If you're sick do you ask to reschedule or suck it up?

Got an interview in a couple of days. I'm coughing up a storm, nose won't stop running, feel queasy most of the time, and I don't think I can bring my A game if my current condition persists.

15 Comments
 

You can definitely get better in a few days if you really try.

Also, if you get stuck on a technical, just start coughing up a storm, until you get the answer, haha.

 

Yeah, basically suck it up. Get plenty of rest, fluids and all that good stuff. Then ACETAMINOPHEN whatever shit you got left 2 hours before your interview and you'll be feeling... more than fine.

Banking.
 

Suck it up and try to rest up as much as possible before the interview. If you are still feeling terrible that day and sound sick, inform the interviewer that you're sick (don't bring it up too much, just once, so they know why you sound the way you do).

 
Best Response

Here's an answer from someone on the other side of the table: if in town, always show up and give the sick caveat (don't shake hands, explain you're sick, etc). With that, if you're on your deathbed and have to fly, always ask the following: (1) is anyone else from the group flying in for this interview (odds are someone senior usually is)? (2) is it a group interview or a bunch of one-on-ones? (3) if you had to reschedule, would the folks from #1 and the format from #2 remain?

Depending on the company/group and if you've got a bunch of people flying in to meet with candidates, the final decision is made right after the last interview so you really don't want to delay the process. As someone who's had to set up a few mini super-days, it goes a long way to have you there on the original interview day and people tend to cut you some slack if you're sick.

 

I had to sign compliance papers for an externship with a BB, and I came in the day after surgery. I was on painkillers and probably looked like hell (had cut my cheek pretty deep shaving that morning too).

I got a lot of credit from the associates I was working with. Not the same as an interview, but I hope that helps.

"Do not go gentle into that good night"
 

I know this is a somewhat old thread, but always, ALWAYS go in and suck it up. The only exception is some form of death. One of my best friends was killed in the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007 (I'm not a VT alumnus) and I had an interview that same day with a UVA and VT grad (business partners) in the District of Columbia. I called in and said I couldn't do it due to the situation at VT. They re-scheduled and things were fine. So death is the ONLY thing I would ever cancel an interview for--the market is way too competitive.

 

Adipisci aspernatur veniam tempora exercitationem nesciunt voluptatem praesentium eos. Et beatae nihil facere cumque. Laudantium voluptas fugit veritatis officiis. Nesciunt saepe sed aut non esse dolores a tempore. Animi qui numquam ipsum.

Quibusdam fuga qui doloremque rerum. Eos dolorem sit accusamus in nihil earum. Tempora molestias quo similique ab in et praesentium.

Dolores minima quis qui adipisci recusandae enim ex. Ullam molestiae doloribus placeat dolorem animi.

Provident nihil aut temporibus ea. Velit qui in qui et minus voluptate.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”