To think this is too early for an interview?!

[tomhazard]

I got to the second round of a job in Hong Kong which I would really like. I was supposed to have the 2nd interview today at 6.40am our time - I was ready to go and then at 7.05am they emailed and said the manager was delayed so could they rearrange. I said yes even though I was a bit annoyed at sitting there for 25mins waiting.
Anyway I've just had an email saying could they interview me tomorrow at 5.30am...I know there's a time difference but would I be unreasonable to say that i can't really be interview-ready so early in the morning. Not sure I can even get my brain in gear- it was a struggle this morning!

I do want this job but I feel like it's a bit of a mess around this.

YANBU at all.

Yeh say you’re sorry but that won’t work for you due to the time difference. I work in exec recruitment, I’ve had to interview people in Australia and I’ve never expected someone to get up that early to speak to me! (Nor would I get up that early if it was the other way around)

thanks I didn't think I was bu but I don't know what lengths I should go to to get this job! I seriously don't think I would be sharp enough before about 6.30am!

Not unreasonable at all. Say you are available for interview after 06:30 U.K. time

If you say no you won't get the job, so it's up to you.

If you're applying for a job in Hong Kong, it's reasonable to think you should work to their time. Cancelling at such short notice though probably tells you something about their company culture. They don't respect worker drones' time.

It's up to you - it may hurt your chances. If they are working at that time, there's a good chance you'll need to be on the occasional call at that time. I know I am presenting webinars to Australia at that time. If I don't do it, someone else would happily take my job off my hands!
I would perhaps suggest a few other times, but if they can't do it, just suck it up and do it, and then negotiate your working hours if you get accepted.

Um I think that is not that unusual for overseas jobs. Unfair of them to cancel once but if you want the job you will need to suck it up. I know of someone who had to have an interview at 5am after getting home from their shift at 3am. Utterly shit but they are not going to stay late to interview you when it doesn't fit their schedule because they probably have a whole lot of other people who WILL be willing to get up early

It's an interview, they aren't asking you to go down the pit at 5.30 every day for the rest of your life. They are already a PITA to arrange (esp if multiple people or there was an unscheduled mix up like the first time)

If you want the job I suggest just getting on with it. As a pp says, it could be the role will involve unsocial hours some of the time.

Ha okay shotsfired that's me told!
I'm not suggesting that it's going to be a daily struggle for the rest of my life, just that it's quite early to expect high level interview answers from candidates.
It's a teaching job, the hours are unlikely to be unsociable in future.
But yes, suck it up I will.

I’d get up and do it if I really wanted the job

I agree with a pp that if you refuse, it will count against you. I'd get up and have a coffee and then do the interview but that's me.

Far too early. And I've regularly interviewed people all around the world via VC. It would set alarm bells ringing for me in terms of what unreasonable requests would be made should you get the job.

I also interview and work online in different time zones. It's give and take for timings..once you've got the job. Until then, you show them.how flexible you are.

ynbu to think that and i understand what people are saying about what it says about them as a future employer however i think you have no choice but to do it. (as you say you badly want the job)

They are being unreasonable asking for an interview at 5:30 am but as others pointed out you may just have to suck it up and show up then if you really want the job.

If it makes you feel better there was a thread awhile back about a place that would only let the woman being interviewed sit in a really wet chair. I think her interview was at a reasonable time though.

If I was keen on the job, it would not occur to me even for a nano second to ask to rearrange the time.

I think you need to grasp that in this scenario, they are holding all the cards!

LeighaJ ha yes this is definitely better than that

I would get a very early night and get up early to wake up and prepare

I'm assuming it's because they are having to squeeze it in within a short time frame and all adternoon slots have gone.

I'd go for it.

I'd do it as a one off.

I'd be getting an early night and setting an alarm nice and early for a good cup of strong coffee and a hearty breakfast.

If it's online English teaching, check what hours you'll be expected to be online as China/Japan/HK etc have a great work ethic and it's not unknown for people to have their English lesson at 6 before going to work.

Get up, have a coffee and get on with it. If you really want it then make it happen. I've been in a similar situation but I figured my desire for the job was more than me being a bit put out over travelling for a few hours internationally. I got the job in the end and spent the rest of the weekend sleeping from all the energy I'd mentally and physically exerted. Good luck! Remember the early worm and all that...

wow...if you want the job then get your arse up out of bed to interview for it. Second thoughts, stay in bed and let someone more eager to get the job.

I would do it...It is better to start out with you in the best positive light. HK is an amazing city and would be a great place to work - Good Luck

Charolais thanks. I don't know if anyone has ever encouraged you to speak politely? There are ways of saying things without being so rude, as demonstrated lower down on this thread.