Why It Is Ok For The Person Interviewing You To Be Running Late, But Not You?

Posted On 17 Jul 2020

Why It Is Ok For The Person Interviewing You To Be Running Late, But Not You?

17 Jul 2020
Why It Is Ok For The Person Interviewing You To Be Running Late, But Not You?

Candidate Resource, Employer Resource, Interview Tips, News & Events

Why It Is Ok For The Person Interviewing You To Be Running Late, But Not You?

Just last week – in our Masterclass on, ‘Interviewing’, I was asked the following two questions.

 

  1. Is it ok to be running late for my interview? The answer was a resounding NO!…
  2. How long is it ok to wait when the person interviewing is running late? Hmmm.

 

Outwardly, it’s very easy to say, we shouldn’t apply double standards; however, I always like to preface my advice, by, “what would I be saying if this was my mother, sister, best friend….”, and in that context, the answer would be – as long as you can.

 

And the reason for that…you have so much more to gain than spending (wasting even?) your time feeling offended.

 

But just before I continue, I do want to acknowledge when faced with stress and uncertainty we are prone to behave impulsively and potentially make mistakes. We are also more likely to allow our emotional responses to cloud our initial judgment and experience our ‘waiting’ as a reason to be upset. So, let’s not become annoyed and impatient, as it will likely affect our interview performance!
So, it is best to ask:

How much do you want the job? During the interviewing process is not the time to play the fairness card. You have come this far in the job stakes…the job applications are huge, and if you have secured an interview, congratulations, you are at the pointy end.
 
Why not at least wait for the interview, do well, receive an offer and then make that call?
 
Also, please consider this, what if the interviewer had a truly legitimate reason for being late. I mean a perfect one and you left without hearing it and thus missed out yourself. And let’s go further with this…..what if the interviewer gives you a good, or even a not so good reason – there is now a shift in the dynamics – this is what you want in this highly competitive job market – just an edge – something that can give you the upper hand or an advantage over the other interviewees.
 
Because, now, you have the opportunity to show another side of yourself, one the interviewer would not ordinarily see, i.e. empathy, consideration, care, patience, etc. You also have a chance to demonstrate your self-control (do not underestimate this and the interviewers’ keen observation of this attribute). This will strengthen your personal power and allow you to focus on the ‘main goal:’ Getting your ideal job.
 
And, don’t be tempted to text your friend, husband about how late the person is –  this will only carry over to your body language and affect a range of biological responses. Read the paper, magazine, or silently meditate, breathe, feel good, recite positive silent affirmations.
 
Now, I am a bit of a number’s person, and I like to look at the stats and odds. Let us consider those job applications again and pretend there are 3 people shortlisted to interview (average applications range from 200 – 500 applications per job advert – so you have done well!). At this stage, you have a 33% chance of receiving a job offer. Now, let us pretend the interviewer has been running late all day & one of those people decided not to wait, you are now at 50%!
 
So that is why you should wait, in fact, if I were you, I would pray for the interviewer to be late, because it will work to your advantage – if you choose to experience it that way!
 
In addition, and I have personally experienced this – there is often a mysterious connection between the uncomfortable and – an opportunity.
 
Oh, and yes, the gorgeous lady who waited 1.5 hours with her husband driving around the block waiting for her patiently –  got the job! This is true – you can ask anyone who attended our Masterclass!
 
‘Be patient. Patience is the mother of all virtues.’ -Hrithik Roshan

About the Author

Roxanne Calder

As Founder and Managing Director at EST10, Roxanne has an all-encompassing role that includes building and growing the business, as well as actively recruiting and consulting.

After completing a Bachelor’s Degree at Monash University, Roxanne began her recruitment career with renowned recruiter Julia Ross. From there, Roxanne worked in HR and recruitment with a number of global players and boutique businesses throughout Australia, the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong for over 20 years. She has been responsible for managing large teams and projects, implementing RPO models, managing and assisting businesses to an IPO and assisting companies in setting up their recruitment teams and processes.

Following completion of her MBA at the Australian Graduate School of Management, Roxanne launched EST10 in July 2010. In doing so, she hoped to combine the flexibility and high touch service levels of boutique agencies with the structure and strategy afforded to larger firms. Roxanne believes in high-touch, high-care consulting and is always on the lookout for consultants that share this vision of recruitment.

About the author
Roxanne Calder
Managing Director

As Founder and Managing Director at EST10, Roxanne has an all-encompassing role that includes building and growing the business, as well as actively recruiting and consulting.

After completing a Bachelor’s Degree at Monash University, Roxanne began her recruitment career with renowned recruiter Julia Ross. From there, Roxanne worked in HR and recruitment with a number of global players and boutique businesses throughout Australia, the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong for over 20 years. She has been responsible for managing large teams and projects, implementing RPO models, managing and assisting businesses to an IPO and assisting companies in setting up their recruitment teams and processes.

Following completion of her MBA at the Australian Graduate School of Management, Roxanne launched EST10 in July 2010. In doing so, she hoped to combine the flexibility and high touch service levels of boutique agencies with the structure and strategy afforded to larger firms. Roxanne believes in high-touch, high-care consulting and is always on the lookout for consultants that share this vision of recruitment.