Oh No, I’m Late for the Interview
April 2023
By NTI
What’s the best advice about what to do if you are late for an interview? Well, don’t be late in the first place.
“You should leave plenty of time for the appointment,” said Alan Hubbard, NTI’s Chief Operating Officer. “You have to remember the person interviewing you is on a tight schedule and they have blocked out this time for you.”
Of course, as Hubbard points out, there are times when there are obstacles in your way to getting there on time.
“Nobody’s perfect,” he said. “If you are going to be late you have to show the other person courtesy by letting them know you aren’t going to be on time. You should apologize for causing them any inconvenience. Don’t give them a long sob story or make dozens of excuses. You want to take the blame and not pass it off on others. It will then be up to them to decide what to do.”
There is a time limit on making the call. If you let them know right away you are going to be late, you have a better opportunity of still being considered for the job.
“Don’t call several hours late or even the next day,” said Kristi Jones, the Director of Talent Acquisition for the Spring Venture Group in Kansas City, Mo., in a Monster.com article.
Calling is only the first step, according to Hubbard. He suggests following up with a letter and telling the person you would like to reschedule the interview.
“You don’t want to ghost them, forgetting it ever happened,” said Hubbard. “That is very unprofessional. Hiring managers and Human Resource people travel in the same circles so you don’t want to have the reputation of someone who just doesn’t show up.”
If you are already on your way, there could be the urge to just show up at the interview. Even though you are a half-hour late, you’re still hoping the interview can still take place.
“That is probably not going to work for you,” said Hubbard. “Companies run on tight schedules and the hiring manager or those on the team have already moved on with their day.”
If you are granted a second chance, make sure you show up early and apologize for the first scheduled interview, but do not keep bringing up your absence.
On the other hand, if the hiring manager decides they don’t want to interview, you need to move on to the next job possibility.
“This could be a learning opportunity for you by teaching you the importance of being early for an interview,” said Hubbard. “Next time you will be 15 minutes early.”
For Americans with a disability, there can be difficulties in getting to the interview location. It might be helpful to go there the day before and checking everything out.
“This helps relieve some of the anxiety around interviewing for a job,” said Hubbard. “You want to be focusing on how you are presenting yourself in the interview, and not be stressed out about getting there. If you need assistance moving about the building, the day you hear from the recruiter, you should possibly inform them of your needs.”
NTI helps Americans with disabilities and their caregivers find at-home employment with free training and job placement services. You can register at www.nticentral.org.