I have a cold and a job interview for a customer service position.. How bad does it look?

Question

I have a cold, and therefore a very hoarse voice. It's for an over the phone customer service position. I'm going to take halls to suck on and try not to make that smacking noise, but I don't know if anything else will help the fact that this isn't my voice right now and I think it will effect my ability to get the job. It shows that when I'm sick I'll still show up, but I don't know if that's a good or bad thing. Help! I need someone else's opinion. Wish me luck! Thank you

Answer 1

The advice given by many is good - that is, openly acknowledge your illness, but don't focus on it. Apologize to everyone you meet as soon as you meet them that you have caught a cold. Then that's it - don't discuss it again unless your interviewer pushes you on this.

Keep your hands clean because people will want to shake your hand. Keep tissues handy. Take as many non-drowsy decongestants as possible to keep your head and sinuses clear. Suck on Sucrets or other lozenges that don't give off a strong odor, but will keep your throat moist. Take aspirin for fever/headaches or other pains.

I was once quite ill when I interviewed. Another time, my flight arrived in at 3 a.m. when I had an 8 a.m. interview! Both times, I apologized and in both cases I was offered the job. In other words, it's really how you present yourself. If you show you excel even when ill or outright exhausted, that will impress your interviewers. The main goal is to not focus on how ill you are, but on the task at hand which is the job. If you are prepared for the interview, you will do fine, even if you are ill.

Good luck!

Answer 2

It's acceptable to cancel an interview due to illness (the interviewer may thank you for not getting her ill as well!)

If you must go, explain that you are getting over a bold and you're a bit hoarse. Chloraseptic may help, or swallowing a tablespoon of olive oil with honey (old singer's trick but tastes REALLY icky...should get you through an interview though.)

Good luck!

Answer 3

Just go in there and tell them at the moment you have a cold.
They must have already heard your voice when you did not have a cold. if you already have an interview don't worry about it, we all get colds. I think how you react to your cold will say much more to them. Such as, if you keep mentioning it, they will think you will do that on the phone...

Answer 4

Actually it is kinda good. Just don't sneeze and cough constantly and don't say I have a cold" Don't ever aknowledge it. She will notice or he - whoever. It shows that you will go to work if you are sick and you won't be a whiner while you are there. They like that .

Answer 5

Tell them when you show up that you have a cold and tell them that is why you don't want to shake hands (only if they reach out). Just keep it as descret as you can.


Good Luck!