How Early Should You Arrive to a Job Interview
Job interviews are typically considered the make-or-break element of the hiring process. Therefore it’s crucial that you nail every aspect of the interview process. That includes arriving early. While not technically part of the interview process when you arrive nonetheless says a lot about your level of interest, motivation and your respect for the company you’ll be interviewing with. In this post, the team at Triumph Consultants answer the question “How early should you arrive to a job interview”.
How Early Should You Arrive to a Job Interview?
In some cases, the hiring manager may specify a time for you to arrive for your job interview. In the absence of that type of instruction, it is recommended that you arrive 15 minutes early. You’ll want it noted that you arrived early so as soon as you walk in you should notify the receptionist and ask that they inform HR that you’re on-site.
The hiring manager may or may not choose to greet you before the interview begins. If they choose not to, at least you’re on record as arriving early and you can use the time to perform a last-minute review of your CV and other paperwork.
What if the Hiring Manager Asks You to Arrive Early?
As we mentioned above the hiring manager may ask you to arrive early for the interview without specifying how early. First of all, if they make a specific request that you arrive say, half an hour early, consider it a change to the scheduled interview time, and not a suggestion. If, on the other hand, they ask you to show up early but don’t say how early you should show up a minimum of 15 minutes early.
They are probably asking you to come early because they have some paperwork for you to fill out and don’t want to spend valuable interview time doing so. If there are background forms and the like to fill out you may need to provide proof of identification, so don’t forget to bring a photo ID with you just in case.
Why It’s Important to Arrive Early
Whether you intend to or not, by arriving at the last minute you’re signalling that the interview isn’t very important to you. On the other hand, if you arrive early you’ll have time to collect yourself, use the restroom if necessary, review your paperwork and brush up on your company knowledge so that you’re not caught flat-footed during the interview. As we alluded to above the company may also have some documents they need you to fill out. By arriving early you can get that done before the interview starts.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that by arriving early you’ll be able to enter the interview in a relaxed state, confident that you’ve brought everything required and ready to handle any questions the hiring manager might throw at you. For their part, the hiring manager will note your level of preparation which may go a long way when it comes to deciding who to offer the position to.
