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Better late than never, says the wise man who realized that you cannot put your life on hold because of a few seconds or minutes lost. Being late for a job interview is a nightmare but it should not be the reason you give up on your dream job. Now that we acknowledge being late, what next?
Here are 5 tips to redeem yourself.
Call in advance
It is time to put your communication skills to work. Are you stuck in traffic? Maybe your car tires just burst or someone just snatched your wallet. Call the office in charge and inform them.
This phone call could sound like this:
“Good morning, I would like to speak to (office in charge of your interview or even the reception if she can transfer the message.) I have been caught up in (state your issue) and I will be coming in 30 minutes late for my interview. Therefore, I am kindly requesting to be rescheduled. I am sorry for the inconveniences caused.”
Be sure about the exact time you need, this will help the hiring manager or interview panel prepare for you well. It is also important you do not give yourself less time than needed, you do not want to call twice about rescheduling an interview. Remember that everyone has a schedule, do not say 5 minutes yet you will take 20 minutes. It will also make you stand out when you follow up with an email. For example:
Dear Human Resources Manager,
It is with utmost regret that I am running late for my scheduled interview at 10:00 am this morning. My car got a technical problem on my way there. However, I am getting back on the road and I will be arriving at 10:40 am. I kindly request that my interview time is rescheduled. I will be glad if my request is put into consideration.
Thank you
Start with an apology
Have you finally made it to the interview place? The next thing is to apologize for being late. But do not overdo it. You do not need to give all the details about what happened or 20 reasons as to why you are late for the job interview. Be sincere, show remorse, and allow the interview to begin. It is always advised to state your apology from a gratitude point of view.
“Thank you for rescheduling my interview. I am sorry I could not make it on time.”
It is also important that you own the problem. Do not be tempted to blame an external factor. This will characterize you as incorrigible, and you do not want that to happen.
Recompose yourself
Breathe in and breathe out. Being late for a job interview will not get you a death sentence. Looking at the fact that you still chose to come shows that you want the job. Take time and rearrange yourself - were you hit by the rain? Oil marks from working on your car? Is it a face full of frustration? Do not let yourself start the interview before dealing with all this. For ladies, make your hair neat, add some lip gloss, and tap some extra powder on your face - it will make a difference. On the gents' side, tuck in, tie your shoelaces, and fix your tie.
Now you can make your way to the interview room in full shape with a smile of victory.
Be open and flexible to any new changes
When you are late for your interview, you need to be ready for any upcoming changes. You might be rescheduled for another day or even at the end of the day. Resist making further alterations. If it means waiting till the end of the day, you might be open to that. Are they rescheduling you for another day? Make sure you plan so that you do not mess up again.
Close with gratitude
When you are finished with the interview, do not count it done. The last impression here matters. Making one more apology will not be too much. In your last statement, thank the panel again for rescheduling your interview and being patient with you. Do not forget to also send a thank you email when you're done.
Mistakes can happen to anyone, but how you bounce back from them is key. Ensure to be polite, sincere, and remorseful. Do not be so full of yourself to think that being late is not a big deal, as the interviewer may consider it to be. Accept your mistakes and learn from them.