Can I still get the job?

October 6, 2008 10:24 AM

How does this phone-interview fiasco effect my chances at getting a job?

I was scheduled to have a phone interview this morning for a very competitive position. The interview was scheduled for 8 AM. I was ready and waiting at 8. The call never came - at 8:30, I received an email saying that the recruiter was attempting to reach me but that my phone seemed to be going straight to voicemail. We rescheduled for tomorrow.

I am probably irrationally upset about this, but I really want the job and am worried that this will effect my chances of getting it (especially since the multitudes of other applicants probably had functional phones). Any advice on how to handle the situation when I speak with him tomorrow? Also, will this effect my chances or am I being irrational? I understand that "this stuff happens," but I feel like I've already made a bad first impression, unwittingly.

posted by brynna to work & money (13 comments total)

If they were willing to reschedule, then you shouldn't worry too much. Perhaps you can ask for the interviewer's number just in case your phone is having the same problem tomorrow. That way, if you don't get a call within 15 minutes of the scheduled interview time, you can phone them.
posted by kitty teeth at 10:33 AM on October 6, 2008

Why was your telephone number going directly to voice mail? What have you done to ensure that won't happen again tomorrow? That's what I'd be working on now, rather than worrying about the impression they received this morning.
posted by alms at 10:37 AM on October 6, 2008

I wouldn't worry too much, if for no other reason than the very practical one that there is nothing you can do about it now. These things, as you say, happen, and the fact that your 8:30 e-mail was to reschedule and not "thank you for your interest; however" should give you scope for cautious optimism.

Make sure your phone is working properly, checking with your carrier if need be, and at 8:00 am tomorrow off a brief apology for the inconvenience today. Both parties should be able to laugh it off and move on.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:38 AM on October 6, 2008

Thank them for rescheduling, apologize in a general non mea culpa sense ("I'm sorry for the phone problems yesterday; glad that's straightened out now; I've been looking forward to speaking with you about this opportunity..."), and carry on from there.
posted by Drastic at 10:39 AM on October 6, 2008

You'll be fine, but you need to make sure that tomorrow you're reachable, no matter what. Do you have an alternate phone number? If so, make sure the interviewers know what it is.

Stuff happens, companies realize this - but if stuff happens more than once, they'll look elsewhere. Tomorrow morning, as soon as the recruiter calls, just offer a simple "Hey, I'm sorry about the mixup yesterday" and move on.

Good luck!
posted by pdb at 10:39 AM on October 6, 2008

I suppose it might affect things if they think that you blew off the call and were gabbing with a friend at the time. But, these things do happen...if I was interviewing you, I'd be more inclined to be sympathetic because my cell phone does this all the time and it drive me nuts.

All you can really do is apologize and indicate (briefly) that there was some kind of outage at the time which meant the calls weren't getting through. Don't dwell on it though.

Also, you might email or call today and ask if you can call him tomorrow instead, to prevent the same thing from happening.
posted by cabingirl at 10:40 AM on October 6, 2008

100% do not sweat. I'd follow up on pdb and give them an alternate number, but besides that, don't worry.
posted by history is a weapon at 10:45 AM on October 6, 2008

Relax. Logistical glitches like this are very common and I seriously doubt that it will affect their evaluation of you. And in my experience modern technology (voice mail, cell phones, computers, email, blah, blah, blah) is flaky and complicated enough that most non-tech-gurus who deal with it are bitter and disillusioned and generally resigned to it failing at the drop of a hat. To the point that they don't look for or expect an explanation, or look to assign blame or responsibility. So apologize, but not profusely, and don't volunteer an explanation (like one that involves you screwing up :).
posted by madmethods at 10:50 AM on October 6, 2008

Do you know why the call went straight to vm? Are you (reasonably) sure it won't happen again?

I would advise against offering a 2nd number for them to call, and go with kitty teeth's suggestion- ask for a # you can call "in the off-chance something comes up". You're showing initiative and problem-solving without giving them the idea that your phone line (and, by extension, you) is unreliable. If you're giving a 2nd phone number, why shouldn't they be calling that one in the first place?
posted by mkultra at 10:58 AM on October 6, 2008

Go outside now and call your phone from somewhere and see if you get VM.

If not, great, you're good to go for next time.

As for your interview. DON'T WORRY. This kind of stuff can happen to anyone, and it could even be the recruiter's fault.
posted by troy at 11:08 AM on October 6, 2008

It's a recruiter, believe me they'll call back. They get paid by providing (somewhat qualified) bodies to be interviewed.
posted by Gungho at 11:46 AM on October 6, 2008

(I believe he's referring to an in-house recruiter)
posted by mkultra at 12:49 PM on October 6, 2008

my cell phone does this all the time

An interview, especially for a job you really want, is no time to find out whether your carrier is having a good network day. It is convenient to have your cell number on your resume, since you might indeed want to take a call from a recruiter while you're out and about, but forward the cell phone to your land line for the interview. And use a headset.
posted by kindall at 5:00 PM on October 6, 2008