If a potential candidate showed up 20 mins late for an interview....

[Anonymous]

With no call or text to say they are running late, would you even bother with the interview? Would they be completely out of the running?

[Anonymous]

No, I wouldn't bother. Yes, they would be completely out of the running. Certain things disqualify you. This is one of them.

[Anonymous]

I might have the interview, but if there wasn't an immediate explanation and apology offered it's pretty hard to imagine me seriously considering them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I might have the interview, but if there wasn't an immediate explanation and apology offered it's pretty hard to imagine me seriously considering them.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I might have the interview, but if there wasn't an immediate explanation and apology offered it's pretty hard to imagine me seriously considering them.

This

+2

If something unusual happened (the Metro shut down for a long time, she was involved in a car accident), that's one thing, but I would expect an explanation and an apology. If she just ran late or didn't offer some explanation, she'd be out of the running.

[Anonymous]

Not a good sign. I would pass on the interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a good sign. I would pass on the interview.

+1 Once I messed up on the day for an interview with a great nanny candidate and she arrived at our house on time but I wasn't there. She waited 30 minutes and left. When I called her to profusely apologize, she was gracious but declined my plea for a second chance saying it didn't feel like we would be a good fit. I completely understood.

[Anonymous]

No excuse but I would also pass on you if you were late for interview.

[Anonymous]

Hijack: I was kept waiting for 15 minutes after the start time, and had arrived 5 minutes early (so 20 minutes total) before my last interview. I didn't dismiss them outright but made a mental note of it as a negative. What do you other nannies and MBs think when the tables are turned?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a good sign. I would pass on the interview.

+1 Once I messed up on the day for an interview with a great nanny candidate and she arrived at our house on time but I wasn't there. She waited 30 minutes and left. When I called her to profusely apologize, she was gracious but declined my plea for a second chance saying it didn't feel like we would be a good fit. I completely understood.

This happened to me! I politely said no thank you, and I wouldn't be surprised if an MB said the same to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hijack: I was kept waiting for 15 minutes after the start time, and had arrived 5 minutes early (so 20 minutes total) before my last interview. I didn't dismiss them outright but made a mental note of it as a negative. What do you other nannies and MBs think when the tables are turned?

I turned down a job because the MB was ten minutes late to the interview. I have never billed myself as "flexible" and I am never late - if this mother would be ten minutes late to an interview at her own house I am sure she would have no respect for my time once I was working for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hijack: I was kept waiting for 15 minutes after the start time, and had arrived 5 minutes early (so 20 minutes total) before my last interview. I didn't dismiss them outright but made a mental note of it as a negative. What do you other nannies and MBs think when the tables are turned?

I turned down a job because the MB was ten minutes late to the interview. I have never billed myself as "flexible" and I am never late - if this mother would be ten minutes late to an interview at her own house I am sure she would have no respect for my time once I was working for her.

This. I've also been on interviews where I'm kept waiting 10-15 minutes while MB runs around taking care of other things, finishing a phone call, feeding the kids lunch. I'm sorry, I know you're busy but so am I, and I expect you to treat my time with the same level of respect that I treated yours with.

[Anonymous]

Most likely.

However if they have a valid reason, I might re-consider.

If there was a major accident on the fwy or she had major car trouble prior.

I don't see why she couldn't call you or text you however.

[Anonymous]

PP, I would also be unlikely to give a candidate a pass if they arrived that late, but I do need to point out that some states have very strict cellphone laws and not everyone uses Bluetooth. If she was stuck on the highway she might not be willing to take the admittedly small risk of a $400 ticket by using her phone.

But no, I don't think there are many scenarios where I'd be okay with a candidate who was 20 minutes late without making contact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, I would also be unlikely to give a candidate a pass if they arrived that late, but I do need to point out that some states have very strict cellphone laws and not everyone uses Bluetooth. If she was stuck on the highway she might not be willing to take the admittedly small risk of a $400 ticket by using her phone.

But no, I don't think there are many scenarios where I'd be okay with a candidate who was 20 minutes late without making contact.

Prior to getting a smartphone, I was stuck in traffic on the freeway, no Bluetooth to call and let the DB know. He was quite understanding, but if I had been more than 10 minutes late or if he couldn't have looked out the back door to see the massive traffic jam, I wouldn't have been surprised to be told that they'd decided not to interview me while I kept them waiting.