How To Apologize For Missing An Interview Email/Call?

How To Apologize For Missing An Interview Email/Call?

Interviews are a nerve-racking yet essential part of the job search process. And being punctual is essential to be able to make a good first impression on the interviewer. But if you do miss your interview for some reason, all is not lost. Even if you might have overslept or run late due to any other reason, you could apologize to your employer. Of course, it would do minor damage to your first impression but you can still be apologetic and make up for it. Here we will see how To Apologize For Missing An Interview Email/Call.

Is It Rude To Miss An Interview?

Yes, it is technically not ideal to miss a job interview in any case. It means that your punctuality is not present and it might seem rude to the employer. However, it isn’t something that you cannot fix with a genuine apology.

You could express yourself through an email or a call to your employer or the HR manager. You could state what held you back from attending the interview and be crystal clear with the employer.

The main point is to apologize for your mistake and then ask if you could reschedule the interview. If you have been honest and the employer forgives you,  you can easily get another date for the interview.

Steps To Follow For Apologizing To The Employer For Missing An Interview

There are a few steps to take if you have missed an interview due to any reason. Following these steps would help you increase the chances of landing another interview and making it. And you could also increase your chances of getting selected for the job position as well.

So here are a few steps and tricks that you could follow in case you have missed your interview:

Contact The Interviewer As Soon As Possible

If you miss your interview for any reason, you should find a time as soon as possible to contact the interviewer or employer. Let’s say that you lost reception in your area and missed an interview, then you must reply as soon as you can get it back.

You must keep it as a priority and ensure that whenever your situation is solved, you get back to the interviewer. Then you can apologize to them and let them know what was the issue that held you back from attending the interview.

Also, if you have a scheduled interview on the phone, it is best not to call directly. The employer or the interviewer may even be busy with some other work, so you could leave an email instead of a call.

Don’t Lose Confidence In Yourself

If you miss an important job interview, you would naturally feel quite distraught with the situation. Even though you might have an inevitable situation, you might feel that it is wrong for you.

And it is an unfair situation, but you cannot take back what has already happened, so it is best to move on. When you communicate with the employer after missing the interview, do not lose your confidence.

Do not lose confidence in your voice and try to remain hopeful in the situation. You must sound sorry because you have made a mistake on your part, but still don’t be distraught because of it.

Apologize Genuinely But Concisely

The key to apologizing to an employer is to remain to the point. You might feel like you must explain the details of why you were unable to make it to the interview, but it is best not to do so.

For example, let us say that your Wi-Fi went down the day you had a virtual interview. And for some reason, you were unable to use any other method to access the internet and attend the interview.

In that case, you can immediately message or email the employer and write that you were unable to access the internet. Do not go into details, just tell them why you did not have internet access and ask them if you could reattempt the interview.

Revert To The Employer’s Convenience

If you do get a chance to reschedule the interview for another day and time, then it means that you have dealt with the situation well. Then, you must try to fix a date and time that is convenient for you and the employer too.

If you communicate with your employer about fixing the date for the next interview, ask them what time would be convenient for them. When they tell you the time frames, you can choose one that you are also comfortable with 

Try to work on with the convenience of the employer but do ensure that you avoid circumstances that might repeat the mistake. Go for a mutual timing agreed by both parties so that you can ace your reattempt at the interview.

How To Write An Apology Email For Missing An Interview?

An email is perhaps the old-school, yet most efficient way of apologizing for missing an interview.

Let us imagine a situation where you have accidentally missed your interview because your car broke down on your way to the interview. In such a case, you can draft an email to your interviewer to explain yourself.

Here is an example of an email that you could draft to your employer to explain why you missed your interview:

To- *Interviewer*

Subject- Missed Interview- *Name*

Dear Sir/Ma’am,

I would begin by apologizing for missing my interview scheduled at 9:00 AM today. I left home at 7:00 AM, but my car unexpectedly broke down. I immediately called the mechanic, but since I live in the suburbs, it took them some time to reach me.

The mechanic told me that the car engine had unexpectedly broken down and I am still at the mechanic’s getting it repaired.

I also tried to get a bus or taxi but the car trouble had kept me on the road for too long and I couldn’t make it ultimately. I want to apologize again for the inconvenience that I have caused due to my mistake.

I know that it is my responsibility to maintain punctuality in the firm and I have failed to do so. I am well aware of the mistakes that I made today and do not justify them in any way. I also ensure you that I would do my best to avoid any such situations.

Along with that, could I request a rescheduling for the interview that I had missed? Please let me know if I can contact you via email or a phone call to discuss the timing that you would be comfortable with for the interview.

I promise to perform my best and never be late to such important events again. I believe that I will be able to show you that I am a capable candidate regardless of my mistake.

Regards,

*Name*

How To Apologize For Missing An Interview Over A Call

Similarly, if you have scheduled a call with the interviewer to discuss your missed interview, you could follow a few tips. It is best, however, to message before you call the employer as they may be busy with something else. 

Let us say that you missed an interview because of being stuck in a traffic jam for hours. Then, here is how you could convey your apology to the employer on a phone call with them later on:

“Good Morning Sir/Ma’am, I am so sorry for missing my interview with your firm at 10:00 AM. I left well ahead of time but got caught in traffic congestion on the freeway. I am still in the traffic and it doesn’t seem to be clearing out anytime soon.”

Now, the employer may say that you have shown unprofessional behavior and may be displeased. Then you can add more to your apology to the employer:

“I agree that my behavior is not justifiable and it is unprofessional of me to miss such an important interview. I understand the importance of time and yet failed to remain punctual. I promise you that this is the last time you would see such delays and I won’t let them happen again.”

Now, your employer might understand your circumstances and ask you what you want to do further. You can respond by asking them if you can reschedule the interview to some other time:

“I would like to ask you if I could give the interview at some other time that is convenient for you. If you would let me know a date and time, I can tell you if I can make it on that day for the interview. I am very thankful that you understand my situation and I assure you that you won’t be disappointed in my performance.”

Conclusion 

There might be many reasons why one could miss their interview, and it could happen to you too. In presence of such inevitable circumstances, your best bet is to apologize to your employer and try to reschedule the interview.

Apologizing will help you mend the damage and reason with your interviewer. You could do so through an email or even with a phone call to the employer. You can use our tips to apologize to the employer and try afresh with a new interview.

Frequently Asked Questions
  1. What should I do if I accidentally miss my interview?

If you accidentally miss your interview due to some reason, the first step would be to apologize to the employer. You must begin by apologizing and then talk to the employer about rescheduling the interview.

  1. Is it better to write an email or call after you’ve missed your interview?

You could opt for either an email or a call if you miss an interview. But the better option would be an email since the employer might not be able to take your call at any point in time.

  1. Will I still get the job if I missed the interview?

Yes, you can still give another interview at a different date and time by apologizing and talking to the employer. You could explain your reasons and the employer would most probably understand.

How To Apologize For Missing An Interview Email/Call?

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