Time management is one of the most requested topics of training sessions. That teaches how to deal with important versus urgent matters,  the way of  responding to emails, or to assume 20% more than initially planned to be sure with providing tasks for time as well and so many other practical deals, including such simple, in theory,  as not to be late for meetings.

Still, it is estimated that at least 10-15% of candidates are late for a recruitment meeting. 

Are there any characteristics of a late candidate? Is it reasonable to draw conclusions regarding the candidate's profile and work style from the analysis of the candidate's timeliness?

A good manner of being punctual

Punctuality in coming for the meeting - direct meeting or joining video one, indicates some reactions. The person is perceived as respecting others' time, able to forecast and good planning, being a good time manager and having good professional manners.

Still, what’s wrong in missing the plane?

Whether and what the lateness of the candidate may indicate, depends on the context. Since, being late still could be nothing negative. Some candidates are late for the meeting as they have very tight schedules, a lot of tasks that are in the calendar. So, it just happens that something does not work before the meeting they planned, and so being late is the effect. As always, it is worth evaluating the behavior of a person in a wider context.

Look at the details

If the candidate has a tendency to be late at any stage of the recruitment process it can be a lack of time management skills or ignoring the time of others. Such a candidate did not respond within the promised period whether he is interested in the offer, similarly, did not send a CV on time, did not answer the phone at the agreed time, did not reply to the email. Here it is worth paying attention to how it can influence his/her job. Maybe we are facing a person who also will not keep timing and always finds reasons for their failures outside.

On the other hand, the assumptions can be made, but not the only one, that there is a candidate who is optimizing the process and just happened to be "late for the plane" this time.

What are your experiences with latecomers for the job interview you lead?

 “If you never miss a plane, you’re spending too much time at the airport.” George Stigler

Joanna Dulniak
Managing Partner Poland 
TARGET Executive Search