No matter how well you do in an interview, arriving more than a few minutes late, is likely to have a negative impact on an employer’s impression of you and influence your chances of getting the job. Compare it to competitive ice-skating. No matter how flawlessly or gracefully you skate, falling down is going to dramatically overshadow the rest of your performance and significantly diminish your chances of winning.

In other words, avoid being late at all costs. But if it just can’t be helped, here are some suggestions for dealing with it as effectively as possible.

Call or Contact in Advance
If you’re running late and are doubtful you’ll be able to make it on time, always call in advance and try to give a realistic time frame of when you’ll arrive. The more notice you can give, the better. Calling when you’re already several minutes late is less likely to assuage their irritation as calling before.

However, if you’re more than 10 minutes late, be prepared for them to cancel or reschedule the interview. Have alternative times and days ready if they do.

Sincerely Apologize
Nobody likes having to wait for somebody who’s tardy, especially employers, who feel they’re doing you a favor in the first place. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that apologizing will only bring attention to your lateness. They noticed – you can count on it. Sincerely acknowledge your mistake and express regret over having made them wait. Then respectfully move on and don’t dwell on it.

Have a Darn Good Reason
Crazy traffic, broken alarm clocks or work delays just aren’t going to fly. An organized, reliable candidate will account for any mishaps or delays when planning for an interview. Unless a family member is deathly ill, a giant fallen tree is blocking the interstate or a tsunami has carried away your vehicle, it’s unlikely any excuse will convince the employer that you aren’t at least somewhat flaky. As mentioned before, don’t be late in the first place. But if you are, it’s better to be honest and contrite than to make excuses or try to pull the wool over an employer’s eyes.

Put Your Game Face Back On
As frazzled as you might feel about being late, try to take a moment to regroup, gather your thoughts and regain your calm before meeting the interviewer. If you don’t, the tardiness will dominate your thoughts and overshadow the entire interview. Once you’ve apologized, don’t bring it up again. Try to shift the focus as quickly as possible from your faux pas to your strengths and skills.

Try to remember that even the best of us make mistakes, even the people who are interviewing us. It doesn’t hurt to try and allay any concerns they may have about your reliability. Convince them through your good manners, experience and personal references that you’re not only entirely dependable but also flexible and able to easily change course when what you’re doing isn’t working.