Like many applicants, you might be expecting a job interview, but things don’t happen the way you want. Many tough circumstances might prevent you from coming to this appointment. Since such hinders happen, this article would offer you the professional etiquettes to turn down a job interview in many different situations. If you find this article interesting, share it with friends.

How to Decline an Interview in the Last Minute?

It’s interesting news when you get selected among thousands of applicants to meet your hiring managers. You got prepared. You left your house direction job interview. But suddenly, you find yourself unable to get there like you received an emergency call, or you felt sick, and you cannot step on your feet. Such incidents can happen and can force you to cancel everything immediately. If you are an employee and want to write a leave application letter, check this article for writing tips,

How to Write a Leave Application Letter?

In such cases, you should inform your employer that you’re not going to be there at the interview appointment. That’s why you need to make a phone call in which you apologize for this absence. After all, you have tried until the last minute if it is possible to try to postpone and reschedule this interview for another date.

How to Decline an Interview over the Phone?

As you can see, things cannot be under your control. If you face some obstacles, it’s better to use the fastest means to deliver the news of your non-coming. A phone call can be the best choice. Here are some tips to get a productive conversation with your employer.

1.         Call your Company:

An employer meets thousands of applicants and anticipates those who are going to answer his interview questions. However, in usual cases, employers don’t respond to phone calls and hire secretaries to react instead. Therefore, you have two options. Either you call the secretary and ask her to transfer your call directly to the employer. In case she did not let you call your employer directly, you can convey the message to her and ask her to deliver it to your employer. 

How to Inform Your Employer on the Phone?

It is a stressful situation here to tell someone who is waiting for you that you are not coming. But you need to rely on your communicative skills to earn a chance to reschedule your postponed interview. First, you need to introduce yourself and tell your employer that you are the candidate, who is supposed to come on a specific appointment (of course, you should mention the date of your appointment). Then you should apologize for your inability to happen today. After that, you need to explain briefly why and what were the reasons that prevented you from coming. Then, you should request another appointment, if possible. If your employer said “yes” to your request, thank him for being comprehensive and generous. If not, you should also thank your employer and apologize for this call.

 How to Decline a Second Interview?

It happens in many hiring procedures that once you complete an interview, you get invited to the second one. Usually, the second encounter would help employers to decide about selecting you. You can be genuinely interested in this position and preparing for your second encounter. But, things didn’t go the way you have planned, and you find yourself obliged to turn down the interview.

2.         Send an Email:

The solution can be by calling your employer to apologize for this incident and request a second appointment if possible or send an email.

Email Sample to Reschedule an Interview 

Subject: Your Name - Reschedule an Interview

Dear Mr/ Mrs your employer’s name,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the (mention the applied job position) interview questions at ( mention the company’s name). I apologize for not being able to attend the interview, which was scheduled for ( mention the day, month date) at ( mention the time). Due to an urgent case, I couldn’t come. I hope to get a second chance to apply for this job position. I ask for rescheduling this interview for another appointment. If possible, contact me.

Again, I apologize for not being available this time. Thank you for your consideration.

Best regards,

Your Name

How to Decline an Interview for a Lower Salary?

Sometimes when you apply to many job positions, you start comparing wages between each possible career. It happens that you get selected by many employers and invited to an interview. In such a situation, you would go for one invitation and turn down the other. You will choose the interview related to the high paid job. If this is the case, you will not inform the other employer that you had canceled his invitation due to salary reasons. This would sound rude and inappropriate. You can instead choose another reason that would not burn the bridges with that company. You can make a phone conversation to apologize for that interview or professionally send an email. The difference in this case, you will not request a rescheduled meeting because you have preferred another job offer. You can also read:

How to Choose Your Career Path?

How to Decide a Career?

Here is an email example for declining a job interview over another offer.

Subject: Your Name - Cancel Interview

Dear Mr/ Mrs your employer’s name,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the (mention the applied job position) interview questions at ( mention the company’s name). I apologize for not being able to attend the interview, which was scheduled for ( mention the day, month date) at ( mention the time). Due to an urgent case, I couldn’t come. I want to cancel this interview related to my previous application.

Again, I apologize for not being available at this appointment. Thank you for your invitation.

Best regards,

Your Name

How to Answer: What Do You Consider to Be Your Major Career Achievement?

These were the possible tips and reasons for which you are turning down a job interview. Don’t burn your bridges with the company by ignoring the appointment. Try to reflect a positive professional example, even if you have found a better opportunity elsewhere. If you find this article interesting, give it a thumbs up.