"You. You and your crazy life. You and your geographic anomaly. You and your drunken lesbianic ways and terrible navigational skills." - ProfArt and her holy baby
Did she demand to be interviewed early or somehow act all crazy about having to wait? I get that showing up 25 minutes early isn't ideal but as long as they just sit quietly somewhere until the interviewers are ready, I don't get the issue.
And at least she didn't bring her mom to the interview. I had one of those once.
I'm with nomad100. She was probably expecting to wait. Sometimes it is really hard to plan with the traffic, and you don't know the area, so you are stuck waiting in your car or showing up early.
And at least she didn't bring her mom to the interview. I had one of those once.
No, she didn't demand to be interviewed early, but it would be uncomfortable for us to just sit here doing our work knowing that she's waiting out there for 25 minutes. Yes, we could have made her, but none of us would be in this awkward situation if she had shown up on time. It's impolite to be too early.
I've never arrived that early, but honestly, you would rather she wait in her car so that you don't have to make her wait?
I try to get to the location 20-30 minutes early because I'm worried I won't be able to find it. Then I wait in my car or the lobby of the building and walk through the office doors 5 minutes early.
And at least she didn't bring her mom to the interview. I had one of those once.
No, she didn't demand to be interviewed early, but it would be uncomfortable for us to just sit here doing our work knowing that she's waiting out there for 25 minutes. Yes, we could have made her, but none of us would be in this awkward situation if she had shown up on time. It's impolite to be too early.
I guess, having dealt with this often enough (especially with the college kids interviewing for internships and are not that experienced with the whole interview thing) that I don't let early bother me. I am much more upset by the person who shows up late.
Maybe it was because we where my office was located at the time. It was not strategically placed for going to a coffee shop (across the river and several blocks over) or waiting in your car (closest parking garage was several blocks away). Misjudging timing on either with the traffic lights could result in being late. I just had them wait in our reception area or at an empty cubicle and gave them some of our marketing materials to read. Bonus: I would then ask them in the interview about said materials to see if they actually read them since I am mean like that.
I get your point, but it's an internship so I wouldn't be upset. This is a learning experience, not a sign of a potential bad hire. I wouldn't have taken her early though. At my office the receptionist wouldn't call the attorneys until the scheduled time so no one would know. We have reading material and a lobby with a nice view so it doesn't bother me if people wait.
Well, we're in a city, so there are a ton of coffee shops around here, so she wouldn't have to wait in her car. But, yes, I've done the same plenty of times. I get worried about being late for an interview, so I get to the neighborhood way early. But then I just manage my own time, and show up at the time we agreed on. Walking in early to an appointment creates implicit pressure on the host to amend their schedule to yours.
Like I said, this isn't a huge problem; she's still in the running for the position. It's just a moment.
I get it, I just find you are being a bit harsh on her. She is a student, it is probably her first interview!
I get your point, but it's an internship so I wouldn't be upset. This is a learning experience, not a sign of a potential bad hire. I wouldn't have taken her early though. At my office the receptionist wouldn't call the attorneys until the scheduled time so no one would know. We have reading material and a lobby with a nice view so it doesn't bother me if people wait.
Post by Jalapeñomel on Jun 7, 2013 11:45:42 GMT -5
I don´t get why it´s uncomfortable for you to have her sit and wait her turn. She knows she is early, I am guessing she figured she would have to wait.
I think you are being really tough on her. I used to interview interns all the time and they were all obnoxiously early. I never let it change my schedule and they would just sit there until close to the interview time. Even in a small office I don't understand the pressure to meet with them early.
But it is an internship, right? So you can't expect her to know what a professional knows. If she had that knowledge she wouldn't be working for free. It is your job so it is up to you, I just find this a silly reason to dock someone. But I won't hire people who carry purses so we all have our idiosyncrasies.
But it is an internship, right? So you can't expect her to know what a professional knows. If she had that knowledge she wouldn't be working for free. It is your job so it is up to you, I just find this a silly reason to dock someone. But I won't hire people who carry purses so we all have our idiosyncrasies.
Wait, what?! This is a thing?? Where else am I supposed to put my car keys, wallet, etc?
Briefcase. Or a portfolio. It is absolutely a thing. They even teach you about it in law school. But I wouldn't hold an intern or staff to it. Just an attorney.
25 minutes is pretty early. I always show up about 10 minutes before my appointment to show them that I'm prompt and looking forward to meeting with them for the interview.
My husband just interviewed with the CFO at Tesla Motors and that guy made him wait 15 minutes past the scheduled interview time. It's actually a tactic to make the person wait. To get that position, it took a phone interview and then 3 additional interviews. Pretty hard to get through the gates at that company.
Wow, the purse thing is not something I've ever heard of. In fact, the career center at my university even had rules about your purse (matching your shoes mostly, and also not being obnoxiously big).
She showed up early, you weren't obligated to bring her back for the interview until you were ready. If it bothered me that she was sitting there, I would have made her wait.
Post by speckledfrog on Jun 7, 2013 12:10:53 GMT -5
"You're a bit early. We are finishing a few things up and we will be with you closer to InterviewTime." Done. I don't like it when people show up early, either, but I've never let my boss get put out over it.
Post by speckledfrog on Jun 7, 2013 12:12:55 GMT -5
Maybe elle is expecting that they put their keys and ID in their brief case? Clearly not everyone can do that. If I rolled up to a preschool with a brief case they'd be side eyeing me for sure.
I don't know what traffic is like where you live but I could easily be 25 minutes early to anything just because I am anal about not being late. I don't know if I would think to sit in my car to wait it out a bit. I also wouldn't expected to be seen early. More importantly, I would have NO idea that it reflected poorly on me.
I don't know what traffic is like where you live but I could easily be 25 minutes early to anything just because I am anal about not being late. I don't know if I would think to sit in my car to wait it out a bit. I also wouldn't expected to be seen early. More importantly, I would have NO idea that it reflected poorly on me.
I know! This makes me think that I could never get a job ever in the corporate world. Too many freakin´rules that I don´t know. Don´t be too early, don´t be late, don´t carry a purse, or if you do carry a purse make sure it matches your shoes...
I don't know what traffic is like where you live but I could easily be 25 minutes early to anything just because I am anal about not being late. I don't know if I would think to sit in my car to wait it out a bit. I also wouldn't expected to be seen early. More importantly, I would have NO idea that it reflected poorly on me.
I know! This makes me think that I could never get a job ever in the corporate world. Too many freakin´rules that I don´t know. Don´t be too early, don´t be late, don´t carry a purse, or if you do carry a purse make sure it matches your shoes...
I wasn't made for the corporate world, period. end of sentence. I am happy where I am in my world of education - wouldn't mind working at the government level one day, but that's it.
My shoes today are black and so is my purse. My shoes are $16 target ballerina flats made out of some sort of synthetic material and my purse is my 'nice expensive purse', and by that I mean it cost me $99 on sale at Danier leather, but at least it is real leather. Again, I am fine in education.
Personally, I arrive 30min early to all appointments. Taking into account traffic, weather, or anything unexpected. I wouldn't be so tough on her, she sounds reliable based on her punctuality.
Its absolutely a professional courtesy not to show up 25 min early to an interview. I heard it in my sophomore year of undergrad when we were prepping for internships. No sympathy.
Sure, its not a make it or break it, but the job market right now is competitive. Demonstrating that you can be sensitive and aware of others' conveniences is important.
Re the purse thing, I also avoid bringing purses to interviews because it doesn't look professional. Although my last interview I was 3 weeks postpartum and took a train in, so I had to bring my pump bag LOL. At least it was just a nondescript black shoulder bag. My leather portfolio slid into the outside pocket.