Fri, 30 Aug 2013Wednesday lunchtime could be the best time of the week to have a job interview in the UK, according to data from recruitment consultancy Douglas Scott Legal Recruitment.

Its analysis of its past 1,000 interviews showed that 36% of candidates getting the job or making it through to the next round had interviewed on a Wednesday, compared with 30% on a Friday, 18% on a Tuesday, and only 9% and 7% on a Thursday and Monday respectively.

And the company also broke its data down into interview time, showing the following success rates:

• 6am – 9am: 7%
• 9am – 11am: 26%
• 11am – 2pm: 34%
• 2pm – 5pm: 24%
• 5pm – 8pm: 9%

However, London-based candidates who opted for an interview before or after their working day were better rewarded for their effort, with 16% and 10% of successful interviews taking place before and after work respectively.

Jon Nolan, a consultant from Douglas Scott, comments: “We advise trying to meet when you are less stressed, if possible. Obviously more of our candidates opt for during work times as opposed to rushing to an interview before or after work – and it is paying off.”

Rob Kay, chartered occupational psychologist and managing director of Beechwood Business Psychologists, adds: "The quality of an interview and the decision that is made, ultimately rests with the interviewer. If we think about this from the interviewer’s perspective, by Wednesday, we are likely to be well on the way to doing what we set out to do for that working week, together with a knowledge of what still needs to be done before the weekend. We are ‘balanced’.”