Hiring managers typically use your résumé to determine whether you're qualified for the job, and the interview to decide if you're the perfect fit.
Knowing that, most people take the process very seriously. They arrive to the interview on time, dress impeccably, and answer each question intelligently.
But as it turns out, there's more to it than just showing up and doing your best — there are dozens of small details that overtly or subconsciously affect the way you're perceived.
1. The time of your interview.
Apparently, 10:30 a.m. on a Tuesday is the best time for you to schedule an interview, reports Glassdoor. People are shown to be most productive on Tuesdays and won't feel rushed by the time they meet you. It's also late enough in the day that your interviewer has had time to check their email, have a cup of coffee, and get ready for your arrival.
You also don't want to be someone's last meeting of the workday, because there's a good chance the interviewer's attention might not solely be on you. They could be thinking about priorities that they have after work, for example, such as dinner plans, kids' homework, etc.
Also, avoid interviewing pre or post-lunch because your time with them will either be cut short or you'll be left waiting for a long time.
2. The weather on the day of your interview.
University of Toronto researchers Donald Redelmeier and Simon D. Baxter found that medical school applicants fared worse if they interviewed on a rainy day compared to their sunny day interviewees.
They say: "Overall, those interviewed on rainy days received about a 1% lower score than those interviewed on sunny days. This pattern was consistent for both senior interviewers and junior interviewers. We next used logistic regression to analyze subsequent admission decisions. The difference in scores was equivalent to about a 10% lower total mark on the Medical College Admission Test."
The data included nearly 3,000 applicants over a six-year period.
3. How early you arrive.
You may think it'll look good if you arrive early — but if you're excessively early, you could be hurting your chances.
"Of course arriving a few minutes early is a good idea, and is certainly better than arriving late — but don't show up a half hour before your interview," says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job." "It can make you appear too anxious or put pressure on the interviewer. If you have extra time, gather your thoughts in your car or take a brief walk to get your energy up."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider