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If you’re asking this question, there’s a good chance you care deeply about making a strong impression. And that’s a good thing.
But here’s the truth: showing up 30 minutes early will not make you look more professional. In some cases, it actually creates awkwardness.
The right arrival time is simple. Let’s break it down.
How Early to Arrive for an In-Person Interview
Arrive at the building 10–15 minutes early.
Enter reception about 5–10 minutes before your scheduled time.
Why?
- It shows punctuality.
- It gives you breathing room.
- It doesn’t inconvenience the team.
If you arrive 25–30 minutes early, wait at a nearby café or in your car if you drove. Walking in too early can inconvenience staff who aren’t ready yet. Professional, calm timing beats excessive eagerness.
How Early to Join a Zoom or Video Interview
For virtual interviews: Log in 5 minutes early.
Not 15 minutes or 20. Three to five minutes is ideal.
Use the earlier time (15–20 minutes before) to:
- Test your camera
- Check your microphone
- Confirm your internet connection
- Close unnecessary tabs
- Silence notifications
But only enter the virtual room shortly before the scheduled time. Joining too early can create awkwardness.
What About Phone Interviews?
For phone interviews, the interviewer usually calls you. So you don’t join early, you’ll wait for their call.
Be fully ready 5–10 minutes early in case they call you early.
That means:
- Phone fully charged
- Strong service signal
- Quiet environment
- Your resume and notes nearby (but not scattered)
–> Learn More: Tips for an excellent phone interview
What If You’re Running Late?
It happens. If you’re even a few minutes late, send a quick email:
“Hi [Name], I’m so sorry — I’m running a few minutes behind due to [brief reason]. I expect to join at [time]. Thank you for your patience.”Keep it simple. Most interviewers understand that life happens. How you communicate matters more than the delay itself.
If you’re running more than a few minutes late, the interviewer may reschedule the interview.
Be sure to communicate throughout the process. If you don’t communicate when you’re running late, it’ll likely cost you the offer.
Feeling Anxious?
When interviews feel high-stakes, people tend to fixate on details. While details are important, fixating too much can actually make anxiety worse. The exact timing of walking through the door won’t be a dealbreaker.
Interviewers are evaluating a lot of things, but whether you arrived 8 minutes early instead of 10 isn’t one of them. Punctuality matters. Precision down to the minute does not. Hopefully this helps calm some of your interview anxiety.
Final Takeaway
For most interviews:
- 10–15 minutes early (in person)
- 5 minutes early (video / Zoom)
- Be ready 5–10 minutes early (phone)
That’s what leaves the right impression. If you’d like more support for your upcoming interviews, check out our many resources.
