What to do if You're Running Late for an Interview
- Jackie Vermeulen
- Jul 11, 2016
- 2 min read
Call your contact person if you're running late for an interview. Have phone numbers and contact names handy (not buried in an email you have to find in a high-stress scenario). In the event you can’t get ahold of the HR person, call the front desk. And last resort, call the person you’re supposed to meet with.
If you haven’t been able to get in touch with anyone on the above list, continue your hustle to the interview. You could pull over to send an email…but then you’d be even later and more stressed out, and the recipient might not read it in time to amend the situation.
The most important things to remember are: don’t play the blame-game, apologize genuinely, and give them an honest estimate of when you will be there (you don’t want to be late twice).
Good: I just wanted to call and let you know I am running a few minutes late. I am so sorry. I should be there at 10:15. Will you still be able to meet with me at that time?
Bad: I’m going to be late. They decided to do construction on today of all days. Sorry, I’ll see you soon.
Good: I’m so sorry I was late. When I researched how long it would take me to arrive today, I didn’t account for the construction traffic. You can be sure I won’t make that mistake again. I hope I didn’t disrupt your schedule too much.
Bad: My roommate blocked in my car and it took him forever to move it, so I’d be on time if it weren’t for him. Roommates, amiright?
We realized something interesting as we debated this answer: every one of us had been late to an interview before. Some of the reasons? GPS dropped her off at a tree. He really didn’t want the job and didn’t get out the door on time. And she got lost in a new city. None of us got the job. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, lesson learned.
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Jackie Vermeulen is the founder of The Career Mint. She works closely with mentors and some off-site experts to address the hard-hitting career topics in articles like the one you’re reading now.
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