Five Reasons to Cancel an Interview

Even though it’s tough to get an interview, there are good reasons to cancel. Or reschedule. There are some days you may not be ready for an hour or two of intense conversation, testing, and trying to look like a confident, together job candidate. You risk making a bad impression or appearing uninterested in the job, but it’s better to put off what may be the most important two hours of your career than risk making a bigger mistake—interviewing without being prepared or at your best.

1. You’re feeling sick. Out of respect for a possible future employer, it’s better to cancel an interview than risk infecting the rest of the office. If you’re coming down with the flu or a sore throat (that could turn into strep) make a trip to the doctor’s office instead of the interview. Get well, and then reschedule. If you are a good candidate, they will wait a few weeks while you recover. The fact that you put your needs aside for the good of others is a plus for an employer. It’s also the responsible thing to do.

2. You can’t find a babysitter. Bringing the kids along on the interview may work in some settings, but the boss’s administrative assistant or receptionist isn’t a babysitter. You want to make a good impression with everyone. Leaving the kids in the car (if they are older) is irresponsible and even dangerous. Bringing them with you is a major distraction for everyone, even if they are perfect angels.

3. You’ve just broken up with your main squeeze, boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse or partner, or there was a death in the immediate family. You get the idea. Major emotional crisis take all of your energy and attention. Why go on an interview when your heart, mind and emotions want to be somewhere else? Go through the process of grieving and when you feel emotionally stable again, reschedule. If you share your story with an interviewer in an attempt to gain sympathy, you may appear needy, distracted and lack the judgment to make practical decisions in times of stress.

4. There is a tornado watch, a hurricane warning or blizzard on the way. Why risk traveling to an interview risking your own life and limb and insisting that the hiring manager risk hers as well. Chances are the hiring manager won’t show up or you’ll have to cut things short while everyone packs up and tries to get home before the storm.

5. You’re not prepared. If you haven’t done any research on the company, printed fresh copies of your resume, called to give your references the “heads up,” or picked up your lucky interview suit from the cleaners it’s best to postpone the interview for a few days. You only get one shot at a first interview. Give yourself the time it takes to get prepared so you can be on your game.


Have you ever had a disastrous interview? Share your own reasons to cancel or postpone an interview in the Comments section.

Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for communicationsjobs.net. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and helping clients reinvent their careers for today’s job market. You can read more of her blogs at communicationsjobsblog.com and view additional job postings on Nexxt.