I need your opinion! Does this look unprofessional?

[CallingFromLondon]

A job I'm absolutely desperate for and really really want have invited me to interview through NHS jobs.

I get to pick the time slot. The times are between 11am and 4.30pm (interview would them apparently finish at 5.30pm).

There are lots of different slots. My best guess is a lunch time slot is definitely not advisable since someone might be hungry and not really listening to me at interview

DH would need to take a half day to have DS but insists he doesn't want to go in late, and prefers to go in and leave early (so he's thinking an afternoon slot).

However, is it not best to be the first in and set the goal post? DH disagrees and says if you take the latest slot, you'll be the freshest in their minds.

What do you think?

Does it matter?

It shouldn’t matter, but I’d go for first in.

I don’t know why you think it would look unprofessional.

Any slot is fine.

I always thought first in was best?

In reality any slot should be fine but people might be thinking of going home (and priorities like picking kids up, dinner, etc), if I go in last?

If you’re the right person for the job, the time of day you interview makes no difference at all.

Is go right after lunch

Pick a slot, any almost

And then focus on what’s actually important. Preparation

Just spoken to my Mum and she says last in seems best because when she watches performances and the later ones are better, she completely forgets about the first lot

Any slot is fine. NHS interviews tend to be marked on a scoring system... Everyone gets asked the same questions, their answers are noted down and they are all reviewed at the end of the interview process

Just spoken to my Mum and she says last in seems best because when she watches performances and the later ones are better, she completely forgets about the first lot grin

Your mother shouldn’t be interviewing then

I recruited the same post two years in a row and both times it went to the first person we interviewed. They were genuinely the best though and the second year it was a very close run thing between the first andlast interviewees. I think the main risk is if someone appointable and impressive comes before you the interviews might not be pushing as hard because in their minds they've got someone and if they get someone even better that's s bonus. If you are the best though they'll see that regardless of time of day. If it's marginal I'd actually say there might be a slight advantage to being first.

I would avoid just before and just after lunch though because hunger and sleepiness don't make for the best interviewers. Otherwise I wouldn't stress too much.

There's something called Primacy/Recency effect, so the 1st and last of a series are thought to be remembered more strongly.
However the interview will be point scored so it will not matter when you go in.
Good luck with it.

First slot.
You will set the tone for the rest of the day!

I was a hiring manager for a long time and when I had multiple interviews in a day, the ones later in the day were easier to remember.

Well on Strictly all the early dances get lower marks so I'd go in last!

It would make no difference to me. If anything, if someone great came in and the end and really impressed I'd be left feeling positive about them.

Both of the people I recently hired were in the middle third of who I saw that day.

I agree with your DH and mum.
Or right after lunch (although depending on what they have they might be full and sleepy!)

I work in HR, yes I may feel different at different times of the day within myself but I have to hire the best person for the job regardless of when they come in at.

Imagine a few months in, a hire not working out and my excuse being ooh I must have interviewed them when I was hungry ;)

Best of luck :)

DH isn't keen on taking the half day so he goes in later, which means realistically I'm almost having to take an afternoon slot

With this in mind... I can have 2.30, 3.15, 4, or 4.30 (finishing at 5.30)

Take the last slot so your husband has to take the least time off work.

This whole first/ last stuff is nonsense, NHS interviews are scored against a strict criteria that does not change according to the time of day!

Im a manager in the NHS. Depends how many slots there are, if loads, go for the last possible as they all become a bit of a blur - always remember the last. But if youre excellent and in the middle you’ll still stand out!

Advice would be answer the question they ask, not the question you want to answer, do your research on the hospitals values/behaviours, look on the news or latest info for whats going on in the hospital. Brush up on gdpr info!

I am a general manager for one of the specialties, and interview for both admin and medical posts very regularly. if you want to ask any more questions please let me know, happy to help.

Also, if youre up to it, call the interviewers and have a pre-chat. I love when candidates do that, and i did it myself for the past 2 jobs i got and they were invaluable - get tk sell yourself ahead of time, you look keen, you get to ask about the priorities of the team/job and the difficulties of the team/job so you can answer questions better!

Hope that helps!

I'd go for 3.15. Lunch drowsiness worn off and not at a time when people are itching to go home.
Good luck.

I always pick the last slot, all else being equal

Studies have shown people judge (others and situations) more favourably when they’re not hungry/immediately after lunch. Go for the 2.30 slot and good luck!

I would go for 3:15.

Or kick your husband up the arse for being so selfish and choose a morning slot if that's what you'd prefer!

I've gotten every job where I've interviewed last.