If you are ever in a situation where you cannot attend an interview, ghosting (not contacting your interviewer about why you cannot attend) is not an option! You have probably worked closely with your recruiter or the company and want to extend them a courtesy.
Congratulations! You are waking up, and it is finally the day of the interview you have been dedicated to securing. As the morning approaches, you have to schedule extra time to review and prepare for your interview. You’ve made plans to depart your house with extra time to spare, planning for traffic or grabbing that fresh cup of coffee. You are en route to your interview and hear a loud pop! You look in the rearview mirror and see your tire rolling down the hill. The clock says 2:50 pm, and your interview starts at 3:00 pm. Unfortunately, you realize you will not make the interview on time. What steps do you take from here? Do you ghost?
No.
Below we have listed some tips and conversations to avoid ghosting-– any time you have a hurdle interfering with your scheduled interview time.
Become Solution Oriented
It is always best to brainstorm solutions instead of ghosting. The goal is to avoid burning bridges at all costs. Although an unfortunate event may cause some frustration– take a deep breath and problem-solve. First and foremost, call the employer and explain your situation. Enlighten them that you had left the house with plenty of time in advance for your interview. Inform them about the unfortunate event that occurred on the way. Doing so will prove to the employer that you are serious about this opportunity and respect their time by not ghosting. Ghosting an employer may result in becoming blacklisted and ruining all future chances with that company.
Examples of ways to communicate without ghosting:
- Always remain positive– ask the employer if there is a later available interview time you could attend, contingent upon rearranging transportation.
- Brainstorm ideas for obtaining the quickest solution regarding new transportation. Is the location on the bus line? Maybe a family member that lives nearby? An Uber/ taxi?
- Take a picture! While the reasoning for not being able to attend an interview due to a flat tire may be heard often, separate your situation from looking like the typical excuse. As you type your email or text message, attach a picture of your tire to avoid any misleading thoughts the employer may have.
Here are a few helpful templates regarding the most common reasons for needing to reschedule an interview:
(Car Troubles)
Hi (Interviewer name),
I hope this message finds you well. I am honored that I was allowed to interview with (Insert Company). However, I regret that an uncontrollable event occurred on my way to the interview. Due to this, I will unfortunately not be able to attend the interview.
I hope you can understand and reschedule, as any day and time moving forward will work for me. I do not want to burn my bridge with (Insert Company) as I am confident I would be a great asset to your team.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration. I hope that we can reschedule the interview at a more convenient time.
With best regards,
(Your Name)
(Lack of Child Care)
Hi (Interviewer Name),
I hope this message finds you well. Unfortunately, I need to cancel my upcoming interview scheduled for (Date and Time) for the (Job Title) position. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
The reason for my cancellation is that I am unable to secure child care for my (Child/Children) during the time of the interview. I understand the importance of this interview and am disappointed that I cannot attend.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration. I hope that we can reschedule the interview at a more convenient time.
Best regards,
(Your Name)
(Illness)
Dear ____,
I am disappointed that I cannot make today’s job interview because I became ill/was injured. I wish I could have made the appointment, but unfortunately, my (illness/injury) is preventing me from leaving home now.
Please accept my sincerest apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please let me know if there is another date we could reschedule.
(Your name)
(Death)
Dear ____,
I wanted to inform you of the death of my [family member’s relationship to you]. He/she passed away on [day of the week] in [location]. I know that this is not the most convenient time, but I will not be able to attend the scheduled interview. I hope we can reschedule as soon as possible.
(Your name)
During, and after the pandemic, with the job market fluctuating – employers have found that now more than ever, candidates have not been showing up to scheduled interviews and, in some cases – accepting a job and not showing up for the first day. According to Business Insider, some 90% of candidates have not shown up for scheduled interviews, and in some cases, have quit after days of work.
The way to set yourself apart from others is to plan ahead and remain in communication with the recruiter or company. Ghosting a potential employer will always hurt your chances of being considered for the desired position. Emergencies happen, and the way you deal with an emergency before you are hired may show a potential employer how you would deal with a similar circumstance, should they decide to bring you on.
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