Is it bad to show up to an interview sick?

[edgardo]

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I need some advice. I've got 3 interviews lined up next monday, tuesday, and wednesday, but i've got this evil cough that's been killing me for about a week and a half. I didnt think it would last this long, but now facing a flight to ny (i'm from cali) and no sign of my cough giving way, is it a bad idea to go ahead with the interviews? I feel like its too late to reschedule, butI dont want to make a bad impression by hacking all over the admissions office.

What do you all think? Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[VPDcurt]

I need some advice. I've got 3 interviews lined up next monday, tuesday, and wednesday, but i've got this evil cough that's been killing me for about a week and a half. I didnt think it would last this long, but now facing a flight to ny (i'm from cali) and no sign of my cough giving way, is it a bad idea to go ahead with the interviews? I feel like its too late to reschedule, butI dont want to make a bad impression by hacking all over the admissions office.

What do you all think? Thanks in advance for the advice!

if it's just a cold, it'll be much better by next weekend. also, you don't really have many options and i doubt they adcoms are going to frown upon you for being sick.

 

[monopolova]

Have kleenex with you so you don't end up being an infectious hazard. If you try not to wipe snot on your sleeve or cough in their faces (i.e. be as modest and polite about it as you can) I don't think it'll be a problem. 👍

 

[MEG@COOL]

Wear a surgical mask.

 

[monopolova]

Wear a surgical mask.

I hadn't even thought of that. 😀

 

[VeganSoprano]

I would also recommend a serious cough drop, one with an anesthetic to numb your throat.

A doctor might be able to prescribe some heavy duty cough supressants, but a lot of them have side effects that might be a real hindrance for an interview (e.g. drowsiness and a general sense of mental fog). Personally, I'd rather be coughing and alert.

 

[b-real]

Also, you should carry some hand sanitizer, so that you can shake your interviewer's hand without having to do the whole "I'd shake your hand, but..." thing.

 

[SitraAchra]

if your interviewer is an MD, just ask for a perscription

 

[leechy]

As long as you don't retch on your interviewer, I don't foresee any problems.

Seriously though, if you're sick enough to feel incapacitated, then maybe try to reschedule. But it seems that you've managed to schedule many interviews straight in a row, which is really fortuitous (especially coming from Cali), so I wouldn't reschedule unless I felt there was no other way. If it's a cold, hopefully you'll recover somewhat by interview time.