Running late for an interview

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

An interview is your chance to impress the employer and show why you're perfect for the job. But sometimes things happen, the traffic is heavy, you're sick or injured, or perhaps you mixed up the days and thought the interview was tomorrow instead of today. If you're going to be late or miss the interview entirely, what should you do to try and salvage the situation?

Try not to get stressed out or beat yourself up about it. It's done and there's nothing you can do about it now. Getting stressed out will affect your performance. So if you're running really late and you're too stressed to give it your all, it may be best to try and reschedule.

Contact the interviewer ASAP

As soon as you know you won't be able to make it on time, the first thing you need to do is to contact the interviewer and let them know. Ring them; don't send an email or text message as you risk the message not getting seen until later.

The second reason you need to ring is to find out if the interview will still go ahead. Don't just assume the interview will go as planned and they'll just fit you in. The interviewer may have a schedule to keep and won't be able reorganise their day at such short notice. The earlier you contact them the better your chances of getting the interview rescheduled. If too much time passes your absence may be taken as a sign that you're not interested and they'll move onto the next applicant.

Reschedule

Not every employer is going to be willing to reschedule your interview. Some may not have the time and others will think you're unreliable. You have nothing to lose though by asking, so check if they can reschedule. Whether they reschedule your interview or not you should end it on a positive note. Apologise for not being able to make it and thank them for the opportunity.

Apologise

Missing an interview is an inconvenience for all involved, so when you ring the interviewer make sure you treat the situation seriously. Whether it's your fault or not, you need to apologise for inconveniencing those involved and express your regret for not being able to make it on time. You can provide a reason for your absence but don't create excuses, and don't make up lies about why you're late.

In addition to the phone call, consider sending an apology email or letter. It shows that you're still serious about the job and would greatly appreciate a second chance to interview for it, if the interviewer is willing to give you one.

Don't be late again

If you are given a second chance and the interview is rescheduled don't waste the opportunity. At this point your reliability is in question and the employer will be questioning whether they want to hire someone that has shown they're unorganised. You need to do your best to show them this isn't true.

When you arrive at the interview apologise for missing the first one and thank the interviewer for giving you a second chance. If you're late to the rescheduled interview you can pretty much kiss the job goodbye. No one likes having their time wasted and you've done it twice now.

The importance of planning

If you don't get a second chance it's important to learn from the experience. It's your responsibility to get to the interview on time. If you know it's going to take you 30 minutes to get to get there. Don't leave at 9.30 for a 10 o'clock interview. If anything goes wrong you have no time to spare. Aim to arrive 10-15 minutes early and plan accordingly. This way you give yourself a buffer in case the unexpected happens.

So if you're going to be late or miss the interview entirely, let the interviewer know. Acting quickly could be the difference between getting a second chance, or the employer moving on to the next person who applied for the job.

Let me know how you've handled a situation where you were running late? If you have any other comments or feedback let me know, and for more information, videos, and articles on all things employment, check out our website letsgetworking.com.au

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