What do you do when you have two interviews at the same time?
By How to Manage Your Interview Schedule When You Have Two Interviews at the Same Time
The interview schedule can be a challenge when you have two interviews scheduled on the same day, especially if they’re at two different locations. The goal of this post is to offer you some useful tips on how to manage your interview schedule when you have two interviews at the same time, so that you can make the most of your time and achieve success in all of your job search efforts.
Let them know about your situation
I’ve been interviewing a lot lately and I’ve just learned that I have two interviews scheduled for tomorrow, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The interviewer from the morning asked me if there were any conflicts with my interview time and I was honest about them because it never really mattered when I interviewed before. However, now that I have two interviews set up for tomorrow, how can I figure out a way to keep both? And how can I still make sure my answers are fresh?
I’m going to talk to both interviewers about it tomorrow (assuming they didn’t mention this as a problem before) and let them know about my situation.
Delegate tasks
When faced with a situation where you have two interviews on the same day, it is important to take a step back and think. This type of situation could either mean you should accept one interview and decline another, or there is an opportunity for your employer or previous employer to cover one of the interviews while you cover the other. There are many factors that go into this decision, but it is something that needs to be done strategically as it will have an impact on both your personal life and future career prospects. Whatever option you choose, it’s important not only to communicate this change in schedule with each respective employer but also with any family members who may be expecting to see or hear from you that day.
Choose one over the other
Choosing one over the other is difficult, but it’s something you’ll have to do eventually if you are interviewing for more than one position. Keep in mind that this decision will impact your future career significantly and it may be in your best interest to try and see which company you like best or which one will be a better fit for you.
In addition, figuring out which one has the right salary, benefits package, work hours, etc., will help narrow down your options and make an easier decision. If there is still a tie, then do some research on both companies and compare them.
Split up your commute
Generally, most interviewers want you to arrive early and punctual, so it’s best to avoid traffic. You can always choose to arrive for your morning interview, go home for a shower and a change of clothes, then head to your second interview later in the day. That way, you’ll have the time to sit down for a leisurely breakfast or cup of coffee before your first interview, you’ll have time in-between interviews to enjoy lunch, and if you are only providing references for one person (so they are not interviewing with the same company), this is an option. It would be less disruptive for you to meet your interviewer earlier, than for them to wake you up in the morning and expect you to talk on the spot.
Take advantage of technology
Email is the easiest way to arrange interviews. I often receive interview requests via email, but it can be tough when you have two interviews scheduled for one day. One easy solution is using Google Calendar to help manage your time. For example, say your two interviews are at 10am and 1pm on a weekday. Use Google Calendar’s feature called Busy which will allow you to schedule both times in 10am, but in 1pm slot click busy and enter your interview time as 10:30am-11:00am so that other people won’t schedule anything during that time. That way you’ll have enough time between interviews for a quick break or getting lunch before going back for your next interview!
Stress is normal, but don’t let it ruin your life.
The overwhelming feeling that comes with having two interviews back-to-back is not an unusual one. All those thoughts, like what you’re going to wear, how you’re going to manage time, and whether or not you have anything prepared in case of a last minute change in topic, are normal for people interviewing for more than one job. Take it all in stride and use these few tips so that nothing gets lost along the way.
1) Set your calendar up ahead of time. Use either a digital calendar or a physical planner like Franklin Covey so that everything is marked out already and there are no surprises come interview day. 2) Plan outfits ahead of time.
Next time, plan ahead!
It’s great when you have multiple opportunities and choices, but it can lead to scheduling mishaps. And when you have two interviews coming up on back-to-back days, your day gets even more hectic. The first thing that you need to do is start preparing for this scenario by planning ahead with a little advance research.
If one of your interviews is a definite go-see opportunity that requires preparation and presentation, and the other one isn’t as rigid in terms of timelines, then you may want to decide how much time needs to be allocated for each meeting before making a final decision about which meetings are more important.