If someone is late for an interview. . .

Do you see them if & when they actually arrive, or do you turn them away?

I have someone coming in for an internship position, and she is already 25 minutes late--no call.

We don't have any other interviews scheduled today, but we obviously have other work to do, and we are supposed to put the Christmas tree up at 4.

What do I do if she walks in while I am in reception putting up a Chrismas tree?

Although, at this point she may not even show up. That's what usually happens, if someone isn't here by now.

Message edited 12/7/2007 3:27:09 PM.

Re: If someone is late for an interview. . .

I wouldn't waste my time interviewing someone I wouldn't be hiring anyway - Unless she had some sort of earth shattering excuse -
25 minutes late and no call ?? -

Re: If someone is late for an interview. . .

If she's that late and no phone call she probably isnt going to show.

I worked as a temp in HR and someone was 5 minutes late and the EVP refused to see the person. She told me to tell the person that due to her tardiness the EVP has elected to not see her and wishes her well in her future endeavers.

I felt bad to even say that as she was late b/c of a sick passenger on the train so I told the person that an unexpected meeting had arised and apologized for the inconveniene. Someone would be in touch.

Re: If someone is late for an interview. . .

Now it's 40 minutes. I think I'm giving up & breaking out the egg nog.

It's only an intern. . .but still.

Re: If someone is late for an interview. . .

Re: If someone is late for an interview. . .

It depends on the type of interview...if it was an Assessment Centre and there were other candidates and you were on a tight schedule, I would turn them away and reschedule them. I would always give a candidate the benefit of the doubt (as I would want to be treated myself) if it was a one on one interview and I had the time, I would still carry on the interview.

Its not professional to be late, but its not professional to disciminate someone on one ocassion of tardiness either.

If they were late the second time...forget it.

Re: If someone is late for an interview. . .

Re: If someone is late for an interview. . .

I had an applicant show up 2 HOURS late for an interview...and yes, I turned them away. I said I had another appt. which I didn't but I bet I taught them a lesson. And they even had someone else call for them to say they would be late

BUT ...if someone was coming in, called me bc they were lost and were like 3 min late I would give them the benefit of the doubt.