Are there any "tells" for faculty hires? I was curious to find out if there were any "tells" in faculty searches that someone is going to get a formal offer before the official paperwork is received. Are candidates who are about to be hired asked to fill out extra forms or provide additional documentation that might not have been needed earlier in the process, or something similar?
Positive early signs:


you helped write the job specification;
one or more of the selection panel advised you to apply for the vacancy;
they take up your references;
you hear through the grapevine that members of your target department have been asking around, about you, after your interview;
you get an additional interview, where the main topics of discussion are pay &amp; other benefits, when you could start, and what facilities you'd require in post.


Regarding formal paperwork,: all applicants at our place are required to show eligibility for employment, at time of interview. So there's no additional requests for paperwork between final interview and job offer.