In my many years as a recruiter I have seen and heard some fantastic and even magical reasons for why people have missed a job interview. It is important to remember we do understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise at the last minute. It is not the end of the world if you miss your job interview, as long as you deal with the situation in a professional manner. Make sure you are open and honest with the person you were supposed to be meeting and, if possible, give them plenty of notice beforehand if you are going to miss the interview. Do not be afraid to ask if you can reschedule it – it is better to be proactive rather than reactive, and you definitely don’t want to miss out on a great job because of something that couldn’t be avoided. Here is my all-time top five:
My train was late/there was traffic:
Now, living in London I am aware that traffic can be awful (as well as the reliability of public transport) but simply plan your journey well in advance and take into account any problems that may arise along the way. For example, if your sat-nav or phone tells you that the journey will take 45 minutes, then add another 30 minutes on top of that just to be safe. I would also recommend taking an earlier train or bus, especially if your interview is during rush hour. It’s better to be early than miss your interview slot altogether.
My suit/dress is at the dry cleaners:
This again comes down to pre-interview preparation. We are not only talking about researching the company so that you’re prepared for any questions that you might be asked about company history, their values, products etc. but also thinking about what dress-code the company has and the type of culture. I always recommend dressing as formal as possible, so make sure you iron your shirt or dress and clean your shoes, then put everything out, ready to go, the evening before your interview.
My pet is ill:
We all love pets! But if you are serious about getting that perfect graduate job or one-year industrial placement role then your interview has to take priority. Our interviews last on average for an hour, so it’s not a long portion out of your day to get someone to look after your poorly cat. It’s not nice leaving your favourite pet – when you get that perfect job you can splash out on a treat for it with your first pay cheque to say sorry.
I forgot:
Of all the excuses this is something that we simply cannot forgive. Even with a busy university schedule your interview should be in your diary, on your phone and even on a post-it note on your fridge. Being on time and prepared makes a great first impression. I would be very worried about a candidate’s potential to be a top performer if they cannot remember the day they had booked in their job interview.
The no excuse:
This is a classic and probably the worst one of them all. No contact before missing an interview or not apologising for missing the interview can really put you on the wrong side of the company you were trying to impress. If you’re no longer interested, just let us know.
Always maintain your professionalism throughout the recruitment process and think about your personal brand. Don’t forget we have heard all the excuses before. Make sure you’re prepared for any type of job interview that you may be asked to attend, be professional and honest at all times, but more importantly try and enjoy the recruitment process and learn from each step you take.
Want to know where a job at Enterprise can take you? Secure your interview today by checking out our graduate, intern and other opportunities here.
