Last Updated on September 20, 2024
After all of your interview preparation, a number of questions surrounding your interview pop into your mind. One of those questions is likely when you should get to the interview.
It’s a commonly accepted truth that first impressions matter a lot during interviews. In fact, it’s been reported that recruiters need only 90 seconds to determine if they will hire a candidate. One of the most crucial pieces to making a good impression is being on time.
Being on time is important to employers, but what is considered punctual for a job interview? Find the quick answer below along with a brief explanation why:
How Early Should You Arrive For An Interview
Experts recommend that you should go in to your interview 10-15 minutes before it begins. Try to arrive at the location of the interview anywhere from 30-15 minutes before your interview is scheduled and then enter the building from 10-15 minutes before the interview begins.
Why Not Earlier?
- Could Rush Your Interviewer – If you arrive too early, your interviewer could feel like they don’t have time to prepare or work on other tasks they need to do. That’s not a great first impression to make.
- Makes You Look Desperate – Showing up too early could be a sign that you are desperate for the job. While this could be true, you shouldn’t let employers know that.
- Could Increase Your Nerves – Interviews are stressful. Sitting around waiting for an interview without anything to distract yourself could end up making you feel more stressed
- Wastes Your Time – Aside from everything else, sitting around waiting for an interview for 30 minutes is a complete waste of time.
Why Not Later?
- Shows Lack of Attention to Detail and Preparation – Employers need people who prepare and are attentive to the small details and showing up late to an interview does the complete opposite of that.
- Could Risk Being Late – If you don’t give yourself enough time to get to the location of your interview, you will cut short your time to compose yourself before going into your interview. Worse yet, you could end up being late to your interview. That is one of the biggest red flags for employers.
- Gives You Time To Organize Yourself – Getting to an interview 15 minutes before it begins gives you the perfect amount of time to get your notes organized, review your resume, catch your breath, and get mentally prepared for your interview.
How Early Should You Arrive For a Zoom Interview
The rules are a little different for a Zoom interview. A good rule of thumb is to arrive in a Zoom interview 5 minutes before it is supposed to begin. Unlike a physical interview, there isn’t much reason to be to a Zoom interview earlier than 5 minutes before it begins.
With that being said, you shouldn’t be opening the Zoom or Teams application with only five minutes to spare before your interview. Get everything set up and have the program launched at least 10 minutes before joining the interview. This way you can be sure that the program is updated, your headphones are connected, and your internet is functioning,
Much of the criteria for why you shouldn’t arrive earlier or later to a Zoom interview are the same as for an in-person interview. Here are the key points to keep in mind:
Why Not Earlier?
- Avoids Wasting Your Time – For a Zoom interview, you don’t have to worry about traffic or finding the interview location since you’re likely completing the interview from home. There’s no need to hop on a Zoom call earlier than 5 minutes before it begins.
Why Not Later?
- Gives You Enough Time to Work Through Tech Troubles – It was referenced above, but you need some wiggle room to work through tech issues. Let’s face it, technology can glitch when we’re in crunch time. Schedule in some extra time to get the interview program up and running before you need to join the meeting.
- Doesn’t Look Last Minute – Scrambling onto a Zoom interview raises the same concerns to an employer as rushing into an office last minute. Being punctual is key to making a good impression in an interview.
More often than not, a Zoom interviewer will not arrive until the scheduled time. This doesn’t mean you should do the same. Punctuality is very important to employers and you should never be late to an interview, no matter what format it is in.
Final Thoughts On When To Show Up For An Interview
At the end of the day, you should follow your gut when getting ready to show up for an interview. Always be cautious in order to ensure that you don’t end up late for an interview. Follow the guidelines listed above and it will be smooth sailing! Good luck with your interview!
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Emily Rushton, Founder and CEO of Hire Integrated, has over a decade of experience in recruitment, helping companies solve high-volume hiring challenges. Her unique, storytelling approach has made her a trusted leader in the industry, helping both businesses and candidates succeed.
