​Interview Excuses – We’ve heard them all (well, most of them)

This is a topic every recruiter knows all too well. You have prepped the candidate, confirmed the time, the client is ready and waiting - and then.........

Nothing! Silence - (or a brief text message five minutes before start time).

But sometimes we do get a call before or after the event, offering "the excuse"

As recruiters, we develop a "sixth sense" for distinguishing between a genuine emergency and a fabricated excuse designed to mask cold feet or a lack of interest.

Here is a short breakdown of the common excuses candidates use to avoid attending interviews, ranging from the plausible to the highly suspicious plus a short list of the “best” excuses we’ve had:

1. The "Classic Emergencies"

These are the most common because they are personal, urgent, and professional etiquette dictates that a recruiter cannot probe too deeply into them. While often genuine, they are also the easiest "get out of jail free" cards for a candidate having doubts.

• Sudden Illness: "I’ve woken up with a terrible migraine / stomach bug / fever / missing limb, and can’t possibly perform at my best today." (Often used because it’s a 24-hour issue that doesn't require a doctor's note).

• The Vague "Family Emergency A catch-all phrase that shuts down further questioning. It could mean anything from a serious hospital admission to someone needing a lift to the shops, but a recruiter has to accept it at face value.

• Pet Emergencies: "My dog ate something toxic and I have to rush to the vet."

2. The "Current Employer" Sabotage

These excuses shift the blame onto the candidate's current workplace, making the candidate seem like a dedicated victim of circumstance rather than someone dodging an appointment.

• The Last-Minute Meeting: "My boss has just pulled me into a meeting that I cannot get out of."

• Deadline Pressure: "A major project has just landed on my desk and I can't leave the office today."

• Leave Revoked: "I booked this time off as a dentist appointment, but my manager has cancelled all leave due to staff shortages."

3. The Logistical & Technical Gremlins

In the age of hybrid interviewing, these excuses have split into two distinct categories:

In-Person Logistics:

• Transport Chaos: "The trains are all cancelled," or "There’s a major accident on the M25 and I’m at a standstill." (Easily verifiable by the recruiter, so risky for the candidate if untrue).

• Car Trouble: Flat battery, flat tyre, or breakdown on the way there.

• Got Lost: "I can't find the building/parking." (Usually leads to being very late rather than a total no-show).

Virtual Logistics (The modern favourite):

• Total Tech Failure: "My internet has gone down completely in my area."

• Hardware Issues: "My laptop decided to do a mandatory Windows update five minutes ago and it's stuck on 10%."

• Platform Problems: "Teams / Zoom just won't connect; the link isn't working for me."

4. The "Honest" (but infuriating) Last-Minute Dropouts

Sometimes, candidates don't offer an excuse, but rather a late realisation. While preferable to ghosting, these still frustrate clients who have set time aside.

• The Sudden Counter-Offer: "I handed in my notice this morning and they have offered me everything I wanted and more, to stay."

• Accepted Elsewhere: "I accepted another offer an hour last night so I won't be attending."

• Cold Feet/Change of Heart: "I've looked at the job spec again and I don't think it's right for me, so I don't want to waste their time."

The Recruiter's Reality Check

What candidates often forget is that recruiters speak to each other. If a candidate uses "the train broke down" excuse on a bright sunny day when all services are running perfectly, we know.

When these excuses happen once, we give the benefit of the doubt. When they happen repeatedly with the same candidate, it’s a clear indicator of flakiness, lack of genuine motivation, or poor organizational skills - all of which are red flags for employers.

What most candidates don’t realise, is that companies keep details of the candidates they have expressed interest in and will remember the candidate who failed to turn up you an interview.

Our Personal Favourite excuses:

Sometimes, a candidate transcends the ordinary. Sometimes, they offer an excuse so elaborate, so catastrophic, or just so downright bizarre, that you have to put the phone on mute to laugh.

These are the top four genuine excuses received by our team, inducted into our “Hall of Fame”:

1. The Looney Tunes Moment

The Excuse:"I couldn’t make it because a chest of drawers was thrown out of the flat above and hit me on the head: I’ve been in hospital all week."

The Recruiter’s Reaction: Firstly, we really hope they are okay. Secondly, what kind of aggressive feng shui is happening on the floor above? It brings a whole new meaning to "dropping in" for an interview. Extra points for dramatic flair, certainly!

2. The Spontaneous Combustion

The Excuse:"I’m so sorry I missed the interview; my conservatory exploded."

The Recruiter’s Reaction: Exploded? How? Was it built entirely of dynamite and glass? Was there a tragic gardening incident involving petrol? We have so many questions that will never be answered. It’s a bold move to claim your house partially detonated just to avoid a Zoom call with a Hiring Manager.

3. The Hollywood Stuntman

The Excuse:"My mum fell down 12 flights of stairs."

The Recruiter’s Reaction: Not just down the stairs - Down twelve flights of stairs. That’s not a stumble; that’s the climax of an action movie. Again, if true, it’s horrific. But the sheer scale of the geography involved makes us stroke our chins thoughtfully. Is his mum a professional stair-faller? Did she start at the top of a skyscraper?

4. The "Minor Detail" Oversight

The Excuse: “I’ve just realised I’m due in court today."

The Recruiter’s Reaction: You "forgot"? Like forgetting to buy milk, or forgetting to water the plants? Most people find an impending court appearance tends to stay at the forefront of their mind. We suspect this candidate might have bigger problems than finding a new job right now.

​

Life…

We know life happens. Genuine emergencies occur, people get sick, long lost uncles die suddenly, and sometimes conservatories (presumably) explode.

But here is a trade secret from your friendly neighbourhood headhunters: we talk to each other. And we have a sixth sense for when someone is just having cold feet.

If you don't want the job, or you're too terrified to turn up, just tell us. We promise, a 30-second awkward conversation is infinitely better for your professional reputation than concocting an elaborate scenario involving flying furniture.

Honesty is the best policy. Unless your conservatory really did explode, in which case, please send pictures.

If you have ever heard a great excuse for not turning up to an interview or not starting a new job – Please let us know. We'd love to hear it!

Call the Property Recruitment Team at Worth Recruiting on 01372 238300 or pop us an email: toptalent@worthrecruiting.me