I was late to my interview. Should I send a thank you email?

Question

Hello everyone,

I had a very early interview this morning. Unfortunately, my alarm did not ring. I got late by 3 minutes to my interview and apologised. The interviewer said it was fine. The fit and the case went well.

I was thinking about sending him a thank you email for his understanding and to convey that I appreciate the extra time.

Is it a good idea? If yes, how should I approach it?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

Answer 1

Thank you emails are always a smart move! Don’t sweat it too much. If the conversation went well, you just have to hope your interviewer will show some grace.

Your note should hit the following topics:

Thank them for time and understanding
Highlight what stood out to you about the firm and person’s background
Reinforce your interest / fit

Answer 2

3 minutes is fine. Don't stress about it, it is a minor detail vs. the next hour you spent with the interviewer.
Sending a thank you email is never a bad idea but don't be too pushy or too needy. Keep it brief and simple
I would not mention/apologize again for being late on the thank you email. As I said, 3 min is fine, it is a detail so don't make it bigger than it is in the head of the interviewer.

Best

Answer 3

Hey there,

While not ideal, 3 minutes is no big deal, and should not matter at all.

Similarly, however, for most interview situations and firms, a thank-you note will not move the needle because the evaluation is based solely on the case and fit.

In a nutshell, feel free to send a thank-you note but don't expect it to make a difference. :-)

Fingers crossed!

Florian

Answer 4

Hi there,

No need to worry! A small delay like that is unlikely to impact their decision, especially if the rest of the interview went well.

Sending a thank-you email is always a great idea and a professional way. Having that said, the case is decisive for the final decision.

Best of luck,
Kairavee

Answer 5

Hi there,

Q: I was thinking about sending him a thank you email for his understanding and to convey that I appreciate the extra time. Is it a good idea? If yes, how should I approach it?

That’s totally fine. You can simply thank the interviewer for his time and reiterate your interest in the firm. I would not refer to the fact that you were late, as you already apologized during the interview and 3 minutes is not a huge delay.

Good luck!

Francesco

Answer 6

Yes, sending a thank-you email is a great idea. Keep it brief and genuine. Acknowledge the slight delay, thank them for their understanding, and reiterate your enthusiasm for the role.

Thanks

Ashwin