Preparation4 min read

Arrive early — and set up earlier

Being early buys you composure. Being on time, frazzled, costs you the first ten minutes.

The first few minutes of an interview set the tone. Arriving — physically or virtually — with time to spare means you start calm and present instead of scrambling. It is the easiest edge to win and the easiest to throw away.

For on-site interviews

Plan to reach the building 15–20 minutes early, accounting for India’s traffic reality — leave a generous buffer for Bangalore, Gurgaon, or Hyderabad commutes. Use the spare time to visit the washroom, silence your phone, and breathe. Walking in flustered and apologising for being late starts you in a hole.

For virtual interviews

Join the call two to three minutes early, with your environment already tested. Have your resume, a notepad, water, and the job description within reach. If the platform needs a download or login, do it the day before — discovering you need to install something at the start time is a self-inflicted wound.

Key takeaways

On-site: aim to arrive 15–20 minutes early; plan around real commute traffic.
Virtual: join 2–3 minutes early with your setup already tested.
Use the buffer to compose yourself, not to fix avoidable problems.

Put it into practice

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