You found a job. You nailed your resume, submitted it through FindYourJobNow.com and you were invited in for an interview. Congratulations!
If you’re a regular reader of FindYourJobNow.com’s free resources page, you should already be prepared for the tough questions, and ready to better compete against the other interview candidates.
You know how to dress, what to say, what not to say… how to best present yourself and you know how to negotiate for your salary if you’re offered the job… for practically any industry or position.
But now that you have an interview scheduled, what time should you show up for it?
Exactly on time?
Late?
Early?
How early?
We’ll get to this important question in just a second. First, if you’re not a regular reader of FindYourJobNow.com, a world of valuable information is available to you too, for free!
Without any subscriptions or fees, we’ll show you how to get the certifications or education that can further your career, how to write a resume that stands out, and what to do in almost any interview situation. But before you take advantage of our free resources, you’ll need to find the job you’re looking for…
And FindYourJobNow.com has thousands of jobs available, right now. Simply use the search bar technology on our homepage, and a world of opportunities will open up. You see, there may be jobs in your area that are a great fit for you, but you didn’t know were available. But with FindYourJobNow.com, you now can!
Now, back to “should I show up early to a job interview?”
Clearly, you should never show up for an interview late. Even with a valid excuse, like bad traffic or a no-show babysitter, you’re putting yourself behind the eight ball…
Cornering yourself with a massive disadvantage over the other interview candidates. Afterall, if you’re late for the interview, what would make the hiring manager believe you’d be on time for work?
So, you absolutely must not be late.
You should always be on time… for everything. But not for a job interview.
For a job interview, it’s always best to show up early. By planning to be early, you’re eliminating outside forces like traffic or weather, and are showing the hiring manager you’re prepared and mean business.
But how early should you show up for an interview? 35, 45 minutes?
No. That’s way too early, and you may come across as desperate if you’re sitting in the lobby twiddling your thumbs for a half hour or more.
The ideal time to show up for a job interview is around 20 minutes early. Now, this doesn’t mean sitting around for 20 minutes, waiting to be called in. It means getting on site 20 minutes early to assure a parking spot, having some time to review your resume, going over possible interview questions, and tidying yourself up for the big moment.
You’ll want to be in the lobby, ready to be called on, about 5-10 minutes before the scheduled interview; refreshed and ready to go.
If by chance you do encounter traffic, weather, or anything else that will make you late, be sure to call the hiring manager, or HR person and let them know. If they are aware of your situation, chances are they’ll be far more lenient than if you didn’t communicate with them at all.
So, if you’re asking, “should I show up early to a job interview,” the answer is yes…
About 20 minutes early.
For more expert, and FREE advice on finding a job and best preparing to land one, visit FindYourJobNow.com’s free resources page.
But if the job you really want is out of your educational reach, we suggest visiting SchoolMatchPro.com and they’ll connect you directly with a school or program that matches your needs and can help you achieve your goals…
And that too is FREE!
Good luck.