Recruiting conversations run on a set of phrases that mean something fairly specific to the people using them, even when they sound vague or diplomatic to everyone else. A short translation guide:
"We're still finalizing the role." Usually true, not a brush-off. Roles genuinely get rewritten, re-leveled, or re-scoped between posting and interviewing more often than job seekers expect.
"Can you share your salary expectations?" Not a trick question, and not (usually) an attempt to lowball you — it's often a genuine filter to avoid both sides wasting time on a process that was never going to land on comp.
"We're moving quickly on this one." Take this literally. If you're interested, respond fast — this phrase is usually accurate, and a slow response on your end can genuinely cost you the role even if you're otherwise a strong fit.
"Let me check internally and get back to you." Means exactly what it says, but "get back to you" doesn't come with an implied timeline, and following up after a few days is normal, not pushy.
"We loved your background, but we're going a different direction." A real rejection, phrased kindly. The "loved your background" part is usually genuine — companies aren't obligated to say anything nice at all — but it doesn't change the outcome.
"Keep us in mind for future roles." This one is genuinely mixed. Sometimes sincere, sometimes a soft close. The signal to watch for is whether it comes with anything concrete — an offer to connect on LinkedIn, a specific "we'll have something in Q2" — versus being the only thing said.
"What questions do you have for me?" Not a formality. This is being evaluated too — a candidate with no real questions often reads as less engaged, even if the rest of the conversation went well.
The general pattern worth remembering
Recruiting language tends to soften bad news and stay literal on good news. When something sounds ambiguous, the ambiguity is usually doing work — but when something sounds concrete ("we're moving quickly," "can you start in three weeks"), it's almost always worth taking at face value rather than reading extra caution into it.