Sick when interviewing

Sick when interviewing

Anonymous (guest) 09 Jan 2013 14:47

I'm getting ready to head out for an interview and of course I've started to get sick and am feeling worse everyday as I'm at the beginning stages. Of course I'm not canceling or anything like that but I'm worried because I obviously won't be at my best. I'm not sleeping well because of the symptoms and am easily losing my voice because my throat is so sore. I was just wondering if anyone has words of wisdom on how to handle this? Is it appropriate to let people know, especially if I'm having voice problems? Though I don't want them to think I'm making excuses or giving TMI. Man, I wish I didn't have dinner the night I flew in before the interview. That would be time better spent trying to rest and recover in hopes I might feel better for the day of!

anon2 (guest) 09 Jan 2013 16:50

Sure, I would mention it. I wouldn't put it out there as an excuse, but I would say something like, "I'm battling a cold so please forgive me if my voice comes and goes."

Anonymous (guest) 09 Jan 2013 17:57

Thanks for the thoughts. Some of the thoughts I had. I'm just worried its moving towards the flu as its been going around my office and I know have a fever and am nauseous. :(

anon (guest) 09 Jan 2013 18:42

So sorry to hear this. I was sick at a couple of interviews and completely lost my voice at one of my job talks. It was no fun, but people were of course understanding about it. Definitely be upfront about it— it's better that they know you are sick than if they assume you are just non-energetic or unenthusiastic. You might carry around a small thing of Purell so you can sanitize a lot. Handshaking is tricky, because it feels very rude to turn down a handshake but is perhaps ruder to handshake if they know you are sick and could pass on germs. Perhaps making a show of using hand sanitizer could get around this.

If it's really the flu….gosh, I don't know what at what point it becomes appropriate to try to reschedule. These interviews are incredibly costly and time-consuming to coordinate, but it's in no one's interest to have an extremely sick candidate come— you won't be able to perform well, they won't get a good assessment of you, and they'll get exposed to your germs.