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The goal of this latest series has been to help you in avoiding simple interview mistakes. In today’s economy, every single face to face interview is valuable. You need to give each one your best effort. Even if you are going into the interview thinking that you probably will not take the position if it was offered, you still need to go. Confidence, wisdom, and know-how builds with every single interview process that you go through.

We have been doing a countdown to the worst interview mistakes and we are down to the final two. Today’s interview mistake that I want to discuss is one that seems so simple yet is violated more then any other interview mistake (in my opinion).

Fatal Interview Mistake #2: Arriving Too Early or Too Late

Some of you might think I am crazy for bringing this one up at all, but I am telling you this happens a lot. In the beginning of my recruiting career, I naively believed that workplace professionals do not have to be told to arrive on time. I quickly figured out that I need to make this a part of my interview prep.

Arriving Too Early for an Interview

I have had candidates arrive as much as 45-60 early to an interview. Now, I would not fault them if they stayed in their car or went to a nearby Starbucks to relax a bit, but to go inside and let the employer know that you are there for an interview 45-60 minutes early is a huge no-no. Even 15 minutes is pushing it in my opinion. Some candidate mistakenly believe that it will send a good message of eagerness, responsibility and dependability. However, the truth is arriving way early sends a message of desperation and lack of common sense.

Hiring Managers are busy and when you arrive too early you frustrate them by making them re-arrange their schedule.

Arriving Too Late for an Interview

There are always unforeseen things that happen that can cause a person to be late. That is not what I am referring to. I am talking to those who do not plan ahead for possible emergencies. Just because you have done a MapQuest and determined that it will take you exactly 17 minutes to get to the interview that you leave 18 minutes prior. Expect emergencies. Give yourself plenty of time to get where you need to be. Then, once you get there early, do not go in until 5-10 minutes before hand.