How I Got Fired From My First (REAL) Job Interview

I’m embarrassed to say, but I was fired from my first (real) job interview.

And do you know what’s worse? It was at my family’s own restaurant.

How lame do you have to be to get fired from your own family business?

Here’s what happened: I was home from college for the summer and needed some cash. Logically, my parents said I should work at our restaurant’s newest location which had recently opened. I had worked at our other location all throughout high school, and so I called the Manager (someone I knew well and had worked with for years) and scheduled an “interview” for the next day.

I was sure I had the job. It was going to be a slam dunk!

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

As it turns out, the next day was a logistical nightmare for my family. People had doctor’s appointments, errands to run, and sports practices… and only 1 car. That meant when I arrived at my interview, I was officially 15 minutes late.

I walked in with a sheepish look on my face. The Manager, on the other hand, looked pissed.

“Why are you late?” he asked.

Surprised by his abrupt manner, I explained we had 1 car and were trying to get everyone from this place to that…

“But you’re late for your interview.” He interrupted.

I was stunned.

(Photo: The job was making burritos… But I wasn’t wearing nail polish. Promise.)

“If you’re late for your interview,” he continued, “then what does that say about your dependability when I need you on my team? When you aren’t on time, its disrespectful to me and the others you will work with.”

Shocked, I didn’t know what to say. He had a good point. “But it wasn’t my fault…” I protested…

“Come back tomorrow” he interrupted, “Except…on time… and we will give this a second try. We’re done here.”

He turned on his heels to go back to his office, and just like that… I had failed my first REAL job interview at my own family restaurant. I left embarrassed and angry.

I’m sure he received a lot of gruff that night for dismissing the owner’s son, but to his credit, the Manager stuck to his guns. And rightfully so. That’s because like any great leader, he was creating a powerful teaching moment.

The next day, I made sure I arrived early …with ample time to spare… and waited in the lobby. When he came out, he was his normal friendly self, and said, “Being on time is the first step to earning respect and trust. That’s why it matters so much.” We had a very positive conversation and he was clear of the expectations. I was going to be a line cook, prep the food, and serve customers as they walked in.

That entire summer as I made handmade burritos for hundreds of customers, I learned a lot about cooking, working hard, and serving people. But the most important lesson I learned (and have never forgotten) was the power of always being on time.

(Photo: Have you ever been running late to something important?)

How can a seemingly simple habit of being on time make any difference in life? As the Manager correctly said, it starts with respect.

If I am late, it is disrespectful to the people who have prioritized to be on time. Karen Joy Fowler said, “Arriving late is a way of saying that your own time is more valuable than the time of the person who waited for you.”

However while respecting others is certainly important, the most important person you are respecting (or disrespecting) … is yourself.

Have you ever felt rushed for an important occasion? Maybe it was a job interview you were worried about, or a phone call with someone who could open the doors of opportunity. In this moment, perhaps a lot was at stake. When you were hurrying, did you feel like you were setting yourself up for the best shot at success?

If you aren’t willing to give yourself your best chance, why should they?

Now by contrast, consider another time where you arrived early, had time to collect your thoughts, and were able to walk in the room composed and prepared. In this second instance, how did you feel? You gave yourself the gift of being on time… and the outcome likely was much better. More importantly, you had the confidence that comes from preparation.

(Photo: Tacos are best served on time )

Whatever the opportunity, being on time is one of the simplest and most important things you can do to increase your chances of success. It is one of those small investments that will always bring huge returns in increased performance, impact, and influence on others.

Because just like the Manager also said, being on time is one of the easiest ways to build trust. The reverse is also true. Being late… especially when first meeting people… can erode trust. The famous basketball coach John Wooden said, “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” To which I’ll add, “If you don’t have time to be on time, when will you have time to rebuild trust?”

Though getting fired from my first real job interview (in my own family business) was a rough learning experience, I have forever been grateful to the wise Manager who taught me the first lesson about success:

You only get 1 chance to make a first impression. Don’t let lateness be the first thing people remember.

Just be on time. It’s the one small thing that is guaranteed to increase your chances of success in whatever you do.

Most importantly, thank you for spending your time with me this week,

Christian

CHRISTIAN HANSEN has gone behind the scenes in some of the biggest organizations in the world to find out the reasons why some people get chosen and why others don’t. As the #1 bestselling and LinkedIn Top Ten ranked author of “The Influence Mindset: The Art & Science of Getting People to Choose You” Christian helps teams and organizations who want to stand out and be the obvious choice. With degrees from Brigham Young University and The London School of Economics, he’s helped thousands of individuals position and sell themselves. A fan of international communication, history, and choral music, he currently lives in Utah with his wife. Reach him at: TheChristianHansen.com