Job interview over teams - at 6.30pm?

[Spookylooky]

Have a first interview for a part-time, remote role on Weds next week. They asked for my availability before and I gave a number of times I'm free, including all day Weds as an option.

It's a small company and a whole new role so I don't think they are trying to keep the call quiet, and equally they know I am freelance - so it's not like it needs to be scheduled outside of working hours on my side.

This sets off alarm bells for me - when I have hired people in the past I wouldn't have ever expected to interview them outside working hours - but I don't know if I am being oversensitive! Thoughts?

Or maybe she could go to the interview and ask and not make a random assumption.

I not quite sure you’re right for this company if you’re already questioning their practices. Maybe the person is in interviews all day, and yours is the last scheduled, or they’re doing the interviews after the regular day, or they work flexi hours.

And presumably they would clarify their availability rather than say they were “free all day”

This

It seems a bit odd, just go back and say you can do between 9 and 5...and see what they respond with...

And you’ve worked for very busy small companies and the applicant has said they are “free all day”?

Thanks for your interest but we won’t be progressing

the op said “free all day”

@Clickjaw - I'm senior and have been on both sides of the interview table before, so no need to worry I'll 'find it hard', thanks. And when I've been hiring people I've always scheduled interviews within standard working hours, not in the evenings, so it seems unusual to me.

Thanks for all the other input and thoughts! Lots of opinion and possible reasons which I've appreciated. Maybe I'll find out their reasoning when I speak to them 😂

There can be lots of reasons, they might be in a different timezone, booked with meetings all day etc…
I think a Teams call at 6:30pm when I am at home is more convenient than having to take the day or afternoon off and travel for just a 1 hour interview

Are you currently working op?

last time I job hunter, I had a busy job and by time I got home it was 6pm so that time would be perfect for me. So I would have said… free “all evening” not “free all day”

Are you usually so inflexible?

I don't see what the issue is and I find it impossible to understand what "alarm bells are ringing" for you.

I agree - all day to me does not suggest evening - like you I would think office hours.

@KakulasSister - not inflexible. I'm freelance and gave quite a broad range of times/dates over the next two weeks that I'm available for an interview. It could be down to clashes I suppose, or wanting to get this done asap...but I didn't imagine that an evening time would be suggested.

I think it comes across a bit strangely (some other posters on here share that view)...but interesting to hear thoughts.

I recruit sometimes for my company and I’d never in a million years think that when an interviewee said they were available ‘all day’, they meant ‘at any time during this 24 hour period’. It means ‘during business hours on this day’ and 6.30pm is a bit late for that.

I’d if I were the one looking to be employed I’d be as flexible as possible. I’ve done teams interviews in evenings, and even while on holiday.

you’re coming across as inflexible tbh

What is it you’re worried about OP?
I’ve often done interviews in the evenings because I’m too busy to do them during the working day.

When I applied for my current role, I was sent an interview meeting request for a Sunday afternoon via Teams. Whilst I thought this was a little strange, I accepted nonetheless as I knew the company wasn't a huge corporate, and quite niche.
I subsequently received an apologetic email shortly afterwards explaining that they had in fact meant to send it through on the Monday, but could do Sunday if I preferred.
I ended up interviewing on the Monday as we both preferred to have our weekends free from work! I got the job, an amazing tech company who are incredibly flexible - but it works both ways.

I’d love this! It’s a nightmare trying to get out of work or make up excuses for an interview. I’d be really happy to do this at 6.30…

‘Standard working hours’ can change just like wfh evolved

I'm frequently still working in the early evening. I wouldn't schedule an interview at that time myself if I was recruiting but as the candidate I'd have no issues with it.

Genuine question. Have you worked for a small company? Exactly how small is this company, because if it’s just a small staff, and they are in a busy period, or even one person is on holiday - it’s genuinely hard to schedule a couple of hours and fix that.

Obviously, that depends on the nature of the business, but ours for example has to respond to customer issues (breakdowns, scheduling etc) at the drop of a hat. It’s rare we get notice. After work hours would be ideal for us. And not because we are disorganised or unable to accommodate etc, it’s just the nature of our industry.

Good luck!

It’s hard to sometimes adjust if the majority of your working life isn’t within this environment, and I mean that without negativity.

You can decline the time and request it is other hours due to lersonal reasons. Set expectations now. If they are fine with that they will reschedule. If not then you are probably looking at a company that expects you to be available whenever they ask, in which case I would pull out of the process.
If you do interview ask about expectations for hours and staying late

I really wouldn't. I don't know anyone who works "9 to 5" for a start.

Thanks again for the input everyone, it's so interesting to get people's views!

I have worked at super-busy small companies in the past, and actually hired people into those companies, it still wouldn't have occurred to me to schedule an interview in the evening!

HOWEVER, that was pre-covid, so perhaps the rise of remote working plays a big factor here....