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I don't work in HR so my opinion may not matter...but those are not acceptable excuses for being late to a interview.
Being rear-ended or something similar would be because it was not your fault.
All those issues you brought up can very easily be avoided with some planing or leaving early.
About 80% of the time I have been to interviews, I have to spend 20 minutes or more filling out paperwork and then still wait another 10 to 20 minutes for the lowest level person to show up, who is sometimes a guy who is the same age/level as me. So, the big guy who makes the decision might not see you until an hour or two after you arrived.
So anything less than 15 minutes late, they probably wouldn't even notice.
Coming from someone who has almost always arrived early for interviews.
One minute I wouldn't notice. More than that I would. If there was a major crash and the Interstate was closed and backed up for miles and you called to let me know you were going to be late, I'd be OK with it--I might be stuck in the same traffic. But saying you couldn't find you keys? Um, interview is over. Or saying you were late because of a breakup with a boyfriend? That was a minute of my life I'll never get back.
In all honesty if it's something so serious that you'd be excusably late--death of family member, sudden serious illness or injury to a family member, etc., I'd rather have you call me and ask to reschedule. I'm not without compassion and would generally be happy to do so. I want to get a solid interview, and someone who is distracted because their kid was just taken to the ER with a broken collarbone after he fell off his bike or their parent just passed away the day before is not someone I want to interview right now. I wouldn't have asked them to interview if they weren't one of my top two or three applicants, I can wait until next week.
Why would you be late? Unless it's a family emergency like you break up with your boyfriend, then I would understand. :-)
I was rear ended on the freeway on the way to an interview. Called the company and told them I was going to be late (the guy who hit me thought I was nuts) and arrived 5 minutes late. They were more concerned with my being ok. I offered to show them the police report of the damage (it was pretty decent damage but the car was still driveable) and they declined.
Hiring managers, HR women, and all others, what do you think of someone who is...
1 minute late...
5 minutes late...
20 minutes late...
an hour late for an interview?
Also, what do you think of various excuses for impunctuality? For example:
* I got stuck in traffic
* I couldn't find a place to park
* I couldn't find my keys / wallet
* I was searching online for interview tips
I'm not HR nor a hiring manager either but you did say, "and all others" so here I am....
Unacceptable, honestly. If I have a job interview, I mapquest that thing, figure out the quickest route, if I have to drive the thing before the interview to learn my way around, I will. If I don't have to drive it to know how to get there but am not familiar with how traffic runs on that route, I will make sure I am EXTRA early. I figure out what clothes I'm going to wear the night before, I bathe the night before, I have everything set up, my phone, keys, ID, anything I need, set and ready to go, everything is ready so that all I have to do is get up, brush my teeth and hair, get dressed, GO.
I would rather sit in my car for 45 minutes because I'm too early than be even ONE second late.
I don't think it would look too good on someone who is coming in to get a job if they can't even GET to the "get a job" on time.
(This is using your examples, not the dramatic stuff like someone plowing in to you, an unexpected death of family or friend, (hell, even pet).)
Hiring managers, HR women, and all others, what do you think of someone who is...
1 minute late...
5 minutes late...
20 minutes late...
an hour late for an interview?
Also, what do you think of various excuses for impunctuality? For example:
* I got stuck in traffic
* I couldn't find a place to park
* I couldn't find my keys / wallet
* I was searching online for interview tips
If it were me, I'd being saying...'NEXT...' and if you were 1 minute, 5 minutes, 20 minutes or an hour late for an interview with me you may as well just turn around and go home.
K
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well...
