Timing is Everything

Interview day should be an exciting time, but remember that timing is everything. You will be meeting new people and discussing a new career opportunity. Before this day happens you will have written a resume, sought out suitable opportunities, gone through the application process and probably done a few phone interviews. Not to mention rearranging your schedule and researching the company your interviewing with. If you are not careful all of that can go up in flames within the first 4-6 minutes of the meeting due to lack of preparation. Remember, as a candidate it is your job to focus on the things you can control. The biggest thing you can control is being there on time – not too early – not too late - on time!

Planning your trip is an absolute must. Many companies will send directions or point you to their website if special instructions are needed to find their location. You can also plan your trip using MapQuest, Yahoo Maps and Google Maps. These are great sites, but if in doubt run your route using more than one of these tools.

If your meeting is at 11:00 AM, don’t show up at 10:15. This is a professional meeting, so treat it that way. Showing up too early sends a message of desperation, not to mention that you aren’t respecting the manager’s schedule. The ideal position is to be at the reception desk 6-8 minutes before you are expected. This gives you time to check-in and notify the manager that you’ve arrived. If for some reason you do show up a half hour early go ahead and check in but NOT let the receptionist call the manager until 5 minutes before your scheduled meeting. As a part of your planning you should ask your contact (recruiter, manager, etc) how long it will take to clear reception and if you need to arrive early to complete any necessary hiring forms.

Someone once said that "timing is everything", this holds true in the interview process as well. Being there too early is a sign of desperation. Being late could send a message that you are unorganized, undependable or just apathetic. I have seen so many interviews get off on the wrong foot because the candidate showed up late for the meeting. As a recruiter I typically walk my candidate into the interview if at all possible, because if something goes wrong I want to be there to fix it before opinions become calcified. If you are working with a third-party recruiter ask them if they plan to meet you at the interview site. An introduction from your recruiter often relieves some of the awkward nervousness that occurs early in the meeting.