The Importance of Punctuality in the Job Process
We’ve all either experienced this dreaded scenario or know someone who has: a utility provider says they will be at your home between a certain window of time and either arrives at the last possible minute, late, or not at all. The anxiety and frustration you or the person you know felt is not only unfortunate but avoidable.
The Reasoning
Punctuality is supremely important in all aspects of life, especially the job process. Once you decide to work with a recruiter or submit your resume directly to a job posting, being accessible, responsible and timely is of supreme importance. This is because from the first time a client receives your name for consideration, an opinion is starting to form, subconscious or not.
As a job candidate, you want to do everything in your power to give yourself the best shot possible at what could be a great job opportunity, which in turn will elevate other aspects of your life, such as work-life balance, commute, salary, etc.
The competition is always high in the job market for qualified candidates and you don’t want a time management issue to be the reason someone else beats you to an offer.
Helpful Tips
If you have a phone interview scheduled for 10:00am, be completely prepared with your resume and other pertinent materials and waiting with your phone at least 10 minutes prior. This will give you a chance to mentally prepare, calm your nerves and be ready for the phone to ring at 9:57 in case the interviewer is a few minutes early.
When you are going to an in-person interview, plan to arrive at the location a half hour early. Don’t enter the office until 5-10 minutes before your interview, but arriving at the location will ensure you are in the area in enough time to take into account any weather issues, transit delays, traffic volume, missed exits, etc. If the office is in a suburban location, waiting in your car will allow you to compose yourself and go over your materials. If the office is in an urban setting, sit in a nearby coffee shop. This approach will also help you get a sense of the local area that you are considering spending a large chunk of your daily time!
After the interview, either phone or in-person, sending a timely thank you note will leave a nice impression. More guidance on thank you notes can be found here.
Taking the same approach of subsequent interviews will solidify you as a punctual and responsible candidate who would be an asset to their company not only for your skill set and experience but for your personal qualities.
Throughout the duration of the process, whether you are working with a recruiter or a company directly, being in close contact if and when last minute issues arise or you have to withdraw from the process for any reason, will only leave a favorable impression of your memory. You want to avoid a recruiter and or client being blindsided by a decision or problem that could have been communicated sooner.
Happy job hunting!
