Best time of day for job interview?

maryroberts

Does anyone have any thoughts about the best time of day for a job interview? I know you don't often get a choice of time slot, but I'm wondering whether a certain time of day is better than others. I've googled it but there are many conflicting ideas! I'd like some personal opinions, from both the interviewer's point of view and a candidate's. (There would be a max of about 5 candidates if that helps)

AP007

Well they may be seeing one person a day or all in one day

Time in that day don't really matter if they want to give you the job

If you want to maybe get the interviewer not at the end of a bad day then get a morning slot but not too early in case you get in rush hour traffic etc or they are late and come in flustered too

I try to get around 11am as a good balance meaning I don't have to do the rush hour and gives the interviewer time to get in do some work etc

Goldiegirl

From a candidates perspective, I'd go for an early slot, so I could get it over with and not spend the day getting more and more nervous

Daedalus

I don't think it makes a difference beyond the obvious.

Where the place is. I prefer afternoon as stress = late to bed so prefer few hours extra sleep.

If the interview is formatic (public sector/competency based) then earlier is probably better, imagine asking the same question 14 times in the same day and you are the 15th...

MinaMina

just an idea.

for the candidates that live local slot them in the morning.

for the candidates that live far slot them in the afternoon.

Gives everyone a chance not be be late

AP007

MinaMina wrote: »

just an idea.

for the candidates that live local slot them in the morning.

for the candidates that live far slot them in the afternoon.

Gives everyone a chance not be be late

Because when you get the job you can start at 1pm instead of 9am lol

pawsies

Either first or last as you will leave a lasting impression.

Google primacy and recency effect

hgotsparkle

Personally I prefer to have an interview first thing in the morning as you're so preoccupied with getting ready to look your best that you don't spend hours waiting and thinking through answers and getting yourself worked up. Well, thats what I do anyway.

shmeeko69

I think a morning interview is always better, as it gets the nervous part over with early doors and leaves you feeling more relaxed for the rest of the day.

If a company is interviewing several candidates then, it can become laborious and tiresome for the interviewer and they may miss out on what you said or had to offer the company.

keyser666

pawsies wrote: »

Either first or last as you will leave a lasting impression.

Google primacy and recency effect

I do the last interview if I get a choice of slots for this exact reason and had great success with it. I know I interview very well as well as having the correct skill set for the roles, so going last even though they may be sick of interviewing people if you are upbeat and talk passionately and are last you leave a lasting impression, particularly if they are deciding the candidates at the end of the day

Idiophreak

Definitely not last thing...I've been in a couple of 2 hour interviews having already done 9 or 10 hour days...bad day at work and a tough interview, you can really end up feeling a little "punch drunk" by the end of it...not great.