For first round interviews, if you're interviewing from 9-5 on campus, when would you say is the best time for a candidate to come in?
Morning while you're relatively fresh, or afternoon when things might be more memorable when you're making the decisions?
Any other factors to consider?
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I went for the right after lunch timeslots, because it gives you something to talk about if you have nothing else to. Plus, interviewers have had a break before it, so I think they were probably in a better mood. It worked for me, I got 4/4 2nd round callbacks. But, it really doesn't matter.
anytime slot is good. I prefer in the morning so im not anxious during the day
Mid-morning. Time it right so its still too early to think about lunch but late enough that the first cup of coffee has hit. You can ensure your interviewers will be alert and paying attention.
The interviewers usually take a break around 10am or so, and the slots after that break but before lunch are the best. That way, it's not so early that they are wondering where the nearest Starbucks is, but not too late that they get bored and tired from hearing the bs over and over.
I liked 2nd or 3rd in the morning. Given them some time to warm up and f up a few interviews, but go early enough to set the bar very high for the rest of the people.
My opinion is that you should go early as others have suggested if you believe you're a good but not stellar candidate. My experience is that early on, I haven't drawn any conclusions about relative strength of a class an am more judging you on whether I think you'd make the quality cut rather than making a relative comparison.
Also, on some occasions we've been known to make calls at lunch to give 2nd round offers to people we liked in the morning. Obviously, this eats up slots available for the guys fighting it out in the afternoon.
The risk I'd point out to that is that by the end of the day, I've forgotten a lot about you and will go from my notes more than for late candidates. Borderline yes candidates from the morning, for me, probably suffer a little versus the ones at 2pm.
Stellar candidates really show well at this point, and get the benefit of a lot more momentum in interviews, because I'm more impatient and likely to hit it off with a clear "yes" and less likely to cut slack for a "maybe".
Don't go last, generally.
I have 2 interviews in the afternoon (after 3)
Should I reschedule? It seems like the overall attitude towards those times is pretty negative...
I always did my best after 3pm, mostly because I'm not a morning person at all.
I loved the last interview slot....
I personally think that the best candidate usually ends up with the position regardless of timeslot. I don't think there is any way to predict which timeslot is going to be the "best" because so much of it depends on the interviewer's personality. Concentrating on being the best candidate and forget playing mindgames. Stressing over such minor details really isn't worth it.
As an interviewer it doesnt matter.
If i go to a collge where i know alot of people i might be disoriented from 830-10am after tearing up the bars on my uncle Morgan. Iprobobly won't be digging into the technicals because i won't care.
the absolute frattiest interview slot is the last one in the day. it will give you enough time to sleep off that hang over, grab a nice brunch and watch CNBC for a couple hours before you head over there. all while skipping class of course.
nice one patek.
i think you want to be 2nd or 3rd, or 2nd or 3rd from last.
I think either the first two slots or the last two slots are perfect. I always remember the first and last few people. If you're above average/borderline and are sandwiched, chances are I won't remember.
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