Got the Interview? That’s the First Step!

Congratulations on getting the interview! That’s really exciting but the organization has given you choices regarding dates and time for the interview…what do you do?

Where Do You Want to Be in the Schedule?

Interviewers compare candidates against other candidates — if you are the first, other applicants will be judged against you. This sounds good — but unconsciously, the interviewer is looking for an improvement over you.

“Contrast bias” occurs when an interviewer compares candidates against each other. It’s a common effect in the hiring process, as candidates are judged in comparison with one another instead of each candidate being assessed individually on his or her skills and qualifications. This can be a positive if you are a stronger candidate than the other applicants being interviewed, but it can also be a negative as the interviewer may unconsciously be looking to find someone “better” than you, even if you’re the perfect fit.

You also don’t want to be the last candidate interviewed — especially if a lot of applicants are being considered. Unless your qualifications are substantially better — or different — than the others being interviewed, it’s harder to stand out.

If all the interviews are being conducted on the same day, it’s also likely the interviewer may be tired — conducting multiple interviews in a single day can be draining.

If possible, you want to be in the early to middle part of the list of candidates interviewed.

What Time of Day is Best?

Don’t be the first interview of the morning if you can help it. Your interviewer might be running late if he or she runs into traffic or encounters an unexpected situation when beginning the workday.

You also don’t want to be the last thing on the interviewer’s schedule before they get to leave for the day, or they might be impatient to wrap things up. You don’t want to have a great conversation cut short by, “Sorry, I have to leave here by 5 p.m.” Of course, a premature ending to the interview can also happen when the interviewer has another candidate to see, or another task that needs completed. You can ask when scheduling the interview how long you should block out for the interview.

If offered a choice of the time of day, consider your natural preferences too. If you are a morning person, try to schedule your interview between 10-11 a.m. Too close to noon and it is possible that you, the interviewer — or both of you — will be getting hungry. If you’re a night owl, it might be difficult for you to be at your best for a morning interview. In that case, consider an interview time in the mid-afternoon. But don’t select a time that is too close to lunchtime, or you — and the interviewer — might be a bit more tired, especially after a carb-heavy lunch.

What Day of the Week is Best?

What is the best day of the week to schedule an interview, if you’re given a choice? Tuesday or Wednesday, according to the experts.

The Most Important Thing to Consider in Job Interview Scheduling

The most important factor for success in a job interview isn’t the time of day or day of the week — it’s your qualifications for the role, your preparation for the interview, and the connection you make about your suitability for the position.

The ideal situation, of course, is that you interview when there are few distractions, after a couple of weaker candidates, you and the interviewer both have high energy levels, and you are the best applicant in the bunch. But you can only control a few of those factors, so take the best time, date, placement, and format and make the most of it!