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Avoiding Interview No-Shows

The top 5 tips and tricks to keep from being stood up by applicants

It’s 9 a.m. on Monday and things are already crazy. The receptionist called in sick, your assistant manager is stuck in traffic and you’re double-parked out front. And one more thing: You have an interview to do in 15 minutes.

When you’re running a small business, you don’t have time to waste—especially when it comes to interview no-shows—so we’ve come up with a few proven tips to ensure you’re not stuck waiting around for no one.

• Act fast. It’s safe to assume that stellar job seekers have applied to more than one job opening, and if you were impressed by their profile, other employers will be too. In fact, according to a SnagAJob.com poll, more than 50 percent of job seekers expect to hear back from employers within 48 hours of applying. By contacting these superstar candidates quickly and scheduling an interview for tomorrow instead of next week, you’ll make sure they’re not snatched up by another employer.

• Repeat, repeat, repeat. Not only do you want to repeat the date and time of the interview with the applicant over the phone more than once, but you should also call the day of the interview to make sure you’re still on. Now the old “I forgot when my interview was” excuse is out the window.

•  Give them an out. Many hourly workers are juggling school, family and other obligations like sports and clubs. And sometimes stuff comes up. Make sure you let applicants know that if they can’t make it to the scheduled interview, calling you ahead to reschedule is totally fine. Not showing up and calling after the fact to apologize is not.

• Offer flexible scheduling. Many applicants already have a full- or part-time job, and they don’t exactly want to ask their employer for time off to go interview for a new or additional job. Offer interview times on the weekends or after business hours to accommodate their schedules.

• Get them pumped up. A job interview can be a daunting task, and sometimes nerves get the best of job seekers. Before you meet, give applicants an overview of the questions they’ll be asked so they feel more prepared, and get them excited by offering them a free lunch or a meet-and-greet with the manager or owner.

Small business employers need all the (good) help they can get to keep things running smoothly and maximize every minute of their day. If an interview no-show does occur, don’t waste time hoping he or she is running late or dwelling on what went wrong—use it as a means to learn how to prevent the next candidate from making this a pattern.