I have a nasty cold & a job interview tomorrow. What should I do?

Question

Should I go there looking not my very best, with a red nose and caughing? If I call to postpone the interview I might not get another chance and I want the job... What should I do?

Answer 1

You have to assess the severity of your cold, and try to assess the degree of distraction it will cause during the interview. There's also a pretty strong divide over illness in the work place. Some feel you ought to be on your death bed before you call out sick, while others believe you're only putting everyone else at risk by showing up. I see two options for your situation:

Call today and explain you have a cold. Explain that it is your intention to show up tomorrow, unless they prefer to reschedule. You're telling them you'll be there, unless they object. I would use this option if you feel your cold is so severe that they're likely to take one look at you and wish you'd had sense enough to reschedule.

Your other option, if your cold is not a show-stopper, is to take care of yourself today, put yourself together as best you can tomorrow, and show up. Upon meeting your interviewer, apologize for not being at your best, and explain you're having "a little trouble shaking the last of this cold." Downplay the severity, so your interviewer isn't now distracted and irritated at the possibility of getting your cold.

Good luck.

Answer 2

First of all, call HR or whoever scheduled the interview to confirm and thank them for the interview. DO NOT reschedule. Find some other cold or allergy meds to take. You need to look for very best and be very professional. Use this to your advantage, "At my previous employer or school, it was not uncommon for people to abuse sick/personal days, but I don't let a little sniffle bring me down," or you could use something very similar, be creative. Be confident and energetic. Know the company and the position you are interviewing for. This is your chance to make yourself stand out from the other candidates. At the end of the day make sure to send a thank you note by email to the person doing the interview and one by mail if possible. Good Luck

Answer 3

If you have the time and the money, eat breakfast and leave early.

Go to a local pool or spa and sit in the sauna for 15 minutes (preferably a steam sauna) and let it clear out your sinuses. Then you can finish with a steaming hot shower right before the interview.

It might mean carrying a larger than normal bag for your swim gear, but isn't one day's inconvenience worth a five year job?


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Answer 4

You could call in and let them know you've got a cold and wanted to make sure it was alright if you came in for the interview. That way you're making it known that the interview is important to you, but that you are polite enough to give them the option to reschedule if they're afraid of getting sick too.

Answer 5

Definitely call today and see if they want you to reschedule. Tell them you plan on coming unless they object. "Put the ball in their court", as my mother would say.

In the meantime, go to the drug store and get some zinc lozenges - Cold-Eeze brand has the most flavor varieties. Start sucking on them RIGHT NOW and take one every three hours until you feel better. I used to teach preschool, where you get every snotty, unwashed germ there is, and I swear by them.

When and if you go in tomorrow, take a good decongestant and some DayQuil, have some cough drops on hand, and be sure to wear extra makeup. I'm not telling you to look like a hooker, but when we are sick we tend to look pale and tired, and a little extra concealer and blush make a big difference.

Good luck!

Answer 6

try to avoid wiping your nose for an hour or so before the interview to remedy the nose. (blow it gently, but try not to rub it or anything.) a bit of cold on it a few minutes before you go in should help too. a soda can, perhaps. not icy, thatll give you a different sort of red nose. a hot, long shower beforehand should help with your sinuses. avoid perfumes, as those dont help the sinuses you just cleared. take a childrens dose of cold medicine (adult doses may make you not quite 100 per cent.) and suck on a nicely scented cough drop. put it in a few moments before you go in for the interview, as you dont want it to be too large to politely speak around. it might give you points, too, if you excuse yourself immediately for having something in your mouth, as you feel under the weather.
all in all, it wont be pleasant, but you can still appear polite and office-worthy.
good luck with your interview!

Answer 7

I have heard a doctor of medicine talking on the TV and he said he found that the best thing to do for a cold is to put just one garlic in each nostril of your nose and breath before u go out in the morning he said it was passed on to him by his grand mother and it always worked on people whenever there was the need .The next day,the TV presenter( who happened to be suffering from a cold the previous day) seemed to be OK since he said that in the morning he followed the garlic remedy and he was OK just try it and good luck

Answer 8

Take a daytime cold medicine and go to the interview. Apologize for being sick. Under no circumstances cancel the interview.

Answer 9

call the person you have an interview with asap. let them know that you're suffering from a cold. Say that you're not sure if you're still contagious or not and you'd be happy to come in if they'd like or if it's not too inconvenient, reschedule this for a few days later.

Good luck.

if it's a standard business/office job, then they'll probably appreciate that... I know every company I've worked for (aside from restaurants (yes, I know, scary, but reality)) would greatly appreciate that.

Answer 10

Go to the interview if at all possible. Apologize up front with the interviewer about your cold. They will think you are polite and and hard worker for showing up under those circumstances.