Delay and Respect: Should You Pick Up When a Recruiter is Late?

When a recruiter is more than 10 minutes late for a scheduled phone interview, it's generally a good idea to still pick up when they call. Delays can happen for various reasons and it shows both professionalism and flexibility on your part. However, if you feel uncomfortable or if the delay extends significantly beyond 10-15 minutes, you might consider reaching out to them via email or phone to confirm whether the interview is still happening. This way, you can gauge the situation while still maintaining a positive impression.

Why Not Take the Call?

It's important to understand that even if the job interests you, ten more minutes shouldn't significantly alter your attitude. Perhaps the recruiter's tardiness is a test to see if you are truly interested enough to wait a short period for the call. It might also be a test to see if you are gracious and patient with minor inconveniences. In essence, it's worth considering that this delay could be a small glimpse into the type of organization and their operational culture.

Understanding Delayed Interviews

The simple fact is that things can take longer than expected for a variety of reasons. Priorities can change in an instant because business is dynamic, not static. So while companies often appreciate interviews starting on time, the reality is that many things can come up at a moment's notice, causing delays. A 10-minute delay to wait for a phone call isn't a significant issue; it doesn't mean you need to wait an hour or more.

Professionalism and Flexibility

I like the people I work with to respect my time and I do my best to reciprocate. However, I don’t consider the recruiter to be among the people I’m working with. There’s no real reason to expect their behavior to be typical of the department you’re going to be working in. Therefore, it's not unreasonable to maintain a professional and flexible attitude, even if the recruiter is late.

Consequences of Lateness

A company sending a taxi to pick you up for a job interview is a different matter. If the taxi driver is ten minutes late, do you still hop in? Most people would ignore the lateness and other forms of rudeness, whether from the taxi driver or the recruiter. However, there is one possible exception: If the company is using an internal recruiter, you might pay more attention to whether they apologize and offer to reschedule. If internal recruitment sets a bad tone, it is likely to flow across the entire organization.

Conclusion

No matter the reason for the delay, it's important to keep an open mind and maintain a positive attitude. Remember, a 10-minute delay is often just a small inconvenience rather than a serious issue. However, if a delay becomes significant or if the recruiter's behavior is consistently unprofessional, it's appropriate to take steps to clarify the situation.