Late for an Interview!

Very little induces panic like the feeling of being late for a job interview. Whether you got caught in traffic, got lost or couldn't find parking, or if you simply didn't get started on time, being late makes you painfully aware you are not going to make the best impression. If you find yourself late for a job interview, take a moment to collect yourself and figure out the best way to handle the situation.

Offer to Reschedule Your Interview

If you are late to a job interview, you may be throwing off your interviewer's schedule for the whole day. As soon as you can tell you are going to be more than a couple of minutes late, contact the interviewer immediately and offer to reschedule your interview appointment. Don't over-apologize. Just express your awareness you are making the interviewer's day more complicated and ask if it is possible to reschedule.

Explain Yourself Professionally

You may have a good reason for being late to your job interview. Perhaps your car broke down or your flight was canceled. Perhaps you had to deal with a true family emergency. Whatever the reason, state it professionally and apologize. Do not try to over-explain and do not make up a story just to give yourself an excuse. If you claim flight delays or traffic problems that did not really exist, your interviewer could easily confirm you were not telling the truth, which puts you in a far worse position than just being late.

Compose Yourself

If you go ahead with the meeting when you're late to a job interview, take a minute to calm down before you walk into the room. Make sure you look your best, especially if you've been rushing. Don't let yourself appear flustered or panicked as you arrive.

Ask How Much Time You Have

If the interviewer is fitting you in to her schedule despite your late arrival, she may have less time available for your interview than originally planned. Simply ask how much time you now have and adjust to the new time frame. Perhaps you have less time for chit-chat, but you can still answer all her questions confidently and directly.

Plan Ahead Next Time

For your next job interview, plan for the worst-case scenario. Figure out how much time travel is likely to take with the worst possible traffic. If you have never been to this particular office before, take a trial trip to figure out where to park. Do not forget to include extra time for walking from the parking lot to the actual office, including going through security if applicable. Add in an extra five or 10 minutes on top of your worst-case time to give yourself a wide margin for error.

When you are late to a job interview, you run the risk of sending the message that you are unreliable. Do your best to counteract this bad first impression by behaving professionally in every other way. Just as you plan for the interview itself, plan for your travel to the interview in a foresighted way and make sure you allot enough time to put forth a professional impression.

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