- Should I always defer to the candidate’s preferred time zone?
- When possible, yes. Offering times that fall within a candidate’s normal working hours signals respect and gives them the best chance to perform well. If panel constraints make this impossible, explain the situation transparently and offer alternative accommodations like a take-home exercise instead.
- How do I handle daylight saving time when scheduling international interviews?
- Always confirm the candidate’s UTC offset at the time of the interview, not when you first scheduled it. DST transitions can shift offsets by an hour, causing missed interviews. Use a time zone converter that accounts for DST automatically.
- Is it appropriate to schedule interviews outside standard business hours?
- Only if the candidate explicitly agrees to it. Some candidates prefer early morning or evening slots to avoid taking time off from their current job, but the choice should always be theirs. Never assume availability outside 9 AM to 6 PM local time.
