Being late for a job interview is forgivable, as long as you have a good reason for it!

We're on a hunt to find the best reasons. Whether they're freak occurrences, ridiculous journeys or just inventive excuses, we want to hear about why you were running late.

This question is now closed. See the responses below or take a look at the latest Question of the Week here.

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I’m not what you’d call a ‘morning person’ so my lateness record isn’t great. My boss is pretty cool and I usually stay after hours so it’s not much of an issue.

It was a big deal one day though when I had to be in at 9am on the dot for an important conference call with our head office in Helsinki.

It began with not be8ing able to find my keys, then when I did I was in such a rush to get to work I was pulled over by the police for speeding. Having gotten away with a warning I then hit traffic. Not just any traffic – the slowest traffic jam ever. I eventually got to work at 9:45 just as the call was finishing.

I found out afterwards that the call was about them needing some of our team to go and work in Finland for a month – it was first come first served so I missed out.

Not a happy bunny!
A, Chelmsford

Locking yourself out of your house isn’t funny. Locking yourself out of your house with just your dressing gown on in the poring rain is even less funny. Locking yourself out of your house with just your dressing gown on in the poring rain, when you have a job interview in less than an hour is about as unfunny as you can get.

I was obviously without a mobile phone and it was mid-morning so none of the neighbours were in. I had to trudge to the newsagents to borrow their phone, call the locksmith, then ask them to log into my hotmail account to get the contact details for the company I was supposed to be seeing.

Got the job two weeks later though so it all worked out well in the end!
D, Edinburgh

I’m in a job share and the person I rotate with must absolutely hate me! Last week I was late every day meaning she had to stay on and cover reception until I got there.

My excuses are always pretty good – broken down car being the most used as my stingy boss doesn’t pay me enough to get a new one. Think I’ll have to get her something nice this year for Christmas!
S, Blackburn

I wasn’t late this morning – technically I was just really early for tomorrow…
F, Southampton

We get free fruit every morning in our office and you usually have to be pretty quick off the mark to get the best bits. One girl we work with is almost always late so she’s either left with a bruised banana or nothing at all.

She actually had the nerve to complain to the HR team that this was unfair because she comes to work on a road famous for it’s traffic jams. Thankfully they saw sense and chose not to do anything – instead warning her that her lateness was being noted and to improve on her timekeeping!
G, Leeds

A friend of mine summed me up pretty nicely. "Always late, but worth the wait!"
D, London

Coming into central London every day on the train is an absolute nightmare and I really hate being late – probably because I hate hanging around when others don’t show up on time.

The excuse doesn’t even register with the bosses anymore as everyone is in the same boat – if there was an alternative, but South West Trains have got me by the short and curlys.
B, Weybridge