Dear Coach,
This is a weird one. Before my internship, a reporter at the paper, whom I know from school, made arrangements to have her editor (and her) meet me for lunch. I got the time wrong. I showed up at 1:30, instead of 12:30. They were just finishing. The editor left 10 minutes after I got there. She hardly spoke to me. I’ve been at the paper a week now. The editor has said nothing to me. Did I do something wrong? What should I do? – Late Luncher
Dear Late,
Yes, this was a significant mistake. Mistakes happen. We live in spite of them.
Address it. Tell your editor you are deeply sorry. Explain to her what happened, and that you trust it won’t reflect badly on you and that this is not your normal way of doing things. Invite her out for coffee. The worst she can do is say no.
Much has been written about today’s college students “lacking empathy” and generally being loose about work. Whether true or not, what it means for you, practically, is that you have a generational rep to combat. It is quite possible that the editor read your mistake as your being cavalier or unprofessional. Don’t let that possibility fester. Address it, clear it up.
The key thing for you: Don’t be late for lunch or any other appointment you make. Always behave in a way that belies the stereotypes above. Your generation is counting on you.
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Manny Lopez
07.21.10
An hour? Wow. Not good.
Perhaps there are some details missing here, but I don’t buy the “generational” argument at all (sorry Mary Ann). That’s a non-issue. (I think I’m channeling my inner Dick Thien/Lori Demo on this.)
First and foremost, as soon as you’re running a few minutes late, you grab your mobile phone, or if you don’t have one, find a payphone or go into a gas station and ask to make a local call or heck, even ask someone to borrow their mobile phone and give them a dollar, then call the reporter who invited you and/or the editor. Even if you haven’t figured this out until it’s almost too late, make the call so they know it before you show up.
You should have the contact info for anyone you are meeting with you in advance. Short of that you could call the newsroom and get a message in to the switchboard to ask them for contact info or to pass a message along.
Yes, we all make mistakes, and you can recover from this. Be early to work. File your stories early. Be accurate. Stay late.
And, finally, invest in a calendar and use it as if your job - or your reputation - depends on it.