How would you view a candidate who has to reschedule an interview due to illness?

[SaltandPepper22]

Just that really - DH and I have been debating it.

Would you show compassion and think these things happen, treat them the same as as the other candidates and still consider them a potential option, or would you hold a bias against them and expect them to blow you away to get the job, or not want to hire them in case they are unreliable when actually hired.

Not a situation that directly affects either of us, but inspired by a conversation I overheard at work today.

Oh...I thought it was in person! Yes I don't blame you then. My experience of vivas is only in person.

Yeh, I had horrendous brain fog too. Was definitely the most ill I've ever felt. Slept for about 14 hours straight immediately after the viva as it took so much out of me. Could barely sit up in my computet chair. But I knew my stuff and pulled myself together temporarily just enough to pass it. Wasn't easy, but like I said, I wasn't going to miss that for anything.

Haha, to be fair, I didn't make that clear. No, I'd never have subjected anyone to covid, even for my viva - that would have been really selfish.

Well, we know that now…. 🤷🏻‍♀️

For those who have said I'm being harsh it's the NHS I work for. Turning up reliably is right up there with the most important things. Being sick frequently is incompatible with the jobs I am interviewing for. I would choose someone who was less brilliant but reliable over someone I suspect will cause me hassle having to cover their shifts constantly.

I was trained that you do not let the side down, you suck it up and work through and I am looking for people who have a similar attitude. If they are genuinely sick and in HDU or whatever it's unfortunate for them. There are lots of applications for jobs I interview for and they come up often. It's a case of better luck next time.

I once attended a job interview at 40 weeks pregnant with Braxton Hicks contractions all through. I gave birth the day after and I did get the job. Had I not been able to attend as I was in labour that would have been my tough shit and I'd have had to attend the next round.

Well your brain fog was of a different variety to mine. I couldn’t have “pulled myself out it” by sheer willpower. I couldn’t do my highly technical job that I knew inside and out, I could barely string a sentence together. There’s no way I could have done a viva however well I knew my stuff.

I had to cancel an interview for my current job as I needed to go in for an operation.

Maybe luckily for me they never managed to hire for the position and when I spotted the advert again asked if they where still interested in me. They where and I got the job. Still there 8 years later so it must have meant to be.

I had to reschedule an interview that I had last week (due to an asthma attack). I didn’t get the job, and now I feel awful after reading some of these comments 😓

In principle I'd consider re-scheduling if possible but realistically if I had a stand out candidate on the day whose CV was also outstanding I'd probably go with them. But most of the time I'd want to see the whole field - particularly for a niche role.

You're all heart @ThePure. Hope that you don’t deal with patients.

I wouldn’t want someone working for me who was happy to turn up for an interview in person with norovirus

Sorry to disappoint but yes I 'deal with' patients every day. The fact that I put my patients needs first is actually why I need reliable resilient staff.

@ThePure so would you be happy if staff came in with something like norovirus?

I’d be glad not to work for you then.

I have had this scenario when interviewing.
I did have every intention of allowing them to re book for a weeks time but in the meantime I had 3 excellent candidates from the 1st round of interviews so actually didn't. It was a matter of time really rather than being pissed off they cancelled or anything.

Being ill and having to reschedule an interview doesn’t mean you are not resilient. I once did an interview (zoom) when ill because I was worried about exactly this attitude. I didn’t perform well at all and could hardly string a sentence together as I had fever. I missed out on the job, but equally the company missed out on me. I am not sick a lot. I think this was the first time I had been ill for 10 years….

I've rescheduled for 'just a cold'
If it was on teams I would have probably battled through, but as it was face to face didn't think I would present my best self sneezing and spluttering with snot running down my face....! plus I think having a bad cold can give you a bit of an icky smell.
Got the job.

Obviously not because that's going to spread and cause more illness but for a bit of a cold come in and wear a mask. Anyway the thread is about an interview and I answered honestly that I would not reschedule for illness.

I can well imagine people would be judgemental about it, so that's what I'd expect. Makes me think of Alan Johnson from Peep Show, "This is bollocks, Mark! You know the credo: illness equals weakness. You're off the team!"

He's a caricature of a manager, but people really do think like that.

I’d want someone to bring their best self to an interview and if they were so ill that they couldn’t do that, I’d be happy they were able to speak up about that.

I once re-scheduled an interview because it would have conflicted with my dd’s first nativity play. The interview panel was happy to move the interview (it ended up being moved til January as it was the 20th of December and then everyone was off for several weeks for the Christmas period). They delayed the decision for about a month and I was offered the position. It set a precedent for what a flexible family friendly employer they were.

@SaltandPepper22 If it was severe vomiting from Norovirus- that’s just very bad luck.

Was about to leave for a much looked forward to horse event and began vomiting an hour before I was to leave.

I was fit for nothing but bed and bathroom for 48 hrs.

But I understand why you are concerned.

How on earth is illness down to a lack of resilience?

I doubt they could even talk when suffering acute Norovirus . Even phoning is bad enough.
It’s probably one of the nastiest “bugs” as hits so fast and hard.

I had to walk around with a bucket 🪣 just to let dog out.
The smell of her ( nice) food set me off as well.

Had my rescheduled interview today and the panel’s first question was if I was feeling better 😅 “these things happen”, I think they said.
I apologised profusely, interviewed as well as I could have done (still not on top of my game but gave my all) and although I know it could’ve been better, I’m still thinking it went alright 😄

(Just to add: I would have completely understood if they didn’t reschedule. I know they have deadlines and I might not have fitted in that and that’s fine, there’s always next time. But I am grateful they did see me because I quite like the job description 😁)

Actual illness is not a lack of resilience
Being off sick frequently and not showing up for important things might be
I don't know if someone is genuinely ill or they aren't but if I have a lot of other suitable candidates why take the risk?

You can think I am harsh but I speak from bitter experience of employing flaky people who are frequently off sick with poor excuses and make life very hard for colleagues who have to pick up the pieces. An acute hospital ward will fall over if we have too much sickness there is no slack in the system to carry someone.