The Eight Minute Rule

Submitted by wendii on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 11:48.
in

A friend of mine asked last week, what is the perfect time to arrive before an interview? My answer: It’s the eight minute rule.

More than eight minutes is too early. It stresses the interviewer out because they aren’t ready and makes them feel bad for that and for making you wait. If you’re more than eight minutes early, wait in the car.

Less than eight minutes, they start to worry you’re not coming or you got lost and you’re going to be late. If they have a series of interviews in the same afternoon, they worry they’ll end up running late all afternoon, and that doesn’t put them in a positive state of mind about you.

Eight minutes gives you time to sign in at reception, and walk to the interview room if necessary without being late. It gives you time to look at the brochures and newspapers in reception – vital information! It doesn’t give you time to get even more nervous. Eight minutes is perfect.

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josemx's picture
Submitted by josemx on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 17:25.

about eight minute rule

I think 8 mins are good. And how much you have to wait for the interviewer? You have to wait hours until they recieve you? I had in past years some interviews and time waiting for the interviewer was 1hr or more . In those cases what you should do? wait? leave?

 

 

stephenbooth_uk's picture
Submitted by stephenbooth_uk on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 19:01.

I normally aim for 10 minutes

 Actually I aim for 10 minutes plus 10 minutes for every hour I'll be travelling to the venue (to allow for travel delays). If I'm more than 10 minutes early I'll find somewhere local to wait (usually a cafe or espresso bar to use the bathroom, check myself in the mirror &c). 

I suspect that the exact ideal time to arrive before the interview will depend somewhat on the interviewer.  Personally I (High-C/High-D) get concerned if the candidate hasn't checked in half an hour before, I have friends of more of an High-I type who seem to think any time is good.

As for what to do if asked to wait.  I think it depends on your reading of the environment. 

I've known of employers that have deliberately made candidates wait as part of the selection process.  The receptionist makes note of the behaviour of the candidates as they wait and reports back to the interviewers.  At one company I worked for it was standard to make any candidates for sales jobs wait 60-90 minutes in reception before going in for their interview.  Quite often, if they got the job, they would have to wait long periods at customer and potential customer sites so how they handled this would be important.  Flicking through the industry magazines on the coffee table and making polite small talk would be a plus.  Getting testy in silence or making negative comments and looking at their watch every few minutes (which did happen) would be a major negative. 

A job seeking course I attended soon after graduating recommended that, if told the interviewer is busy or told you'll have to wait a long time, to offer to come back another time.  Personally I think that's very dangerous and you risk causing offence.

My feeling is that if you can wait then do so but take account of the environment.  If the reception area is small, or pretty much non-existent, and the expected wait is long, so you'd be in the way, then maybe suggest coming back later.  Above all be polite, friendly and smiling (no matter how you're seething inside), even if the wait isn't deliberate your behaviour may be noted and taken into account.

Stephen

--

Skype: stephenbooth_uk (Please note I'm on UK time)

DiSC: 6137

Experience is how you avoid failure, failure is what gives you experience.

tahhan's picture
Submitted by tahhan on Thu, 02/04/2010 - 14:50.

i do agree

08 min it is great, but many things need to be considered with it,  I do agreed with Stephen and that what normally I am doing,  

 

Additionally I am doing something very special , I do not care for the result, if  it is either good or bad, I will enjoy the new interview experience and be opened mind, smart and ready.

 

Always think in their mind and do your action as they like ,but not perfectly because they need somebody sometime with human error (but make it funny in an accepted level)

skype:  ape0011

 

Abdulrahman Altahhan

UAE-Abu Dhabi

 

Samie's picture
Submitted by Samie on Mon, 02/08/2010 - 13:27.

Rule.

Eight minutes does sound like a good time to arrive for an interview. Getting there too early does seem stress out both the applicant and the interviewer. I do agree that you should take travel time into consideration. casino online

tberge's picture
Submitted by tberge on Wed, 02/10/2010 - 21:35.

Wait time

I was kept waiting for an interview for more than 30 minutes, at which time I politely left, letting the receptionist know that I would be happy to reschedule a more convenient time.  I had other opportunities and was not tied to this one company.  Being kept waiting felt like a power play and didn't give me a good feeling for how employment with the company would feel.

wendii's picture
Submitted by wendii on Thu, 02/11/2010 - 20:05.

Thank you for your contributions!

Stephen, thank you for reminding us about travel time. That's another important component of arriving on time to interviews.

As for what to do when kept waiting. I was kept waiting 30 minutes at a well known tv provider.. and they had the news on 5 minute repeats on the tv in reception. Drove me mad! I waited patiently, gave a dreadful interview because I was so distracted and will never get my tv from them!

If the interviewer is apologetic and gives a good reason and you want the job and have a rapport and all the other things you weigh up after an interview, then I think they can be forgiven. No need to cut our noses off to spite our faces! On the other hand, arrogant managers who keep us waiting as some kind of stress test, or just because they can.. it better be a really really good opportunity!

Wendii