually nicer to you and shows you her kind and caring side.
Even if Alice from Accounting calls her cranky or George from HR thinks she’s lazy, it’s hard to agree when you’ve spent time with a cheerful, passionate, and responsible coworker.
9. Help is on the Way
Chicken soup on your desk after going on sick leave.
An IT staff suddenly in your cubicle for a laptop issue you just announced on the whole floor.
Your missing mug with an “I found it” note on its side. Plus, it’s all clean and shiny.
A girl who likes you will find ways to help you out, even if it’s not her forte. She’s so attentive to your needs that she’ll grab the opportunity to help or provide a solution.
10. Asks for Your Help Too
She’ll also find ways to ask for your help for tasks she obviously can handle or do, like walking her to the car or carrying an extra (light) bag.
Accidentally dropping a pen is a mishap likely to happen if she wants to make small talk with her “hero.”
11. Q&A Time
She likes to ask you questions about any topic. She can also zero in on questions on your work, family, or hobbies.
The objective is to learn all about you. Be the kind guy, and ask her similar questions in return for an engaging discussion.
12. Just Checking in
“How are you doing?” is her opening line. Depending on your answer, she can whip up a bar of chocolate (if you feel down after your last presentation) or a high five (if you just killed your performance).
13. Generous with Praises
She compliments you on a job well done (even if Patty and Bill were also part of the project team). She’s bound to tell you all the great things you said and did.
The praise comes with eyelashes fluttering. Don’t ask if anything is stuck in her eyes. Recognize this as a legit flirting move as this is an attempt to awaken your hero instinct.
14. Brings and Shares Snacks.
She bakes your favorite cookies and brings other snacks you like.
Even when Pam said that the cookies were delightful, the entire box still ended up on your desk.
15. Invites you to a Coffee Break or Lunch
If she asks you out for lunch (even in the office pantry), that’s one of the clearest signs your female coworker has a crush on you. It’s an unofficial but certified date!
34% of workers have admitted to dating a colleague, so that’s not such a rarity.
16. Invites You to Other Activities
A girl who invites you to weekend marathons or after-office game nights is looking to spend extra time with you. Fun and social activities add to the bonding experience—with fewer onlookers from the team.
17. By Your Side
She certainly makes it a point to sit or stand beside you during meetings, elevator trips, or just the line for the photocopy machine.
With a keen sense of where you’re going, she’s likely to dash to where you’re headed and “bump” into you accidentally.
18. Quiz Time!
If the test is about you, she’ll definitely score 100! She knows everything about you—from your chats, the office gossip Carmen, and even that Las Vegas trip you took ten years ago (unearthed from Facebook).
If you quiz her about your favorite color, chances are, she can enumerate five items you own in that color. Call it stalker mode or just a girl who’s keeping tabs on her office crush.
19. Your Number One Fan
She cheers on you for shooting that crumpled paper in the trash can. She sends you notes or presents, after a sales pitch or on your work anniversary.
Your milestones are carved in her memory (or phone calendar), and she’s ready to celebrate these with you.
Top tip: Let’s draw the line between office crush and stalker mode.
- A crush brings you cake on your birthday, while a stalker hands you a card collage of your faces (including that high school yearbook photo you detest).
- A crush remembers the story about your Aunt Susan that you told her in the elevator. A stalker knows where your Aunt Susan lives even when you haven’t been to her place since you were five!
20. Makes Jokes or Teases You
She makes jokes, kids you around, and shows what a good sport she is.
Of course, she’ll laugh the loudest at your jokes—no matter how corny they must be. Dan from Operations loves to crack jokes as well but never got a laugh from her.
21. That Accidental Touch
Laughing at your stories comes with a pat on your arm. She brushes on your shoulders when you pass by her in the corridor.
She accidentally tousles your hair to remove that speck of invisible dust. These subtle touches and nudges bring her much closer to you.
22. Follows You on Social Media
She follows, likes, loves, and comments on your posts (but not all of them).
The classic follower makes sure she’s alerted of your posts so that she can react and take note of everything happening in your life.
23. Shares Memes
Once she learns that you like cats and soccer, she’ll send you funny cat memes and soccer news. She wants you to know that she shares the same interests too.
24. I woke up like this
Nothing beats looking date-ready perfect when she sees her crush.
When you notice the heels or a whiff of fragrance (in the afternoon), it’s a sign that she’s primping up for you.
25. Spotted!
The workplace will not be the same interesting place without gossip, the restroom chitchat, and the occasional scandal.
A looming office romance always makes it on the gossip radar, and you’ll surely hear about this—from your boss or even the guard. Once you do, then it’s confirmed.
Love is in the Air
Did you know that 58% of Americans have dated a coworker?
An office is a sprouting place for romance—and you could find your true love if you look hard enough. If having trouble, read the list again.
If you’ve spotted a few of these signs, then it’s safe to say that a female coworker likes you. The question is: do you like her back?
If the chemistry is there, then the next steps are all up to you. Just follow our listed tips, and make your move.
Smile.
Ask her out.
Follow her IG.
Send her cat memes.
Wear your favorite shirt—the one she removed the invisible speck of dirt from—and ask her out to dinner.
I hope that the list of the “25 signs a female coworker likes you” has helped in your quest to unlock the meaning of your coworker’s actions.
Even within its concrete walls, the office can be a place to ignite true love. From the boardroom to the earthquake drill, be wary of signs, smiles, and that whiff of Jasmine. Use your senses wisely to spot a fake wink from a flirty gaze.
With that, let the office sparks fly—but please don’t set off the fire alarm!
