Why You Should Ask to Reschedule If You're Running Late for a Job Interview

You’re getting ready for a big job interview when some unforeseen circumstance arises, putting you at risk of being late. You might feel tempted to hurry and get there as soon as you can, but that actually makes things worse for both you and the interviewer.

No matter what, make sure you notify the interviewer as soon as possible if you’re running late. It’s the courteous, professional thing to do. Once you’ve done that, Kristi Jones, manager of talent acquisition for human resources at H&R Block, suggests you ask to reschedule—even if you still think you can make it on time if you rush. According to Jones, there are a couple reasons why this is best. First, being late and rushing to the interview is stressful, and that stress can negatively affect your behavior during the interview. Second, you give them an opportunity to pick a time that’s best for them, instead of trying to squeeze you into their already full schedule for the day. Remember, your interview is a time slot on their schedule. Being late forces them to adjust their whole day. If you’re worried about how rescheduling will make you look as a candidate, Marybeth Stankovits, technical recruiting manager for Yelp, recommends you send a sincere apology email that shows you’re still very interested in the position.