Rescheduling an Interview
02 June 2009
You have spent hours tapping your network for job leads and scouring the internet for job openings. All that hard work pays off and you land an interview on the phone or in person. An unexpected event comes up that you must attend happens to fall on the same time as the interview. What do you do? You have to ask yourself the following questions:
- Is the event something that can be rescheduled?
- Will I risk losing my current job or getting written up if I miss this event?
- Will they suspect that I am job hunting if I skip the event?
- How much do I want the job and is it worth skipping the event for this job?
Canceling an interview is usually not good form because of the following:
- You could lose out on meeting a key interviewer who may only have a small window of opportunity for interviews.
- The interview process could be pretty far along and the company is narrowing down the field of candidates.
- It could send a sign to to the company that you are not interested in the opportunity.
The same goes for the company, it does not send a good message when a company reschedules. Despite all your best intentions life happens. If you have to cancel then do the following:
- Apologize to the other party.
- Notify the other party as soon as possible.
- Be as accommodating when rescheduling the interview.
- Be responsive by returning phone calls and emails as quickly as possible.
- Make absolutely certain that you do not reschedule a second time.
I have seen some candidates continue to move forward the interview process after rescheduling an interview. On the other hand, some candidates just did not have their heart in the interview and it shows after they rescheduled numerous times. If your heart is not in it, then withdraw your candidacy and move on to the next opportunity. It is a waste of your time and everyone else involved if you are not passionate about the opportunity.
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