Going for interview when currently working

Feathers

Was just wondering what people's approach is when going for an interview while currently holding down a job? Do you call in sick? Take holidays? Come in early & leave early?

Nowhere seems to offer interviews outside of regular office hours. & even with holidays, it probably seems suspicious to your employer if you take a day / half-day with little notice; & then if you get a second interview do the same again!

Which only really leaves lunchtime, but unless the place you're interviewing with is ridiculously close that doesn't really work either.

Have only been in this scenario once — took a half day for the first interview & left an hour early for the second one. Didn't particular like doing either though — felt a little underhanded, especially if you stay put afterwards.

What do you do?


(This must've come up before, but couldn't find it in a search!)

chris85

Unless you make your employer aware of it what can you can expect really? of course its going to feel underhanded. Thats the way it is.

I havent told employer before but had to arrange a few hours off. Just told them family issue and worked extra elsewhere. I am working somewhere now part time and applying for permanent roles in unrelated sector more suited to my academic qualifications and my work are aware of this and makes it easier if need to get time off.

Denerick

There is no way around it unfortunately. You will have to take a sicky. I've been in my job over a year and have a 100% attendance rate (no sick days) plus I've only ever been late once. So I've built up some 'leverage' in that sense.

[Jackass]

Just a point of interest. Don't book a half day and then come in to work way more respectible looking and dressed to the nines in your best suit if you don't normally make that effort, as it looks kind of obvious why you're taking the half day then!

QuiteInterestin

Feathers wrote: »

Nowhere seems to offer interviews outside of regular office hours. & even with holidays, it probably seems suspicious to your employer if you take a day / half-day with little notice; & then if you get a second interview do the same again!

Not really, I regularly have to take half days/full days from work (both mornings and afternoons) for medical appointments, scans etc. I'm taking one this Friday afternoon in fact. I never tell management what I'm doing on these days (nor do they ask). No one takes a bit of notice, its your annual leave, its yours to use as you want.

Magenta

Feathers wrote: »

it probably seems suspicious to your employer if you take a day / half-day with little notice; & then if you get a second interview do the same again!

Half days for "Dental appointments" all the way, followed by "check ups" and "my tooth still hurts I have to go back again". No employer is going to look in your mouth to verify that As previous poster says just make sure you change into regular work clothes before going back.

Feathers

[Jackass] wrote: »

Just a point of interest. Don't book a half day and then come in to work way more respectible looking and dressed to the nines in your best suit if you don't normally make that effort, as it looks kind of obvious why you're taking the half day then!

Haha, yeah coming in in a full suit may be a bit of a give away!

We're fairly casual dress where I work. One of the lads mentioned to me before that he wears good shirts maybe one day a week, just so it wouldn't look suspicious if he ever does go for interview.

Magenta wrote: »

Half days for "Dental appointments" all the way, followed by "check ups" and "my tooth still hurts I have to go back again". No employer is going to look in your mouth to verify that As previous poster says just make sure you change into regular work clothes before going back.

Our place is fairly good with dental appointments, deliveries & things that — so most people would just come in late & go late. Wouldn't feel right doing that for an interview though.

Yeah, holidays is probably the way to go, although notice for them can be a problem.

Just find it strange that every company has employees sneaking off to interviews on office hours, but most won't arrange their own interviews outside of office hours!

Mrs OBumble

[Jackass] wrote: »

Just a point of interest. Don't book a half day and then come in to work way more respectible looking and dressed to the nines in your best suit if you don't normally make that effort, as it looks kind of obvious why you're taking the half day then! [/.QUOTE]

I like to go in over-dressed for a day every so often, just to keep the boss guessing.

If anyone asks, I'll say it's for a funeral, and wink at them.

In general funerals are a good reason for 1/2 days leave at short notice - maybe less so here where people are likely to be nosey about the full details of who it was and how they died.

Feathers

JustMary wrote: »

In general funerals are a good reason for 1/2 days leave at short notice - maybe less so here where people are likely to be nosey about the full details of who it was and how they died.

& you don't want to do a Stephen Ireland on it & lose count of your grannies

tatli_lokma

you also have to think of the flip side...

I have been both the employee needing time off and the employer scheduling interviews. As an employee I agree that it can feel a bit awkward asking for time off at short notice. Since I've been on both sides now, I am more confident asking the prospective employer how soon they are looking to interview/fill the position. A lot of people jump at an interview time without actually discussing alternative times/dates. Its understandable as you are so excited to get the interview your instinct is to just jump at it and say 'yes, whenever you want me!'

But in reality, most managers appreciate a person who is considerate of their current employer. I know I would be more impressed with someone who said, 'well I'd love to come for interview, but I want to give my current boss enough notice to arrange cover, so can we make it for the end of the week instead of tomorrow'. or if they asked if the interview could be scheduled for first thing or last thing in the day so as not to inconvenience the current employer. Remember, you are trying to sell yourself to your prospective employer as a reliable and trustworthy employee who is a committed worker. So it is no harm to let them know that you need a day or two to organise the time rather than dropping your current employer in it.

You don't have to tell your current boss why you need time off...that is your business. If the boss pushes for more information just say its a 'personal matter' you'd rather not say any more than that right now.

I wouldn't ring in sick, as this could sour a relationship and you might one day need them for a reference. I know a few people who would have no qualms in ratting you out at reference time. A past colleague of mine would tell her staff that in the past a staff member called in sick, and then 3 days later handed in her notice. When the new employer phoned for a reference and asked about attendence, she outright told the new employer that 'Mary' phoned in sick the day she attended their interview. 'Mary' still got the job, but I can imagine that any period of absence she had was viewed rather suspiciously. The manager's revelation could have cost her the job.

I would always take time off for interview out of my own AL. I would never expect an employer to give me a paid days leave in addition to my AL so that I can attend an interview.

Minevah

This has happened to me twice,on both occasions an opportunity for an interview had arisen with very short notice ( 1-2 days) and I felt my only option was to call in sick as annual leave in both jobs usually had to be cleared at least a week in advance.....I felt so guilty though for doing it and I would only do it again for a job I felt I couldn't pass up

Manach

It would only be done if I had frontloaded the time (plus a bit extra) extract so as to balance out any missing jobtime, as a courtesy to my co-workers. As for clothing, I've always regarded myself as one of the neat ones in God's awkward lot

tatli_lokma

Minevah wrote: »

This has happened to me twice,on both occasions an opportunity for an interview had arisen with very short notice ( 1-2 days) and I felt my only option was to call in sick as annual leave in both jobs usually had to be cleared at least a week in advance.....I felt so guilty though for doing it and I would only do it again for a job I felt I couldn't pass up

Was your sick leave paid or unpaid? if it is unpaid, I suppose its not so bad. But I think it wrong to call in sick, go to an interview with another company, and get paid for that.
I know how awkward and uncomfortable it can be to ask for the time off, and I think this is why most people dodge that bullet and phone in sick. Its much easier to pick up a phone that morning and say you're sick rather than face to face ask for time off earlier in the week. But there has to be something you could use as an excuse for leave at short notice, other than sick?

Manach wrote:

It would only be done if I had frontloaded the time (plus a bit extra) extract so as to balance out any missing jobtime

+1
If you know you are applying for other interviews I think it is only decent you should accrue some flex leave if you are able to do this. If not, then you can give prior notice to your employer that you may be needing some odd days off in the near future. You still don't have to say its for interviews, you can just say its for dental treatment. Or that you are getting work done at home and might need the odd day or half day for deliveries, or you need to bring a family member to some hospital appointments....the list of possible excuses is endless. But at least that way you are using your own time and not your employer's paid time. When its all over, they are going to know you were missing for interviews, and when that happens they are much less likely to have a face on if you took your own time.

And now that I think about it, if you are called for an interview, what if they ask for second or third interviews? This could cause you problems with attendence, and this could be mentioned in a reference check. If you take AL or flex then there is nothing can be said about your attendence record.

statss

I scheduled one interview for 4.30, and left an hour early, and took a day off for the second interview. It was on Friday so didn't look too suspicious.

In a previous job when I was much younger, I rang in sick for the interview, and got one of my colleagues to cover. I admitted it when I told my boss I was leaving. It didn't go down very well at all, something I regret but I learned from it.

doolox

.... because, especially with small companies and outfits the principals all know each other socially and may check up informally by text. phone or email to suss you out. If your current boss figures you took a fictitious "sickie" to attend interview he may become your former boss............

I would look for time off firstly without specifying what it is for and failing that would come out straight and say its for an interview. Always offer to cover on alternative hours or days if loss of productivity or output is the issue.

Most employers would see job interviews as show initiative, confidence and willingness to change and manage a persons life, all positive traits in the mind of a secure, self confident and competent employer.........

......of course your boss might be a jealous, insecure, incompetent individual who sees interviews as a threat.........