Once you start searching for contract consulting positions or other kinds of jobs, you’ll have to complete interviews. That meeting with the hiring manager is a critical part of the process, giving you and them a chance to get to know one another.
In most cases, professionals strive to plan ahead for their interviews. However, that doesn’t mean something won’t go awry, causing you to miss the appointment. If that happens, you may assume that all hope is lost. In reality, that isn’t always the case.
If you handle the misstep properly, you may be able to salvage the situation. If you want to know what you should do if you miss an interview, here is a step-by-step process to follow.
Contact the Interviewer ASAP
The moment you realize you missed your interview, contact the interviewer or your point of contact. Opt for a phone call over an email or text message, as that’s often the fastest way to make contact. Your goal is to make the hiring manager aware of the situation without any unnecessary delays, so make that call a priority.
Apologize for the Inconvenience
When a hiring manager schedules an interview with you, they commit time to the meeting. Since not arriving on time means they’ve been inconvenienced, apologizing is a must.
Acknowledge that you made a mistake and offer the hiring manager a sincere apology. If you have a valid reason for missing the appointment, share it briefly. However, make sure you’re not just trying to make excuses or pass blame, especially if the fault is your own.
Ask If They Are Still Available or If They’d Like to Reschedule
After you’ve apologized, you can take one of two paths. If you could attend the meeting in short order, you could ask if the hiring manager is available to see you now. If they aren’t or the entire time window for your interview has passed, ask if rescheduling is an option.
At this stage, the ball is in the hiring manager’s court. If your reason was sound and you’ve been professional at this point, they may be open to holding the interview anyway. However, if they decline, accept that decision.
Follow-Up with an Apology Email
Whether the hiring manager agreed to still interview you or not, send a follow-up apology email. Reiterate that you’re sorry for any inconvenience caused by your mistake and, if you had a valid reason, restate it briefly.
By sending the email, you are acknowledging the misstep and accepting responsibility once more. It may also give you a chance to reassert your interest in the job or, if the hiring manager was initially uncertain about whether to provide you with another opportunity, see if rescheduling is an option.
Learn from the Experience
Whether you are able to reschedule or not, treat the situation as a learning opportunity. Identify what went wrong and whether you could have done something differently to avoid missing the interview or inform the hiring manager of your need to reschedule in a more timely manner.
Ultimately, the process above can help you smooth things over, as well as potentially prepare better the next time around. If you’d like to learn more about how you can successfully land contract consulting positions or other jobs, the team Alpha Consulting wants to hear from you. Contact us today.
