Preparing For A Job Interview? This Common Mistake Can Ruin Your Chances

While some may argue that a job interview begins with the first question, hiring experts have emphasised the significance of a candidate’s punctuality as an initial evaluation factor. Arriving late for an interview is widely recognized as a detrimental first impression by recruiters. It can convey a sense of tardiness and disregard for others’ time. William Vanderbloemen, CEO of executive search firm Vanderbloemen Search Group, asserts that arriving late for an interview without prior notification or a valid reason is an immediate “red flag” in the eyes of hiring teams.

In a conversation with CNBC’s Make It, he said, “It always amazes me how many people arrive even two minutes late for an interview with a fresh cup of coffee in their hand.” He explained that for most recruiters, punctuality is the first sign of whether or not a candidate takes the job seriously and if can be trusted with responsibilities. If you are going to be late for an interview, it is always recommended to inform the hiring team about the delay and then sincerely apologise for being late.”

Vanderbloemen, who has conducted over 30,000 interviews, added that arriving too early for an interview can also be risky for one’s job prospects. Explaining the rationale against being too early for an interview, he said, “If I’m in the middle of another meeting, or taking a break between calls, it’s not helpful to have someone waiting on me for 15-20 minutes before our scheduled call. It can make the interviewer feel uncomfortable or frazzled.” Being early may not be as bad as being late, but it can still indirectly cloud a recruiter’s judgment of you.

The hiring expert added that the best time to arrive for a job interview is to show up just 5 minutes before the scheduled time. This is neither too early nor too late. One might think that setting the arrival time for the interview may seem like looking too closely at a minor detail but Vanderbloemen insists that attention to small but significant details can help one stand apart from the rest, especially in today’s highly competitive world. Making this case, he said, “Job interviews can be stressful, but acing it becomes a lot easier when you show up prepared. Being punctual is the first step in proving your readiness.”