Employment Do’s and Don’ts

Employment Do’s and Don’ts 33 Comments 

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Show Up on Time

Harrison Barnes
By Mar 22,2024
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Summary
In this article Harrison discusses the importance of showing up on time. When you do not show up on time people are let down and they get upset. Their confidence in you is eroded. Not showing up on time conveys that you do not respect others and their needs. You should never show up late for anything. When you show up on time you send the message that you respect others and their time. It also sends the message you take others’ needs as seriously as your own. Being on time sends the message you will play by the rules, do what is expected of you, and do your best to get along with others and look out for their needs. You always need to be on time.

Several years ago a friend called me and encouraged me to interview at his law firm. He told me people at the firm were involved in various movie deals and hobnobbing with movie stars. He told me all of the lawyers were driving around in Porsche convertibles and the firm represented Los Angeles as I had come to see it in movies and television shows. He told me the firm was so exciting that none of the attorneys actually practiced law, and instead spent their time ”doing deals” and socializing with movie stars.

For several months I kept hearing stories about this magical law firm. I discussed it with my wife on several occasions and, after a lot of soul searching, I decided to send my friend a resume. He called me back a few hours later and told me the firm was excited to see me.

I scheduled my interview with this law firm on a Monday. On Sunday night I drove from my house in Hollywood to the law firm in West Los Angeles to make sure I gave myself enough time to get to the interview. It took me about 30 minutes.

On Monday I decided to give myself 45 minutes. What I had not accounted for was the 405 Freeway interchange. Back then, this was known as the most crowded interchange in America. I sat on this interchange for at least 35 minutes doing absolutely nothing. I became increasingly nervous as the time for my interview came and went. I am sure I was sweating a lot. I may have bitten a nail or two. I started going over all sorts of horror stories in my mind about what would happen when I finally got to the interview.

I ended up arriving to the interview almost 30 minutes late. I was so late by the time I arrived the firm seemed to be debating whether they even wanted to interview me. It was one of the most uncomfortable experiences I have ever had.

Of course, I mentioned the traffic to the person who came out to explain to me that they were ”changing around everyone’s schedules” and would be right with me ”once they figured out how to do this”. I would like to tell you something: no one accepts the traffic excuse. Traffic is the oldest excuse in the book. Traffic is something you simply cannot use. When you are going to an interview remember everyone else ended up making it to the office despite the traffic. These people did not have problems with traffic and were all there waiting to speak with you. Where were you?

When the interview got underway, it went very badly. First of all, the firm was not this mecca of lawyers living a celebrity lifestyle. Instead, people were doing very hard work that was 99 percent unrelated to entertainment law. The people who interviewed me seemed like they belonged locked in a basement lab rather than in a law firm. They were quite introverted. To this day I cannot imagine how they were supposed to have been people who represented movie stars.

Each of the people I spoke with started off the interview by wanting to discuss why I was late. This simply did not get things off to a good start. It put me on the defensive the whole time. I could tell all the people I spoke with seemed at least a little upset by my tardiness.

There is a dynamic that forms in the workplace when you are late for an interview–or anything, for that matter. First of all, people are expecting you to be there at a certain time. If they are working, they need to make sure they stop what they are doing at a certain time and block out time to interview you. They wait for you at the appointed time to interview you, ready to speak, and anticipate you walking in the door. They may go to the bathroom before speaking with you, so they do not need to interrupt the interview. They may go get coffee before the interview so they have something to drink. They may organize their office right before the interview.

While waiting for you to show up at a certain time, all sorts of things are going through the person’s mind regarding the interview. They feel anticipation and excitement about speaking with you. They have also likely reviewed your resume before the interview and are ready to ask you questions about your experience. If they see some experiences they feel you might have in common, they are probably eager to discuss them with you.

When you do not show up on time for your interview, people are suddenly let down. They feel a little upset. As each minute goes by, people get angrier and angrier. You are not there. This erodes the confidence people have in you. The message being sent is:

-I do not respect you

-I do not respect your time

-This interview is not important to me

-This company is not important to me

In the story I told you, there was another dynamic in play that is important to mention. The law firm I was interviewing with was considered less prestigious than the law firm where I currently worked. Therefore, the people at the less prestigious law firm were already on the defensive. By showing up late, I sent them the message I thought I was more important than them. I was not doing this intentionally; however, this is the message that was clearly received.

There is an interesting dynamic at work with employers and law firms. Employers, like people in general, have a need to feel important. In the law firm world, for example, employers will rarely make someone a job offer unless they are almost 100 percent confident the person will accept. There is also a dynamic at work when an attorney searches for a job. When an attorney is looking for a job, it is often much easier for him or her to get one with a better law firm than the one he or she is currently working for rather than with a less reputable law firm. Why? Law firms are often suspicious of attorneys who are moving to law firms that are not as prestigious. They think if they are interviewing with a law firm that is not as high in the pecking order, there must be something wrong with them. Additionally, if they are not as highly ranked, law firms may be a little defensive when a person from a better law firm is interviewing because they know the attorney is from a more prestigious ”tribe.” This often makes it harder for the attorney to get a job with a less prestigious firm because the firm is more sensitive to even perceived slights.

Showing up late shows potential employers you do not take them seriously or respect them. This is a huge mistake and something that sends a message you simply do not want to convey.

In show business, you notice all the time when actors start falling out of favor with studios and seeing their careers decline. Remember how popular Lindsay Lohan was just a couple of years ago? She negatively affected her career recently by showing up late repeatedly. Showing up late is simply bad business. As one person said about Lohan:

You can’t show up late. It’s very, very disrespectful… I think what an actor has to realize [is that] when you show up an hour late, 150 people have been scrambling to cover for you. There is not an apology big enough in the world to have to make 150 people scramble. It’s nothing but disrespect. And Lindsay Lohan is not the only one. A lot of actors show up late as if they’re God’s gift to the film. It’s inexcusable…

An interview is the first chance you have to make an impression on a new employer. It sends a message that determines whether you can be trusted and whether you will follow directions and complete work on time when you show up for the job you are interviewing for. An employer will often judge your future performance by whether you arrive on time.

Having hired hundreds of people over the years, I can say unequivocally the worst hires I made were people who failed to show up on time for an interview. The people who do not show up on time are almost always the worst hires because they get the job and do the same thing. In addition to not showing up on time, these people also play by their own rules in other ways. They do work the way they want, and when they want. They disrespect others and their needs constantly. They are the absolute worst employees in most cases and also the ones most likely to make trouble after they leave.

In addition to showing up late for interviews, many people make the mistake of showing up late for other functions. You should never show up late for anything. The reason it is so important to show up on time is it sends the message you respect others and their time. It also sends the message you take others’ needs as seriously as your own. Being on time sends the message you will play by the rules, do what is expected of you, and do your best to get along with others and look out for their needs. You always need to be on time.

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About Harrison Barnes

Harrison Barnes is the Founder of BCG Attorney Search and a successful legal recruiter himself. Harrison is extremely committed to and passionate about the profession of legal placement. His firm BCG Attorney Search has placed thousands of attorneys. BCG Attorney Search works with attorneys to dramatically improve their careers by leaving no stone unturned in a search and bringing out the very best in them. Harrison has placed the leaders of the nation’s top law firms, and countless associates who have gone on to lead the nation’s top law firms. There are very few firms Harrison has not made placements with. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placements attract millions of reads each year. He coaches and consults with law firms about how to dramatically improve their recruiting and retention efforts. His company LawCrossing has been ranked on the Inc. 500 twice. For more information, please visit Harrison Barnes’ bio.

About BCG Attorney Search

BCG Attorney Search matches attorneys and law firms with unparalleled expertise and drive that gets results. Known globally for its success in locating and placing attorneys in law firms of all sizes, BCG Attorney Search has placed thousands of attorneys in law firms in thousands of different law firms around the country. Unlike other legal placement firms, BCG Attorney Search brings massive resources of over 150 employees to its placement efforts locating positions and opportunities that its competitors simply cannot. Every legal recruiter at BCG Attorney Search is a former successful attorney who attended a top law school, worked in top law firms and brought massive drive and commitment to their work. BCG Attorney Search legal recruiters take your legal career seriously and understand attorneys. For more information, please visit www.BCGSearch.com.

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33 Responses to “ Show Up on Time”
  1. good i like to read you message…mr barnes…anyway please i dont have much more time next time only…

    thanks,
    mr armenio

  2. yes…its help me and guide me a lots…

    again thanks,
    armenio

  3. Avatar Kabir says:

    I like very much Harrison Barnes reviews because it also give me the strength to become street and get jobs from the web site…

  4. Avatar shoumen says:

    Harrison believes that the best stories typically revolve around the employee being very motivated to do a good job and continually wanting to improve in his or her employment. If some people are living in poverty and alone, spend some time with them and you will understand why they are in their situation. Harrison also writes daily articles to inspire and motivate job seekers that he publishes each week for Harrison Barnes.com.

  5. Avatar shoumen says:

    Harrison believes that the best stories typically revolve around the employee being very motivated to do a good job and continually wanting to improve in his or her employment. A. Harrison Barnes did not gain this reputation overnight. He has worked for it tirelessly for years. In the process he has also benefited himself and tens of thousands of job seekers spread all across the globe. He walks his talk and has promoted many job search sites which are very effective and have gained leading position all over the world.

  6. Avatar shoumen says:

    Everyone likes this site because this site is very important for career and life advice. Stories create a connection. Harrison believes that the best stories typically revolve around the employee being very motivated to do a good job and continually wanting to improve in his or her employment. If some people are living in poverty and alone, spend some time with them and you will understand why they are in their situation.

  7. Avatar shoumen says:

    A website is advice is law related jobs. He walks his talk and has promoted many job search sites which are very effective and have gained leading position all over the world.

  8. Avatar shoumen says:

    A website is advice is career related jobs. He walks his talk and has promoted many job search sites which are very effective and have gained leading position all over the world.

  9. Avatar Rachael says:

    Showing up early is always a good idea, and a person who isn’t respectful of other people’s time certainly consumes productive capacity, but, you were late once. Would you define yourself as one of those people you described in the second to last paragraph? In interviewing or evaluating people, I think it is even more critical to look at the overall picture. The person is late. Is this the first time – or is it a pattern? Are there additional circumstances that should be considered? To try to simplify our assessment of people, we often create standards. Sometimes, in just using isolated details, we fail to see a much bigger picture – the whole package.

    Being on time is much more important to our society than it is in many other cultures, and if you are hiring a diverse workforce, that should be remembered.

    As you learned, even when you leave early, you can be late. What is “enough time” is relative to circumstances much more than the distance to travel. I know from my own experience, it is also important to know where you need to go. Getting lost isn’t much of an excuse either.

  10. Avatar Tanmoy Saha says:

    good i like to read you message…mr barnes…anyway please i dont have much more time next time only…yes…its help me and guide me a lots…

  11. Avatar Gaurav says:

    The writer has very effectively highlighted the value of showing up on time. Unfortunately, in many countries, including my own, punctuality in such matters is not given due importance. On the contrary, it is considered a deviance rather than a norm.

  12. Avatar hasan038 says:

    Harrison believes that the best stories typically revolve around the employee being very motivated to do a good job and continually wanting to improve in his or her employment. If some people are living in poverty and alone, spend some time with them and you will understand why they are in their situation. Harrison also writes daily articles to inspire and motivate job seekers that he publishes each week for Harrison Barnes.com.

  13. Avatar hasan038 says:

    The writer has very effectively highlighted the value of showing up on time. Unfortunately, in many countries, including my own, punctuality in such matters is not given due importance. On the contrary, it is considered a deviance rather than a norm.

  14. Avatar sourav says:

    Would you define yourself as one of those people you described in the second to last paragraph? In interviewing or evaluating people, I think it is even more critical to look at the overall picture. The person is late. Is this the first time – or is it a pattern? Are there additional circumstances that should be considered?

  15. Avatar Milton kundu says:

    I think it is even more critical to look at the overall picture. The person is late. Is this the first time – or is it a pattern? Are there additional circumstances that should be considered? To try to simplify our assessment of people.

  16. Avatar Milton kundu says:

    If some people are living in poverty and alone, spend some time with them and you will understand why they are in their situation.

  17. Avatar Milton kundu says:

    Being on time is much more important to our society than it is in many other cultures, and if you are hiring a diverse workforce, that should be remembered.

  18. Avatar hasan038 says:

    As you learned, even when you leave early, you can be late. What is “enough time” is relative to circumstances much more than the distance to travel. I know from my own experience, it is also important to know where you need to go. Getting lost isn’t much of an excuse either.

  19. Avatar jahangir hossan titu says:

    Everyone likes this site because this site is very important for career and life advice.so, i like to read you message…mr barnes…anyway please i dont have much more time next time only…

    thanks,

  20. Avatar mithu says:

    Everyone likes this site because this site is very important for career and life advice.so, i like to read you message.Harrison believes that the best stories typically revolve around the employee being very motivated to do a good job and continually wanting to improve in his or her employment. If some people are living in poverty and alone, spend some time with them and you will understand why they are in their situation. Harrison also writes daily articles to inspire and motivate job seekers that he publishes each week for Harrison Barnes.com.

  21. Avatar jahid hassan says:

    I like this. Actually Harrison believes that the best stories typically revolve around the employee being very motivated to do a good job and continually wanting to improve in his or her employment. A. Harrison Barnes did not gain this reputation overnight. He has worked for it tirelessly for years. In the process he has also benefited himself and tens of thousands of job seekers spread all across the globe. He walks his talk and has promoted many job search sites which are very effective and have gained leading position all over the world.

  22. Avatar Milton kundu says:

    In the process he has also benefited himself and tens of thousands of job seekers spread all across the globe. He walks his talk and has promoted many job search sites which are very effective and have gained leading position all over the world.

  23. Avatar Milton kundu says:

    If some people are living in poverty and alone, spend some time with them and you will understand why they are in their situation. Harrison also writes daily articles to inspire and motivate job

  24. Avatar Milton kundu says:

    i like to read you message.Harrison believes that the best stories typically revolve around the employee being very motivated to do a good job and continually wanting to improve in his or her employment.

  25. Avatar Milton kundu says:

    You can try this site for free for seven days and if you do not like it then you can cancel your subscription. If you cancel we will not try to keep you as a member by sending you emails convincing you to come back and so forth—we do not know how to do this sort of thing. Just cancel and there will be no questions asked.

  26. Avatar kundu says:

    Hello, the right job is out there! Let Hound help you get your search on the right track now. Visit the site today and start searching with the best job-search engine in the world!

  27. Avatar kundu says:

    This increased competitiveness generally also leads to a larger number of applicants to those few job openings. This decreases the chance that any individual job seeker will be able to stand out in the crowd. That is a major problem for any individual seeking gainful employment quickly. Statistically speaking, he is simply less likely to get a job that he applies for.

  28. Avatar kundu says:

    Job hunting always tends to be a bit of a struggle whether your qualified or not, between finding the right job and making the right impressions, let’s face it, it’s no walk in the park. But here to help and whose use is growing in popularity are the online job search engines. No longer do these Job Boards only provide job seekers infinite numbers of job listings but now also offer job advice and helpful tips on such important aspects of the job hunt as resumes and interviews.

  29. Avatar Milton kundu says:

    In general, most quality and genuine job opportunities are not posted on commercial job boards but can be found on the employers’ sites only. These are particular job opportunities that are not really advertised in the traditional marketing ways.

  30. Avatar Milton kundu says:

    Another merit that marks the quality of Hound as a job search engine is that it doesn’t allow any advertisers to appear on the Hound.com portal. Each of the job searches that they return you with are firmly based on the original job details mentioned by the employers’ company only

  31. Avatar Milton kundu says:

    Hound.com is the most powerful job search engine in the industry right now that presents job seekers with job opportunities from almost every employer website in the US. This website by EmploymentScape lists job postings at the site that are updated on a regular basis every 24 hours.

  32. Avatar jahid says:

    howing up early is always a good idea, and a person who isn’t respectful of other people’s time certainly consumes productive capacity, but, you were late once. Would you define yourself as one of those people you described in the second to last paragraph? In interviewing or evaluating people, I think it is even more critical to look a

  33. Avatar Lois says:

    Thanks for sharing. What a pleuarse to read!

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