How long would you wait in the lobby for an interview? (employee, employer)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
During my most recent job hunt, I had some terrible interview experiences. In the worst situation, I was kept waiting for over an hour past my scheduled interview time with no explaination or apology. As I waited in the cold waiting room without anything to read or do, I got very angry and frustrated. I asked the front desk receptionist a few times when the person would come out and talk to me. She told me he was a busy man and he would come when he could. I tried to reschedule but that idea was rejected. Finally he came out and started the interview, it lasted ten minutes. I should have never waited so long.
How long would you wait before walking out or trying to reschedule?
Last edited by questioner2; 12-28-2007 at 09:35 AM..
After twenty minutes I would ask the receptionist to confirm that the interviewer knew I was there for a scheduled interview. It's possible that a busy employer could be told that someone is waiting to talk with him/her and not realize that it's a prospective employee but think it's a vendor or something else. If the receptionist refused to do that, I think I'd give them another ten minutes and then explain that I had other pressing obligations and would call to reschedule at a more convenient time. It's possible that the ten-minute interview was the result of the interviewer having a problem that was distracting him/her and it might have been preferable all round to reschedule.
I can't speak to how long I would wait..however as a Department manager, If I am to be delayed on an interview by more then 5 minutes, I "PERSONALLY" advise the applicant and tell them EXACTLY how long it will be.
By the same token....if an applicant is late by more then 5 minutes, they have blown their chances.
Unless some explanation was forthcoming, I'd walk after about 20 minutes if I was treated that way. I don't need a job so badly that I'd allow myself to be treated like crap.
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,766,887 times
Reputation: 3587
Quote:
Originally Posted by dynimagelv
I can't speak to how long I would wait..however as a Department manager, If I am to be delayed on an interview by more then 5 minutes, I "PERSONALLY" advise the applicant and tell them EXACTLY how long it will be.
By the same token....if an applicant is late by more then 5 minutes, they have blown their chances.
While being late for an interview is never a good idea, it would be bad to blow off an applicant just because they are 5 minutes late. There are any number of reasons why a person might be late to an interview. Maybe there is a wreck on the freeway or maybe the person is not familiar with the area or maybe- as happened to me once- the parking lot they intended to use is full. If they call and let you know why they are late, you should still see them if you can. Instead of blowing off the applicant, I would simply say "you know this position requires you be habitually on time and I noticed you were late to the interview. This will not be a problem if you are hired will it?".
Location: Jonquil City (aka Smyrna) Georgia- by Atlanta
16,259 posts, read 24,766,887 times
Reputation: 3587
Quote:
Originally Posted by questioner2
During my most recent job hunt, I had some terrible interview experiences. In the worst situation, I was kept waiting for over an hour past my scheduled interview time with no explaination or apology. As I waited in the cold waiting room without anything to read or do, I got very angry and frustrated. I asked the front desk receptionist a few times when the person would come out and talk to me. She told me he was a busy man and he would come when he could. I tried to reschedule but that idea was rejected. Finally he came out and started the interview, it lasted ten minutes. I should have never waited so long.
How long would you wait before walking out or trying to reschedule?
If I had nothing else to do, I would wait as long as needed. But I think it was in poor taste for them not to give you an explanation or apology for making you wait. Sometimes people get hung up on things that popped up and they cannot break loose right when they want to.
During my most recent job hunt, I had some terrible interview experiences. In the worst situation, I was kept waiting for over an hour past my scheduled interview time with no explaination or apology. As I waited in the cold waiting room without anything to read or do, I got very angry and frustrated. I asked the front desk receptionist a few times when the person would come out and talk to me. She told me he was a busy man and he would come when he could. I tried to reschedule but that idea was rejected. Finally he came out and started the interview, it lasted ten minutes. I should have never waited so long.
How long would you wait before walking out or trying to reschedule?
I'd say it all depends on how badly you want/need the job...
While being late for an interview is never a good idea, it would be bad to blow off an applicant just because they are 5 minutes late. There are any number of reasons why a person might be late to an interview. Maybe there is a wreck on the freeway or maybe the person is not familiar with the area or maybe- as happened to me once- the parking lot they intended to use is full. If they call and let you know why they are late, you should still see them if you can. Instead of blowing off the applicant, I would simply say "you know this position requires you be habitually on time and I noticed you were late to the interview. This will not be a problem if you are hired will it?".
ACTUALLY....let me correct myself.....if 5 minutes late with a believable excuse...ok.....if they are 5 minutes late because they are 5 minutes late....they are gonna go to the bottom of stack.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
