Job interview when sick

[flowerpot258]

I have an interview this afternoon but I am unwell. I'm not sure exactly what's wrong, just general cold and flu symptoms really.

I'm happy to still attend the interview. It's only about 20 mins long so I'd be in and out but I've never been sick for an interview before so I'm not really sure what to do.

Do I need to phone the interviewer and let them know? Will they mind if im sick? Is it unprofessional to show up when im not well? Do I wear a face mask and explain im a little under the weather when I arrive?

I would phone them and offer those suggestions or offer to do it online if it's that kind of job that has those facilities?

I'd contact them and explain the situation. They may be able to move to a zoom interview, rearrange or happy to go ahead at a distance. I wouldn't thank you for turning up to an interview and potentially passing on a cold/flu/covid whatever. How they respond is an indicator of what sort of employer they would be. Before you ring, ask yourself whether you are well enough to do yourself justice in the interview.

I went to the interview for my current job with severe earache/ear infection and I could barely hear a thing. I did apologise and spent most of the interview saying sorry could you say that again? I think they only gave it to me because they felt sorry for me, I'm not even sure I heard and answered the actual questions they asked!

Earache isn't as bad as cold/flu symptoms as not as infectious. If you have just a summer cold (stuffy nose, feeling a bit rough) and decongestants/paracetamol and a hankie will see you through I would go. If you are really bad coughing/sneezing etc calling and giving them the options to go ahead or not is probably a good idea.

Thanks everyone. I ended up calling them before the interview to advice that I was unwell. They said they appreciated me getting in touch. I attended the interview as normal. They will be in touch

I don’t understand why you called them yo say you were unwelll but then went anyway.

@Aprilx - I called to explain that I wasn't feeling 100%. I asked if they would rather conduct the interview by phone or video call. The interviewer asked if I felt well enough to attend. I said yes, as long as they didn't mind me going in a little under the weather.

It was really just to give them a heads up and ask if they'd rather postpone or do the interview some other way. I felt okay but was noticeably sick so I didn't want to just show up like that

It was the right thing to do @flowerpot258 . I'm immune suppressed and have been interviewing people recently I would definitely prefer them to have given me the the heads up if they were ill. It's a good courtesy.