Just show up!

They tell me the job market's really tough right now. Well, you'd never know based on the interviews and non-interviews I just had. I've been interviewing for a sales position recently, and probably one out of five sales candidates would not only not show up, if they did, they would be late. I can't stress this enough. If you're looking for a job, not only should you, if you can't show up, send a note ahead of time, but if you are going to show up, show up early. Don't show up late. Show up like you're going on a sales call, because a job interview is a sales call. It's a small, well-connected world, especially here on LinkedIn. You don't want to be the person that's known as unreliable or someone who ghosted an interviewer, because the word will get around. If the job market is indeed tough, look at every opportunity as though you might not get this job, but you may have an opening in the future. Do you think I'm going to call that person who no-showed for a job interview again when I need more salespeople? Not going to happen. The 3 Biggest Takeaways 1. The Bar is Low—Just Show Up It sounds simple, but in today's market, reliability is a competitive advantage. I’m seeing 1 out of 5 candidates either show up late or ghost entirely. If you simply show up on time—or better yet, early—you are already ahead of 80% of your competition. Talent matters, but reliability gets you in the room. 2. An Interview is a Sales Call Stop thinking of it as an interrogation and start thinking of it as a discovery call. You are the product. The hiring manager is the prospect. If you were meeting a high-value client, you wouldn’t be late, and you wouldn’t come unprepared. Bring that same "closer" energy to your interview. 3. The "Small World" Penalty The business world, especially the LinkedIn ecosystem, is incredibly small. If you ghost an interview or act unprofessionally, you aren't just losing that one job. You are torching your reputation with that founder and their entire network. Word travels fast. Don't be the person known for being unreliable. Frequently Asked Questions Q: Is the job market actually tough right now? A: People say it is, but candidate behavior suggests otherwise. When candidates are no-showing or arriving late, it signals a lack of urgency. If the market is tough, your actions need to reflect that you value the opportunity. Q: What should I do if I genuinely can’t make the interview? A: Communicate. It’s professional courtesy 101. Send a note ahead of time. Emergencies happen, but silence is a choice. If you can't show up, own it and reschedule. If you ghost, you’re done. Q: How early is "early" for an interview? A: Treat it exactly like a sales meeting. You want to be settled, calm, and ready to go before the clock starts. Being "on time" is late. Being early shows you respect the other person's time and you’re hungry for the role. Q: Why does it matter if I ghost a job I didn't want anyway? A: Because you don't know where that hiring manager will be in five years. You don't know who they know. I will never call a person who no-showed me again, even if I have a perfect role for them later. You are playing a long game; don't sacrifice it for a moment of laziness. Q: How can I stand out in a sea of applicants? A: Be the professional in the room. Most people are focused on their resume (past history). You need to focus on the future—what you will do for the founder. Show up early, be prepared, and treat the interview with the gravity of a million-dollar deal. That is how you win.