Showing up late to interview

99% chance of an auto ding, but that just means that there is still that 1%.

Maybe if you show up with a bleeding, broken leg...

Call ahead and you'll be ok

i showed up 30 mins late and still got my current job. If you have a legitimate reason, people understand. especially if you're working somewhere else and are on a time-sensitive assignment that pops out of nowhere.

agreed it doesn't make the best first impression, but sometimes you just don't have a choice. either way, don't end up not going at all.

As others have said, its not a total killer. I've interviewed plenty of people:

1 - Things happen on the way to the interview, we all know this

2 - It's possible that interviews before you are running late and its actually good that you're late

3 - late is better than being early. One time I had a kid that was 45 MINUTES early and he had to hang around the office - awkward!

I was late once, the guys I interviewed with didn't even realize I was late or what time I was actually suppose to be there.

I also showed up to an interview 30minutes early (commute was a lot quicker then expected). It was pretty awkward at first, but everyone on the desk seemed cool and just let me sit there and watch them.

I was late because I trusted google maps which said the office was 5 minutes from the hotel. I probably should have left earlier as I was in a new city. Even though I was 10 minutes late, I got the offer at the current (consulting) firm. Being late to a final round is kind of embarassing haha, but at least for consulting companies.... being 10 minutes in a new city won't matter if you can crush the cases.

Try to call ahead and give a reason. Most likely you will be dinged. But it can't hurt to try as long as you are professional

Call ahead, HR can hopefully help you out - and there's no harm in trying.

I gave an internship to someone who was 45 minutes late (he got stuck in the horrendous Bay Area traffic even though he left early). He was qualified and the rest of his resume said that he was not someone who had a history of screwing up. Some people would auto ding, many would not.

If HR is cool (rare, but it happens) you will be ok- I have gotten offers from interviews where I was over 20 minutes late. Shit happens- flights are delayed often enough.

I think there is more leeway when you are interviewing for a professional position versus cashier at CVS. If you are late to the latter, they will probably think you overslept or blew it off. Finance interviewees generally fit the 3.5+ GPA at a prestigious college mold, and given some professional courtesy.

I was late on one occasion as my train was delayed in getting to the location. Despite telling them that I am running late, my interviews (two women) were complete bitches, just looking for an excuse to screw me. Asking me all manner of ridiculous questions and possessing unrealistic expectations when they know my resume and what I am capable of. In the end, obviously I didnt get the job but found out that my original interviewer, the head of the department, was pissed I was late and decided not to interview me. Rather then tell me that, they put me through such bullshit. I told the HR recruiter on the phone to go fuck himself.

I once woke up late for an informational (not an interview) with an IBD guy, a few years ago. I scrambled to throw on my dress shirt but didn't have time to iron it, and I didn't have time to shave either, and I was STILL going to be like 10-15 minutes late.

So, halfway to the coffee shop I pulled over under a noisy major overpass and called the guy (he hadn't had a chance to leave his office for the coffee shop yet) to explain, in between honking my horn for background noise, that I had "had a fender bender" and would probably not be getting there on time. I felt like such a piece of shit but, whether or not he believed me, he forgave me and later sent me the contact info of a friend of his who was hiring.

Stuff happens that you can't control, I wouldn't say its an auto-ding

Apologise once, move forward.

Hi you big jackass. Sorry I'm late it's just my dog was chasing a siamese cat, who it turns out was chasing a yellow canary, and the canary flew into some power lines, and they fell on a small child, who it turns out was the grandson of hitler, and he held my head against the curb while tatooing a swastika to my enormous penis, then curb-stomped my black arse back to nigeria. so yeah, obviously, the flight (from nigeria) was late

I've been late for two interviews, both for somewhat legit reasons, and ridiculously early for one due to miscommunications. I got the one I was early for and I'm pretty sure I got dinged for the other two for being late.

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Show up for the interview regardless. You'de be surprised what can happen.

Just commenting to say the picture OP used is amazing

Always leave super early, find a coffee shop or something, and roll in 5 minutes early. That way you'll never have a problem with being late but yeah don't go in 15+ minutes early HR isn't there to babysit you for half an hour.

I always arrive late to differentiate myself from the pack.

The most honest answer to stuff like this is that it depends. Some people probably do get really pissed off, and if you are very late that is an issue, but on the whole I'd much rather hire a qualified candidate who is an hour late than an unqualified one who is on time.

It certainly doesn't help your case if there are lots of qualified candidates, but I don't think it's an "auto-ding". I got a job offer at C\BAML\Barx when I was 30+ minutes late to the interview back in the day.

I think the question is very revealing. I mean, how badly does one want the job? I wouldn't let a mishap get in the way of something I wanted, I'd get very creative and pull out my method acting chops....

The ethical thing to do is to inform the company that you are running late and if they are willing to reschedule your job interview. But make sure to still thank the company if they turn you down.