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.

If I was under pressure to make a hiring decision quickly, if it had taken weeks to put together the suitably diverse and senior interview panel and book everyone’s time, and if the candidates I did interview on the day were strong then I’d probably take a first past the post view and move forward.

It’s just life and rescheduling one more interview with the same panel could put the recruitment back weeks, plus other potential adverse effects (eg losing preferred candidate to another job offer).

But I would encourage the candidate who couldn’t make their interview that time to reapply to other positions in future.