5 post-interview apology letter examples

Use a formal letter format when developing your apology letter. Include your full name and contact information on the top of your letter, just like on a resume, cover letter or another professional document. Then, write the date and the full name, title, company and address of the recipient. After you write the letter's body, remember to write your full name and signature at the bottom. Here are five examples of post-interview apology letters for different contexts:

1. A personal mistake

Sometimes, candidates may arrive late for an interview or miss it altogether because of personal mistakes. These could include forgetting about the meeting, oversleeping an alarm or leaving too late. It's important to prevent these occurrences from happening so you can express basic courtesy, professionalism and interest to the interviewer. If you make a mistake, sending an apology letter can be a good course of action. Your subject line could be Apology for Missed Interview.

Here's a sample apology letter for these kinds of situations:

Dear Ms. Jones,

Please accept my sincere apology for missing my interview with you this afternoon at 3:00 pm for the position of Marketing Intern. I'm mortified that I mixed up the dates and thought that our meeting was tomorrow. I'm extremely sorry for the inconvenience I may have caused you.

I want to assure you that this is completely out of character for me. This interview was very important to me, as I have a serious interest in this role and in your organization. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to schedule another interview if it's convenient for you. I can be reached at sallymunch@email.com or 555-555-5555.

Once again, my apologies. Thank you for your time.

Regards,

Sally Munch

2. Transportation issues

It's important to plan for any possible transportation delays and leave with plenty of time for the commute to an interview, especially if you're taking public transportation. This ensures that you can arrive at an interview early. If you were late to or missed an interview because of traffic, wrong turns or another common issue, this likely means it was necessary for you to leave earlier or practice the route beforehand. However, some transportation issues are unexpected and unavoidable, such as car trouble or car accidents.

Here's a sample apology letter for these kinds of situations:

Dear Mr. Smith,

I'm writing to apologize sincerely for missing my interview with you at 10:00 am this morning for the role of Business Analyst. I was involved in a car accident on the way to the meeting that left my car totaled. Everyone who was involved is okay. Regardless, I apologize for the inconvenience I may have caused you.

I was looking forward to this interview since we scheduled it, as I would be honored to work at your organization. If it's possible, I would appreciate the chance to reschedule our meeting. Please reach me at jacobstevenson@email.com or 555-555-5555.

Once again, my apologies for these unfortunate circumstances. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Jacob Stevenson

3. Technical issues

If you're participating in an interview with an online portal or platform, it's possible there could be technical issues with connection, video, audio or other elements of the meeting. Try to prepare for these kinds of occurrences by developing a backup plan. However, there still may be some unexpected issues that are challenging to solve. By communicating with your interviewer about the technical issue, you may be able to work together to find a solution.

Here's a sample apology letter for these kinds of situations:

Dear Mrs. Shay,

Please accept my sincere apology for being tardy to our 1:00 pm interview for the role of Assistant Fundraiser. It looks like the video platform we were going to use is experiencing technical difficulties. I am currently trying various troubleshooting methods to identify and solve the problem. I apologize for the inconvenience.

If I can't resolve these issues in time and if it's convenient for you, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to reschedule this interview. I was very thankful for the opportunity to tell you about my interest and qualifications for this role. We could try to use a different video conference platform with which I'm familiar. You can reach me at lenniethompson@email.com or 555-555-5555.

Once again, my apologies. Thank you for your time.

Best,

Lennie Thompson

4. A family emergency

Family emergencies are urgent matters that may require your attention right away. Upon explaining the situation to your interviewer, it's likely they can be understanding and empathetic to the circumstances. Their response may also show you an idea of their management style and allow you to make a more informed decision about whether you want the job.

Here's a sample apology letter for these kinds of situations:

Dear Mr. Moore,

Please accept my sincere apologies for missing our 11:00 am interview yesterday for the position of Editorial Assistant. I had an urgent family emergency to which I had to attend. We were able to resolve it and ensure that everyone is safe. I'm very sorry for the inconvenience I may have caused you.

I'm greatly interested in this position and the opportunity to work for your organization. If you're available, I would be very thankful for the opportunity to reschedule the interview. I can be reached at chelsearoth@email.com or 555-555-5555.

Once again, my apologies. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Chelsea Roth

5. A medical emergency

If you experience a medical emergency, it's important to address it immediately. As employers are responsible for caring about and supporting the health and well-being of team members, it's likely that your interviewer can be kind and patient about this situation. It's beneficial to take time to recover before attending an interview. This allows you to represent yourself in the best way possible.

Here's a sample apology letter for these kinds of situations:

Dear Ms. Carr,

I'm writing to apologize for missing my 2:00 pm interview with you for the role of Sales Manager. I experienced a medical emergency and had to go to the hospital. While I'm okay now, my doctor tells me I need at least a week to recover.

I was very excited about this interview and the opportunity to meet you and talk about the role. If it's possible, I would greatly appreciate the chance to reschedule for a later date after my recovery. If not, I hope you could keep me in consideration for future openings. My contact information is gregjackson@email.com or 555-555-5555.

Once again, my apologies for any inconvenience I may have caused. Thank you for your time.

Regards,

Greg Jackson