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I was on my way into my office building and there was a young man outside, yelling and cursing into his cell phone. I briefly noted to myself how inappropriate that was, but didn’t think any more about it…
Until he walked into the office and told the receptionist that he was here for an interview with me.
He was my 9:00 appointment.
Technically, he wasn’t at work when he was acting so inappropriately outside. And he wasn’t in my office. But I’m human and was, of course, affected by what I had seen. I didn’t hire him. I just couldn’t get the inappropriate behavior out of my mind.
When you’re on your way to an interview, you want to put on your most professional behavior from the time you get out of your car, or off the bus, or however you’re arriving.
If the interview is in person:
Arrive five to ten minutes early. No earlier than that.
Unless you know for sure that the place where you’re interviewing has a large, anonymous waiting room, you don’t want to arrive more than ten minutes early for the interview.
This puts your potential employer in the position of having to find someplace for you to sit or seeing you before the scheduled time.
Like me, most hiring managers and interviewers have packed schedules and we live by the calendar. I will give you my full attention at our appointed interview time. I don’t have time for that beforehand.
I have seen many applicants arrive up to forty-five minutes early for their interview, saying that they wanted to be sure to be on time.
But they’re not on time, they’re inappropriately early and are messing up my schedule.
Then there’s the scramble to find someplace for them to sit where they are comfortable but not in anyone’s way. Then they awkwardly offer to come back at the appointed time. At this point I have to awkwardly invite them to do that or try to fit them into my schedule early.
I’ve had people tell me that their only choice was to arrive by bus forty-five minutes early or be late.
I understand that and you made the right decision to come early. But now all I can think about is if you will be able to keep a work schedule if hired. It would have been so much better if you had gone to get a cup of coffee or taken a walk, or whatever, to then allow you to arrive for the interview on time.
You don’t want to look as though you are going to make your transportation issues your employer’s problem.
Bring a pen and your ID into the interview
You won’t always need a pen or your ID, but you might. Sometimes there is a paper application to be filled out before the interview. Some employers check your ID or want to take a copy at the interview. That’s a good thing. It means you are being considered.
There is just no reason not to have these items with you. It’s awkward to have to ask for a pen or have to run back out to your car.
Set yourself up to look prepared.
Your cell phone
It’s fine to check emails or send a quick text while waiting for your interview.
But it would be better not to get on a phone call. You’ve arrived on time (see above), so you shouldn’t be waiting long. Unless you can actually say, “I have to go,” and hang up immediately, you don’t want to be talking on the phone while walking through the building to the interview area and you certainly don’t want to be indicating to the interviewer that you’ll just be a minute.
I had that happen not too long ago. It is not a good look and very difficult to overlook when making a hiring decision. Make your calls after the interview, once you’ve left the building.
Wear a mask
I’m writing this in 2020, during the pandemic, so we have to address masks. If your interview is in person, bring a mask and wear it. Wear it correctly, covering both your nose and mouth.
Once you are in the interview room, follow the lead of the interviewer. If you are far enough apart, you may be able to remove the mask, but do what the interviewer does.
Remember that shaking hands, which you have probably been taught since infancy is important, is no longer appropriate. You’ll have to use the brief COVID wave or fist bump or even an elbow bump.
If the interview is virtual:
You have either arranged a phone call or a virtual interview on Zoom or Teams.
Be sure to have installed whichever software you will be using beforehand
Practice with your friends and family. You do not want to be caught at the time of the interview not knowing how to use the technology. As noted above with the pen and ID, set yourself up to look prepared.
If the interview (probably a first, screening interview) is to be by phone, you have probably arranged for the interviewer to call you at a certain time. Sometimes you will be asked to call, but usually it is the interviewer calling you.
Answer the phone
You know you’re expecting a phone call. There is no reason to be on another call or to have left the phone in another room. Answer the phone.
Answer the phone sounding like you’re awake and expecting the call
I can’t tell you how many times I have called someone for an interview and they answer, “Hello?” sounding as if they just woke up. Answer, “Good morning! (or afternoon.) This is [your first name].
The way you answer the phone is the equivalent of your first impression when you show up for an in-person interview. Don’t leave the interviewer wondering if you had forgotten about the interview and just answered the phone because it rang, or if you are not really interested.
Answer the phone even if you don’t recognize the number
You may think you know what number the interviewer is going to call from. But maybe you don’t. Maybe the number shows up a strange way because of whatever phone system the interviewer’s office uses. If you are expecting a call at 11:00 and your phone rings at 11:00, answer it.
I recently had a phone interview scheduled for 11:00 a.m. I called the person at 11:00 a.m. I got her voicemail and left a message reminding her of our interview and asking her to call if she’s available in the next few minutes.
She called eleven minutes later and just said, “It’s [her name].” I would have expected, “Hello, it’s [name], I’m so sorry I couldn’t answer when you called. I hope we can speak now.”
She then went on and on about how she thought my call at 11:00 was a spam call. So answer it and say No Thank You and hang up if it’s spam.
I interviewed her, but I don’t really know if she was qualified. All I could think of was the very bad judgment that she used. That spoke so much more loudly than anything else that she might have said.
Obviously, I did not hire her.
