Reschedule Job Interview Examples (Illness, Emergency, More) for 2022

Having to reschedule a job interview can feel like a scary task. You feel like it could risk your employment opportunity. But as a candidate, you should know, employers often see rescheduling of interviews, and as long as you write a friendly, informative email, your employer will understand and embrace your reschedule.

Below are example emails that you can send when having to reschedule your job interview. It’s important to keep your message professional, sincere, positive, and apologetic for the need to reschedule.

Due to Work Example

Email subject: Needing to reschedule

Natalie Morgan, Director of HR at CareerPlug gave her advice on rescheduling, "One, don't stress. Rescheduling happens. It happens on a company's end, and it will happen on a candidate's end too. It's part of the process, and unless you're rescheduling multiple times or for multiple interviews, it's not going to raise any red flags for most hiring managers. Two, keep it simple. Acknowledge the inconvenience, propose a few other options for the interview, and restate your excitement to speak with them. Avoid being overly apologetic or giving drawn out excuses, move to the action: rescheduling the interview."

Due to Travel Example

Email subject: Needing to reschedule

Due to Sickness or Illness Example

Email subject: Feeling ill, need to reschedule

Due to Family Emergency Example

Email subject: Family emergency - need to reschedule

Rescheduling Last Minute Example

Email subject: Emergency reschedule

William Taylor, Career Development Manager at VelvetJobs tells us, "Explain your reason for not attending the interview but ensure that your reason is genuine. This will increase the chances of the recruiter rescheduling the interview, willingly."

Rescheduling a Candidate Example

Please notice, while the email examples above are a job seeker rescheduling on the company or hiring manager. The below email example is the opposite, where a recruiter or hiring manager is rescheduling on the candidate.

Email subject: Rescheduling your upcoming interview with [Company]

Biron Clark of careersidekick.com gives us a tip for hiring managers looking to reschedule a candidate interview, " If you're unsure of a timeframe for when interviews can resume, don't provide one. Broken promises and missed deadlines are a leading cause of job seeker frustration, so you're better off telling candidates that you're unsure when the process will resume, but that you'll keep them informed and notify them as soon as there's a change."

Tips When Rescheduling

• Always suggest an alternative date: Whenever possible, recommend a few days that might be available for you. This shows that you’re willing and ready to get into the interview session after the reschedule.
• Always say you’re sorry: Being apologetic and empathetic to the fact that you might be inconveniencing the team is going to go a long way. It still may not change the way your interviewer feels about you rescheduling, but it certainly may help.
• If they don’t respond by email, call: If your interviewer isn’t responding to your emails about rescheduling, be sure to give them a call and let them know. Especially if it’s a last-minute reschedule that needs to occur. This shows you are truly passionate about joining the company but sincerely needed to reschedule. Versus those who reschedule interviews because they aren’t certain about the job.

Similar resources

• How to Accept an Internship Offer
• Job Offer Thank You Letter
• Reschedule Job Interview Examples
• How to Tell a Potential Employer You Have Another Offer
• How Long After an Interview is a Job Offer Made
• How to Decline a Job Offer After Accepting
• How to Turn Down a Job Offer