To despair and take these candidates off the list?

[SuiGeneris]

We are hiring a maternity cover for our nanny. The job may well become permanent as she is thinking of taking a longer break.
We started interviewing last Saturday, first interview was due at 8.45, candidate lives locally (20-30 minute walk). She bailed out at 8.20, saying she had read her emails and was no longer interested in the role.
Last night, candidate due for 20.30 had still not arrived nor made contact at 21. I called her, was apologetic and prompt in returning my calls (had connection problems). Said she'd never received details so had not come. Obviously possible, so arranged early morning interview today. She bailed out in the middle of the night by text, explaining she has been unwell overnight. Now, might have been unlucky, but then again I don't feel very well, have been awake since 3.30 am and not even considering not turning up for work tomorrow (about half am hour later than our agreed interview time).

Punctuality, reliability and resilience are essential qualifications for the role. We have no family nearby and cannot afford a nanny who might be late, lack initiative or take sick leave other than when really unavoidable. The role is well-remunerated to reflect this, entirely above ground, etc. AIBU to consider striking this second no-show off the list or shall I give her another opportunity?

YAnbu ....keep looking.

They could have shown more initiative and better communication skills at least.

YANBU.

I wouldn't bother interviewing someone who was already behaving like this. It could be absolutely genuine, but...if I really wanted a job, I'd drag myself to the interview sick and apologise profusely for looking like shit. I wouldn't bail at a few hours' notice.

It doesn't indicate an impressive work ethic, tbh.

If they're going to be like this in the interview where they should be putting on their best behavior to impress you, how do you think they'll be with your kids when they relax a bit.

YANBU. At all.

Flaky at interview stage is a definite no. I work in recruitment and it amazes me how many candidates show their true colours early on.

I think you are being unfair on second one if she could have not got the details as she said then was unwell.

Some things you can't just "man up" and get over, for example I was throwing up yesterday.

Being unwell overnight does sound like vomiting bug

Why would you think you were being unreasonable? Obviously they are unsuitable. Your selection process is working by weeding out unreliable people. Keep going.

I think you shoul try again with the second one. If you meet her and she's rubbish then you've lost nothing. If she doesn't show again then forget it.

When I started the job I am at now I was ill on my first week & they must have thought I wouldn't be reliable (I did go to the interview though!)

Sympathy for a vomiting bug...however I think it's coincidental or she has very bad luck to let you down twice. If it was me I'd wait until the morning before informing prospective employer just in case I recovered. I'd also go out of my way to make my contact positive, as communicative as possible and ensure they knew I wanted that job. A text? Nope.

I would personally keep looking

For the second I wonder if I text was reasonable. Interview was at 7.45 and she knew I had an hour's travel to get there. She must have correctly guessed I would be getting up around 5.45 and texted at 3am.

In a corporate context I would still turn up for an interview, just catch a taxi to the location and apologise profusely, but I am 15 years older than her and can afford taxis when I need them. She might not.

On the other hand, I wonder whether this has just shown me she can be unrealisable. And actually, wasting an interview slot is quite important atm because I have some other candidates on the go and cannot stretch out the interview process unduly without risking losing them (though they are not perfect, or I would not still be interviewing).

Still not sure what to do about the second one though...

I would meet her and see what your gut feeling is.

Well the second one might be worth a try.

First one obviously not as she isn't interested!