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Showing up late to interview Forum's RSS Feed Share

computerized's picture
(Monkey, 34
 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 8:16pm
late.jpg

Is there any point showing up to an interview if you know you're going to be late? I imagine it'd be an auto ding anywhere.

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jec's picture

99% chance of an auto ding,

(Orangutan, 323
 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 12:25pm

99% chance of an auto ding, but that just means that there is still that 1%.

Ezekiel2517's picture

Maybe if you show up with a

 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 12:41pm

Maybe if you show up with a bleeding, broken leg...

UFOinsider's picture

Call ahead and you'll be ok

O
(Almost Human, 8,133
 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 12:51pm

Call ahead and you'll be ok

http://www.motifake.com/image/demotivational-poster/small/0904/chill-out...

johndoe89's picture

i showed up 30 mins late and

PE
 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 12:46pm

i showed up 30 mins late and still got my current job. If you have a legitimate reason, people understand. especially if you're working somewhere else and are on a time-sensitive assignment that pops out of nowhere.

agreed it doesn't make the best first impression, but sometimes you just don't have a choice. either way, don't end up not going at all.

GentlemanJack's picture

As others have said, its not

O
(Gorilla, 544
 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 12:50pm

As others have said, its not a total killer. I've interviewed plenty of people:

1 - Things happen on the way to the interview, we all know this

2 - It's possible that interviews before you are running late and its actually *good* that you're late

3 - late is better than being early. One time I had a kid that was 45 MINUTES early and he had to hang around the office - awkward!

Bobb's picture

I was late once, the guys I

IA
(Orangutan, 369
 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 12:57pm

I was late once, the guys I interviewed with didn't even realize I was late or what time I was actually suppose to be there.

I also showed up to an interview 30minutes early (commute was a lot quicker then expected). It was pretty awkward at first, but everyone on the desk seemed cool and just let me sit there and watch them.

Oreos's picture

Bobb wrote: I was late once,

HF
(King Kong, 1,215
 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 1:02pm
Bobb:

I was late once, the guys I interviewed with didn't even realize I was late or what time I was actually suppose to be there.

I also showed up to an interview 30minutes early (commute was a lot quicker then expected). It was pretty awkward at first, but everyone on the desk seemed cool and just let me sit there and watch them.

Why did you go in if you were 30mins early? Just find a coffee shop, bench, shop etc... to waste time in.

leveRAGE.'s picture

UFOinsider wrote: Call ahead

ST
(King Kong, 1,214
 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 1:02pm
UFOinsider:

Call ahead and you'll be ok

i liked this post better before the edit.

but i agree as long as you have a legitimate reason and call before you're fine.

ocho's picture

I was late because I trusted

(Monkey, 55
 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 1:49pm

I was late because I trusted google maps which said the office was 5 minutes from the hotel. I probably should have left earlier as I was in a new city. Even though I was 10 minutes late, I got the offer at the current (consulting) firm. Being late to a final round is kind of embarassing haha, but at least for consulting companies.... being 10 minutes in a new city won't matter if you can crush the cases.

Leonidas's picture

Yes, being late is an

 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 2:48pm

Yes, being late is an auto-ding in 99.9% of cases, but look at it this way: if you don't go at all, you are definitely getting dinged.

GentlemanJack:

As others have said, its not a total killer. I've interviewed plenty of people:

1 - Things happen on the way to the interview, we all know this

2 - It's possible that interviews before you are running late and its actually *good* that you're late

3 - late is better than being early. One time I had a kid that was 45 MINUTES early and he had to hang around the office - awkward!

I disagree. Being early is never a bad thing. When I was interviewing, I was always early by 30-60 minutes. I just hung around local coffee shops, and entered the building 5 minutes before the scheduled time. Yes, shit happens on the way to the interview, but it's the candidate's job to account for it, not mine.

Calling Ron Paul an isolationist is like calling your neighbor a hermit because he doesn't come over to your property and break your windows.

Oreos's picture

Leonidas wrote: I disagree.

HF
(King Kong, 1,215
 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 3:22pm
Leonidas:

I disagree. Being early is never a bad thing. When I was interviewing, I was always early by 30-60 minutes. I just hung around local coffee shops, and entered the building 5 minutes before the scheduled time. Yes, shit happens on the way to the interview, but it's the candidate's job to account for it, not mine.

Exactly! I hate, hate! being late, not worth the stress. I always (even we meeting for coffee / networking) stake out the joint as I'm often leaving from work so don't have too much time to waste.

Pike's picture

Try to call ahead and give a

(King Kong, 1,033
 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 4:38pm

Try to call ahead and give a reason. Most likely you will be dinged. But it can't hurt to try as long as you are professional

Good is the enemy of Great

asiamoney's picture

Call ahead, HR can hopefully

 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 10:48pm

Call ahead, HR can hopefully help you out - and there's no harm in trying.

SECfinance's picture

Leonidas wrote: Yes, being

IB
 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 11:07pm
Leonidas:

Yes, being late is an auto-ding in 99.9% of cases, but look at it this way: if you don't go at all, you are definitely getting dinged.

GentlemanJack:

As others have said, its not a total killer. I've interviewed plenty of people:

1 - Things happen on the way to the interview, we all know this

2 - It's possible that interviews before you are running late and its actually *good* that you're late

3 - late is better than being early. One time I had a kid that was 45 MINUTES early and he had to hang around the office - awkward!

I disagree. Being early is never a bad thing. When I was interviewing, I was always early by 30-60 minutes. I just hung around local coffee shops, and entered the building 5 minutes before the scheduled time. Yes, shit happens on the way to the interview, but it's the candidate's job to account for it, not mine.

GentlemanJack isn't talking about what you did - I'd consider that par for the course. He's referring to actually showing up in the office that early.

Ravenous's picture

I gave an internship to

HF
 
Points)
  on 2/22/12 at 11:08pm

I gave an internship to someone who was 45 minutes late (he got stuck in the horrendous Bay Area traffic even though he left early). He was qualified and the rest of his resume said that he was not someone who had a history of screwing up. Some people would auto ding, many would not.

West Coast rainmaker's picture

If HR is cool (rare, but it

 
Points)
  on 2/23/12 at 4:35am

If HR is cool (rare, but it happens) you will be ok- I have gotten offers from interviews where I was over 20 minutes late. Shit happens- flights are delayed often enough.

I think there is more leeway when you are interviewing for a professional position versus cashier at CVS. If you are late to the latter, they will probably think you overslept or blew it off. Finance interviewees generally fit the 3.5+ GPA at a prestigious college mold, and given some professional courtesy.

BoxerRebeller's picture

I was late on one occasion as

(Baboon, 105
 
Points)
  on 2/23/12 at 5:53am

I was late on one occasion as my train was delayed in getting to the location. Despite telling them that I am running late, my interviews (two women) were complete bitches, just looking for an excuse to screw me. Asking me all manner of ridiculous questions and possessing unrealistic expectations when they know my resume and what I am capable of. In the end, obviously I didnt get the job but found out that my original interviewer, the head of the department, was pissed I was late and decided not to interview me. Rather then tell me that, they put me through such bullshit. I told the HR recruiter on the phone to go fuck himself.

prospie's picture

I once woke up late for an

(King Kong, 1,195
 
Points)
  on 2/23/12 at 8:38am

I once woke up late for an informational (not an interview) with an IBD guy, a few years ago. I scrambled to throw on my dress shirt but didn't have time to iron it, and I didn't have time to shave either, and I was STILL going to be like 10-15 minutes late.

So, halfway to the coffee shop I pulled over under a noisy major overpass and called the guy (he hadn't had a chance to leave his office for the coffee shop yet) to explain, in between honking my horn for background noise, that I had "had a fender bender" and would probably not be getting there on time. I felt like such a piece of shit but, whether or not he believed me, he forgave me and later sent me the contact info of a friend of his who was hiring.

Financial Modeling Training
Guide to Finance Interviews
Banking Resume

makeyourownluck's picture

Stuff happens that you can't

IB
(Orangutan, 358
 
Points)
  on 2/23/12 at 11:35am

Stuff happens that you can't control, I wouldn't say its an auto-ding

its one way or the other: hate me or admire.

rynofrowan's picture

Apologise once, move forward.

ST
(Baboon, 174
 
Points)
  on 2/23/12 at 9:07pm

Apologise once, move forward.

Hi you big jackass. Sorry I'm late it's just my dog was chasing a siamese cat, who it turns out was chasing a yellow canary, and the canary flew into some power lines, and they fell on a small child, who it turns out was the grandson of hitler, and he held my head against the curb while tatooing a swastika to my enormous penis, then curb-stomped my black arse back to nigeria. so yeah, obviously, the flight (from nigeria) was late

Moving tonnes of product. Making fat stacks.

Mr. Hansen's picture

I've been late for two

PE
 
Points)
  on 2/23/12 at 10:22pm

I've been late for two interviews, both for somewhat legit reasons, and ridiculously early for one due to miscommunications. I got the one I was early for and I'm pretty sure I got dinged for the other two for being late.

aempirei's picture

You miss 100% of the shots

IB
(Gorilla, 562
 
Points)
  on 2/24/12 at 9:31am

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Show up for the interview regardless. You'de be surprised what can happen.

My name is Nicky, but you can call me Dre.

lime1945's picture

Just commenting to say the

ST
 
Points)
  on 2/26/12 at 2:51am

Just commenting to say the picture OP used is amazing

Raptor.45's picture

Always leave super early,

(Baboon, 112
 
Points)
  on 2/26/12 at 6:37am

Always leave super early, find a coffee shop or something, and roll in 5 minutes early. That way you'll never have a problem with being late but yeah don't go in 15+ minutes early HR isn't there to babysit you for half an hour.

buybuybuy's picture

I always arrive late to

AM
 
Points)
  on 2/26/12 at 9:59am

I always arrive late to differentiate myself from the pack.

Marked to Market's picture

The most honest answer to

(Monkey, 63
 
Points)
  on 2/26/12 at 12:56pm

The most honest answer to stuff like this is that it depends. Some people probably do get really pissed off, and if you are very late that is an issue, but on the whole I'd much rather hire a qualified candidate who is an hour late than an unqualified one who is on time.

It certainly doesn't help your case if there are lots of qualified candidates, but I don't think it's an "auto-ding". I got a job offer at C\BAML\Barx when I was 30+ minutes late to the interview back in the day.

petertol's picture

I think the question is very

(Chimp, 15
 
Points)
  on 2/28/12 at 3:50pm

I think the question is very revealing. I mean, how badly does one want the job? I wouldn't let a mishap get in the way of something I wanted, I'd get very creative and pull out my method acting chops....

carltan1974's picture

The ethical thing to do is to

(Chimp, 15
 
Points)
  on 3/9/12 at 9:29pm

The ethical thing to do is to inform the company that you are running late and if they are willing to reschedule your job interview. But make sure to still thank the company if they turn you down.