You landed a job interview: You’ve researched the company, reread the job listing, and practiced your talking points. But have you considered the importance of choosing the right time of day to interview? According to new research, when you interview might impact how well you do.

In a study analyzing the timing and performance of Italian students in oral interviews—which are required to pass many classes at Italian universities—researchers found that the time of day had a big impact on students’ likelihood of success. Researchers believe the study could shed light on successes and failures in other high-pressure situations, like job interviews.

Researchers utilized a University of Messina database of interview-style exam results from October 2018 to February 2020. Data from more than 100,000 exams revealed that the rate of students who passed followed a bell curve that peaked between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and was much lower in the early morning and late afternoon.

The research was inspired by a study that found judges are more lenient in their sentencing at the beginning of the court session or after meal breaks, says Carmelo Vicario, a neuroscientist at the University of Messina and lead author........

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