Should one go to a job interview when ill? (anybody who does hiring should answer this)?

Question

Please serious answers only and please read entirety of details before answering question.


This is a curiosity question. I'm wondering if it's wise to go to a job interview when one is sick. Would it favor the person if he/she went to a job interview depending on how he/she is sick? Or would it be a strike against a person if he/she went to a job interview when sick?


Here's a hypothetical situation: Let's say, a person can barely talk and he/she is coughing uncontrollably, has a terrible sore throat, and having a hard time swallowing. He/She doesn't have a fever, but he/she feels terrible and has no energy. No matter how this person feels, the interviewer is going to tell by looking at the interviewee that he/she doesn't feel good.


Now, please answer my questions and apply it to the above situation.

Answer 1

NO. Nice question though.

I can't believe the number of times someone has come to an interview sick. All I can think through out the interview process is "How fast can I get this guy out of here?"

Remember that the interview process is to show you at YOUR BEST. If you're sick, you're obviously not 'At Your Best'. And, as above, the interviewer's ability to judge you is clouded by thier own feelings of both danger and comfort.

Call and ask to reschedule.

Answer 2

That's a tough question. If you 'call in sick' for the interview you won't get the job but if you go to it and you're obviously sick you may not get it either. I would suggest that the person do everything possible to rid themselves of the symptoms, i.e., cough medicine to calm the cough and ibuprofen to lessen the sore throat, and go to the interview. You can fake your way through a 15 minute interview and then go home to bed.

I had a circumstance where I was going to an interview for the 'perfect' job. On the way my car broke down (the accelerator spring broke) on a nearly deserted road (and unfortunately well before mobile phones). When I finally got to a phone to call the interviewer they basically said 'thanks but no thanks'. I was crushed.

Answer 3

As an employer I personally would not want you to attend the interview. First of all it would be very disruptive to the interview if you were coughing uncontrollably and you were having a hard time answering questions, etc. Also you would be spreading germs and possibly make your interviewer ill.

It is wise to call the employer and explain your illness and ask if you could reschedule for a different time.

Answer 4

GIven the situation yousaid, it would be best to resechedule the interview. The applicant wouldn't be able to answer questions properly anyway, and it might even be to his detriment - the interviewer will have the impression that he's not healthy enough to work. Plus, exerting effort (such as stressing himself further by going to an interview when sick), will definitely worsen the illness.

Answer 5

Definitely no because in an interview u r going to be in contact with the interviewer for about 40-50 min..In that short period u should be able to prove urself.When u r ill u cannot concentrate on all the areas of that interview..Therefore it is better to avoid it and take rest ..
ALL THE BEST

Answer 6

I think this all depends.

If you are as ill as above then I would not expect you to be able to express yourself to the best of your ability. Your choice to attend the interview may actually work against you.
On the other hand if you don;t attend would you get another chance ? (Employers should consider this)

When interviewing I would certainly offer a person who is ill every opportunity to answer the questions and take into account that they are ill in a similar way that I would take into account nervouseness.

Good luck , it sounds like you need it !

Answer 7

As someone who does interviews I would not want you to attend. I however would suggest that you get dressed properly and go to the office of the person to interview. Explain to them that you didn't want to make a bad impression by "calling in" for the interview but that you are ill. If they insist that you interview then you should. Most people would insist that you re-schedule.

Answer 8

if you got a shot at a job interview and you are out work long enough and got mounting debt and your rent is 6 months behind and your car is faling apart and the electric company comes knocking at your door-- sick or not fake it and-- do your best-- anything beats unemployment-- checks--