Write a story about a character running late for a job interview.

Posted in Adventure on May 3, 2024

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✍️ 74 stories

“Better Late Than Never” by Laurie Bodin

Submitted to Contest #249

Better Late than Never “Leah, what the hell are you doing? I called you twenty minutes ago to get up and get ready to go-we’re running late!” Nora tried to keep her voice calm, as she confronted her fifteen-year-old daughter, who was lounging casually on her pillows, clad in bright orange pajama pants and yellow tank top, fingers tapping out a steady staccato on her iPhone screen. “Geez, Mom, chill out, what’s the big deal, when aren’t we running late? You should be used to it.” The snarky tone in Leah’s response was the same one she so...

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“Getting There” by Geoff King

Submitted to Contest #249

Getting there. A weekend off-grid, away from the city’s clamour and commotion – What better way to get psyched up for my interview? Meditation, Tai-chi, birdsong, forest bathing, and perhaps a bit of sketching, all on my own with no distractions, to get into the ideal head-space: Zen and the Art of Getting Hired. I would radiate composure, calmness and confidence, and convince them I’m the perfect guy for the job. What I hadn’t anticipated was the difficulty of getting into London on a Monday morning. Okay, I knew it would be busy. That’s wh...

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“The Hot Seat” by Jessica Smithgall

Submitted to Contest #249

The receptionist gives me a concerned glance as she scans over me. I’m in a hurry but I can’t help but take in the large windowed building with a ceiling that seems to stretch up for an eternity. “Restrooms are that way,” she says, pointing a finger toward the hall to the left. I almost correct her, saying I’m here for a job interview but based on her disapproving look, it’s probably wise I try to fix whatever mess is going on.The wind has done a number on my hair, small leaves weaved in and out between frazzled black strands and I have...

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“Fox on the Run” by Melissa Coleman

Submitted to Contest #249

Fox on the Run blared from Russell’s alarm. Groggily, he rolled over. Moaned. Slammed his fist on the clock. An empty beer bottle clattered to the floor. He sat up. Rubbed his temples to ease a throbbing headache that would soon take hold if he didn’t numb it with medication. Another bottle stood within reach. It was half full. Russell took a swig of its contents.Hair of the Dog.He swung his bare legs off the bed. Glimpsed the clock — 8:01 AM.“Damn it,” he cursed as he stumbled towards the bathroom, hoping a cold shower would help shake his ...

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“The Story I Never Told” by Jennifer Fremon

Submitted to Contest #249

I often have this reoccurring nightmare where I am desperately trying to catch some form of transportation. The method changes; sometimes I am running through the airport, a heavy backpack bouncing up and down on my shoulders, other times it is the train doors sliding shut right before my foot hits the platform. I am sure a psychologist would nod knowingly, say something about never quite feeling good enough, or about the fear of falling behind. I mean, missing a train is a fairly obvious metaphor isn’t it? I actually went to a therapist onc...

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“Heels & Sniffles” by Phenix Hall

Submitted to Contest #249

"Damn it," I hissed, slamming the phone onto the desk. The echo of Sarah's laughter as she said “Classic, Beth, you still haven’t started finding an outfit for this interview have you?” lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the two hours I'd just wasted talking to her about nothing. My stomach clenched – missing this interview wasn't an option. Not with my dream job at Magnum Bend hanging in the balance. The clock on the wall ticked menacingly, each tick a hammer blow against the dwindling minutes till interview time. I forced myself t...

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“Get To The Interview On Time” by Alejandro Gonzalez

Submitted to Contest #249

Charlie felt like his heart could explode at any moment. Four weeks of exercising every morning at six a.m. hadn’t prepared him for the late arrival of the early train. Last night’s rain as well as his dreams of getting a better job both slipped down the drain. As the city’s runoff emptied into the sewer, his legs pumped, shouting at him in agony as he ran on. His best-and only-dress shirt, tie, and khakis had stains from his sweat, and his undershirt had soaked through. His feet shouted at him from the unforgiving concrete pressing blisters...

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“Rain on my Desteny by Erika Sams” by Erika Sams

Submitted to Contest #249

Everything in Amy’s life had led up to this day, an interview for her dream job in publishing. She wasn’t fully qualified, but after a couple white lies on her resume and a slightly unethical amount of pestering, she finally had an actual chance. Destiny must have a fucked-up sense of humor though because she woke up to emergency alerts on her phone followed immediately by a flash of lightening through her bedroom and an angry clap of thunder. Wind whooshed loudly against the house as raindrops tapped the window in persistent unison. Amy g...

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“The Hats Mom Wore” by Amber Sayer

Submitted to Contest #249

“Come on, sweetie. I need you to get up because mommy has a big day ahead,” goaded Janet, trying her best to use a motherly singsong voice. She opened the blinds, specks of floating dust glistening like suspended flecks of dancing glitter as they caught the sun’s morning rays. Lucas didn’t move. She heard an indistinguishable groan, perhaps a grunt or a cough. He was normally a morning kid, to say the least. The moment she came to rouse him for the day, he’d spring up in his little bed like a pop-up book character finally freed f...

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“The Eyes” by Brynna Sinkie

Submitted to Contest #249

Another glance at the clock, and I feel my forearm brush against something it shouldn’t as I reach for my glasses. I have thirty minutes to get across town, and I’ve just knocked over the vase of daisies on my kitchen island, spilling water onto yesterday’s untouched mail. “Not the time for this…” I mutter to myself, tossing a rag from beside the sink on top of the mess and moving on. I cannot be late; I have to get this job. For years, I have studied and built up connections, all in the hopes of one day having a chance at this job; t...

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“Sometimes Being Late Works Out” by Ashley Wilson

Submitted to Contest #249

"This is exactly what I needed today" I mutter. Hot liquid soaking the front of my brand-new blouse. "I'm sorry. Here, let me help you," he says, while holding out a hand to help me up. "I really didn't see you there. You came out of nowhere""Unless you have a woman's blouse hidden somewhere, I really don't see how you can help," I mutter, motioning to my top. "I'm already late to my interview. My shirt is ruined. And this has already been the worst day ever." I look up, realizing that I hadn't even seen the person who had just knocked me do...

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“Have Faith” by Asumini C

Submitted to Contest #249

I hate being late. My hands grip the steering wheel a little tighter. There’s a tightening in my chest as I look the never ending traffic jam before me. This is before the times of GPS on our phones given us alternative routes to take. So, I’m just stuck. I used google maps get the directions the night before. Also, I drove up a couple days ago, but I not coming from home today. So, it’s not exactly the same thing. I looked at the directions to familiarize myself with which exit to take, and the names of streets to look out for. I left ...

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“The Interview” by Webb Johnson

Submitted to Contest #249

I was the lone passenger left aboard when my bus pulled into the Redding bus station. It was after midnight when its droning Diesel engine finally shut down after eight monotonous hours. I grabbed my parka and my backpack and lurched up the aisle toward the open door. The driver said, “Goodnight. Thanks for riding Greyhound”, as I stepped off and drew a long breath of the fumes that pass for fresh air at bus stations. Inside, the depot was a ghost town. The ticket windows and the refreshment counter had closed. The lobby area was vacant and ...

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“Murphy's Law” by Sophie Goldstein

Submitted to Contest #249

Nayeli usually loved the bustle of Downtown LA in the morning. It was frantic, panicked; packed with pedestrians and cars, fighting for the privilege of moving first. The air was filled with the smell of coffee, eggs, hot dogs from the night before, and yes, piss and shit. She loved hearing the hodgepodge of languages as people passed: English, Spanish, Tagalog, Italian, Arabic. She adored her city and its moments of occasional chaos. But not today. Today, of all days, she had slept through her alarm, which she never did and was racing again...

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“Divergent.” by Jae Po

Submitted to Contest #249

Bzzzzzzzz. Bzzzzzzzz. Bzzzzzzzzz. 8:15am. The bright-green numbers stared harshly back at her, taunting her — the result of at least five snoozes, from when Marissa was supposed to originally awaken at 7. Her eyes widened in panic. She had overslept! Now less than an hour until the interview for the job of a lifetime. She ripped off the comforter and bolted out of her queen-sized bed, nearly tumbling to the ground on the way and barely noticing her Lab mix, Riley, sitting upright near the door, sporting sad, eager eyes. Suddenly, vague memor...

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Write a story about a character running late for a job interview.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 74 stories

“Better Late Than Never” by Laurie Bodin

“Getting There” by Geoff King

“The Hot Seat” by Jessica Smithgall

“Fox on the Run” by Melissa Coleman

“The Story I Never Told” by Jennifer Fremon

“Heels & Sniffles” by Phenix Hall

“Get To The Interview On Time” by Alejandro Gonzalez

“Rain on my Desteny by Erika Sams” by Erika Sams

“The Hats Mom Wore” by Amber Sayer

“The Eyes” by Brynna Sinkie

“Sometimes Being Late Works Out” by Ashley Wilson

“Have Faith” by Asumini C

“The Interview” by Webb Johnson

“Murphy's Law” by Sophie Goldstein

“Divergent.” by Jae Po

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story around someone (literally) bumping into someone else.

Write a story that begins with someone dancing in a bar.

Write a story about a tennis match between two rivals.

Write a story about a character driving and getting lost.

Contest #249

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

306

Contest entries

114

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: