[throwaway211]

That's when you use skills of management and what you're being paid for.

Not packing stuff back to back without important but non time critical padding's not always an option.

Solutions will depend on your context. I agree pushing back time isn't a valid option, it's not a work culture I believe in.

How about: Using post interview time that should be saved for reflection after the interview §. Trust a colleague to do it or at least start. Make time before you need time by managing it throughout the process.

Or many more options depending on context. Perhaps you're both on flights leaving from the same airport?

§ 'Reflection time' being so important but so often missed. Planning stuff without reflection time is to leadership what assuming the critical path will always be achieved is to project management. Both destined to achieve failure.

[basementcat]

Sounds like your organization does interviews in a very different way than organizations I’ve been a part of. Usually I’m assigned a 30-40 min block with a candidate after which I have to deliver them to the next interviewer (or release to HR). If I take 5 mins longer with a candidate then I’ve just robbed 5 mins from their next interview (hope they can complete their leetcode puzzles 5 mins faster) and I have 5 mins less to evaluate the next candidate. I try to let everyone have the best opportunity to show what they’ve got (I let them do the interview outside if the weather is nice, try to tailor questions to their resume, etc)

[JohnFen]

That sounds horrific. My sympathies. Not every place is like that.