Whether you’re slinging hash, working at a desk, or the president of the United States, you have to wonder sometimes why people make such a big deal of punctuality. The world isn’t going to stop if you’re five minutes late, right? The world, no. Your career, yes. Being punctual is more about your relationship to others than it is about the hands on a clock. Two places you never want to be late are a job interview and the job.

Punctuality at the Job Interview

Show up late for a job interview, and you tell employers a lot about your personality and work ethic. Being late for your scheduled interview can be an indication that you don’t pay attention to important details. It proves that you do not value others’ time. A lack of punctuality smacks of disrespect. That’s the last impression you want to leave interviewers with. Plan to arrive on the scene about 10-15 minutes before the interview. When you walk in, let whomever greets you know that you are a few minutes early. Arriving a tad early and acknowledging that you are early is a great way to stand out to employers for the right reasons.

Punctuality on the Job

Tires get flats, accidents block roads, your hot water heater bursts – all of these are legitimate reasons for being late to work. Fortunately, these incidents are few and far between, which means that the times you’re late for work should be rare as well. When you’re constantly tardy for work, or returning from lunch or breaks, you’re displaying the same disrespect for your employer that arriving late to a job interview shows. Except now you’re disrespecting your fellow employees as well. Your employer’s productivity depends upon all employees being ready to work when the shift begins. Develop a pattern of poor punctuality, and employers will show you the door.

What if you already know how important punctuality is, but still can’t find the right job for you? Call Staffing Partners’ staffing experts! They have employers waiting for you to fill their temporary and temp-to-hire positions.