Job interview dilemma

galgirl32

Hi all. I need advice please. I have a job interview next week for a position that requires an immediate start. My dilemma is ...... Should I be successful in getting this job, and need to start right away, I have tickets bought for my daughter and I to go to a concert in a couple of weeks, and would need to take 1 & 1/2 days off. Should I mention this at interview or just wait & see if they offer me the job and then mention it ? I'm not willing to miss it as the tickets and hotel have cost me a lot of money and it is a treat for my daughter - any advice please ???????? Please no smart ass answers, I'm fully aware that a long term income should out-weigh any concert, I'm just looking for advice as to when I should mention the time off to the prospective employer - thanks a mill

RubyGirl

Op I would just wait until the job is offered to you. You dont want to seem to egar and put across at interview that you have job.

Just mention it on induction day with your supervisor. Best of luck with interview.

greentea is just wrong

I would mention it if they offer you the job, no need to in the interview.

bbam

No need to mention at interview but you need to mention it at job offer stage.
You'll not be untitled to annual leave as you won't have time worked up. Offer to take it as unpaid leave and explain nicely that it was booked in advance.

Good luck.

Artful_Badger

You dont want to walk in on your first day and ask for days off. Nor do you want to risk not getting the job by saying it in the interview. But you still have to be upfront with them so it wont look bad on your behalf. I'd say bring it up when/if they ring to offer you the job.

Chances are they might say something like "I'm sure we can work something out" then you accept the job and you have the old "Well I told you thins before I took the job" defense.

*smart answer* To be an adult about it though you could just concentrate on getting the job and get someone else to bring your daughter to the concert.

galgirl32

I have considered asking someone else to take her (in the event that I get offered the job) but this is her first concert and I really wanted to be the one to take her. She doesn't have any aunties that could take her and I'd hate to let her down.

pwurple

1 day off shouldn't be a big deal at the start of a job. You're not going to be running at max potential for the first while anyway.

No need to bring it up during interview, just mention it if/when offered the job. It's perfectly normal, and not even remotely unusual. Often people have other commitments already built up in those first few weeks. I wouldn't bat an eyelid at it.

Artful_Badger

galgirl32 wrote: »

I have considered asking someone else to take her (in the event that I get offered the job) but this is her first concert and I really wanted to be the one to take her. She doesn't have any aunties that could take her and I'd hate to let her down.

What happens if you get offered the job and they say its not possibly to take the day off ?

pwurple

Artful_Badger wrote: »

What happens if you get offered the job and they say its not possibly to take the day off ?

Oh for goodness sake. That is exceedingly unlikely to happen to be fair.

She won't have full responsibilities for the first few weeks.

Artful_Badger

pwurple wrote: »

Oh for goodness sake. That is exceedingly unlikely to happen to be fair.

She won't have full responsibilities for the first few weeks.

Oh for crying out loud :rolleyes:

How do you know what she will have ? And the reason she wouldnt have full responsibilities is because she'd be getting trained, making it worse to want a day off.

To get a new job and immediately ask for a day off to go to a concert is going to look like taking the piss, its not exactly a good reason to be taking time off that early in a job. If she wont miss the concert then she wont miss it but if they say no and she takes the day off anyway, its gonna look extremely bad.

Its hardly out of line to question the worst case scenario. In fact I'd say it would be quite childish and idiotic not to and cross your fingers and hope it will all work out perfectly and get a day off right after getting a job to go to a concert.

Life isnt generally that perfect in my experience.

vitani

I find that in most interviews, they ask if you've any holidays planned. If they don't, I wouldn't bring it up until you get to the job offer stage.

1.5 days isn't huge in the scheme of things. It's not like you'll be waltzing into a new job and asking for two weeks off. I can't imagine many companies having a problem with it.

galgirl32

Then I will just have to deal with it I guess. But I am sincerely hoping that wouldn't be the case 😨

galgirl32

vitani wrote: »

I find that in most interviews, they ask if you've any holidays planned. If they don't, I wouldn't bring it up until you get to the job offer stage.

1.5 days isn't huge in the scheme of things. It's not like you'll be waltzing into a new job and asking for two weeks off. I can't imagine many companies having a problem with it.

I'd like to think you are right !!!!!

Carpet diem

I'd say wait until the job offer comes along and then if accepting say that you need to take 2 days on certain dates of because you are going away with your daughter. No need to mention concert at all. Just you have hotel etc booked if queried you can't cancel.

It's not uncommon to have commitments built up when accepting a job. Even having 2 weeks booked is not unusual as people have lives to live!

Bad sign if they make a big deal of it!

Artful_Badger

galgirl32 wrote: »

Then I will just have to deal with it I guess. But I am sincerely hoping that wouldn't be the case 😨

I hope so too. As I said and a lot of people seem to think the same, bring it up when/if you are offered the job and hopefully it will be fine.

But if it came to it personally I'd prefer to be sure someone was available and willing to bring the daughter to the concert rather than ignoring management and taking days off a week into a new job. Might not be as likely but that doesnt mean you shouldnt have it covered if it happens.

January

Moved from Parenting

pwurple

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Its hardly out of line to question the worst case scenario. In fact I'd say it would be quite childish and idiotic not to and cross your fingers and hope it will all work out perfectly and get a day off right after getting a job to go to a concert.

If that's the case then 8 out of the last 10 people I've taken on are childish and idiotic. Most people have something else on at the start of a role. Either they need to give notice to a previous employer, or they have a course they are attending, or a holiday booked, or an exam coming up, a graduation, a wedding, something.

Any normal employer is well aware of this.

galgirl32

Artful_Badger wrote: »

I hope so too. As I said and a lot of people seem to think the same, bring it up when/if you are offered the job and hopefully it will be fine.

But if it came to it personally I'd prefer to be sure someone was available and willing to bring the daughter to the concert rather than ignoring management and taking days off a week into a new job. Might not be as likely but that doesnt mean you shouldnt have it covered if it happens.

God no, if they wouldn't allow me the time off I would have something / someone in place to bring her, or worst case scenario I would sell the tickets and for-go the price of the hotel. There's no way I'd dirty my copy book so early in a new job

Artful_Badger

pwurple wrote: »

If that's the case then 8 out of the last 10 people I've taken on are childish and idiotic. Most people have something else on at the start of a role. Either they need to give notice to a previous employer, or they have a course they are attending, or a holiday booked, or an exam coming up, a graduation, a wedding, something.

Any normal employer is well aware of this.

Its not childish or idiotic to have something planned, it would be to have something planned you felt you couldnt avoid, make no mention of it in the interview and have no contingency plan if there was an issue getting time off after you get the job. Leaving you with the choices, turn down the job, cancel the plans or take the job and pull a sicky in your first couple week.

Artful_Badger

galgirl32 wrote: »

God no, if they wouldn't allow me the time off I would have something / someone in place to bring her, or worst case scenario I would sell the tickets and for-go the price of the hotel. There's no way I'd dirty my copy book so early in a new job

You said in the OP you wouldnt be willing to miss it though and in another post that you considered asking someone else but you wanted to bring her. So I assumed you were working off the fact you were just hoping to get the time off.

If you are willing to miss it or would have someone else to bring her then just bring it up if you are offered the job. Best case scenario you get the time off, worst case scenario your daughter goes with someone else. Cover yourself for both eventualities.

galgirl32

Artful_Badger wrote: »

You said in the OP you wouldnt be willing to miss it though and in another post that you considered asking someone else but you wanted to bring her. So I assumed you were working off the fact you were just hoping to get the time off.

If you are willing to miss it or would have someone else to bring her then just bring it up if you are offered the job. Best case scenario you get the time off, worst case scenario your daughter goes with someone else. Cover yourself for both eventualities.

Of course I'm not willing to loose out on a job just, to go to a concert, I just wanted people's opinions on when I should mention the fact that I would like to take 2 days off. Of course if the position is offered to me and I do mention the time off and they aren't ok with it, I will be pissed off, but I will do my damnedest to accommodate my daughter. If they say it's ok for me to go then I guess that's a bonus !!!!

galgirl32

Thank you all for your feedback. I'll keep ye posted !!!!!!

Carpet diem

galgirl32 wrote: »

Thank you all for your feedback. I'll keep ye posted !!!!!!

Good luck with interview!

compo1

Say nothing at interview unless asked. If offered the job, mention it then, but have somebody on standby for the daughter if you can't get time off.

Jim2007

pwurple wrote: »

1 day off shouldn't be a big deal at the start of a job. You're not going to be running at max potential for the first while anyway.

No need to bring it up during interview, just mention it if/when offered the job. It's perfectly normal, and not even remotely unusual. Often people have other commitments already built up in those first few weeks. I wouldn't bat an eyelid at it.

By far the most reasonable suggestion!

Jim2007

Artful_Badger wrote: »

To get a new job and immediately ask for a day off to go to a concert is going to look like taking the piss, its not exactly a good reason to be taking time off that early in a job. If she wont miss the concert then she wont miss it but if they say no and she takes the day off anyway, its gonna look extremely bad.

Its hardly out of line to question the worst case scenario. In fact I'd say it would be quite childish and idiotic not to and cross your fingers and hope it will all work out perfectly and get a day off right after getting a job to go to a concert.

Life isnt generally that perfect in my experience.

Well if you're reflecting your current work environment, then perhaps it's time to fine a more adult environment

Artful_Badger

Jim2007 wrote: »

Well if you're reflecting your current work environment, then perhaps it's time to fine a more adult environment

I made the exact same suggestion as the one you said was the most reasonable suggestion :rolleyes:. I just said be prepared for the worst in addition because the OP said she was unwilling to miss the concert as it cost her a lot and was treat for her daughter while at the same time dismissing a suggestion of getting someone else to take her.

galgirl32

Artful_Badger wrote: »

I made the exact same suggestion as the one you said was the most reasonable suggestion :rolleyes:. I just said be prepared for the worst in addition because the OP said she was unwilling to miss the concert as it cost her a lot and was treat for her daughter while at the same time dismissing a suggestion of getting someone else to take her.

Artful badger, I didn't dismiss the suggestion at all - I don't really have anyone else that cud take her, and as it is her 1st concert I wud like to be the person to take her, but like I've said, if it comes down to it and it's not an option to go to the concert of course I will forgo it so as to secure the job.

Artful_Badger

galgirl32 wrote: »

Artful badger, I didn't dismiss the suggestion at all - I don't really have anyone else that cud take her, and as it is her 1st concert I wud like to be the person to take her, but like I've said, if it comes down to it and it's not an option to go to the concert of course I will forgo it so as to secure the job.

You said you considered it but you wanted to be the one who took her. Coupled with you saying you were unwilling to miss the concert in the OP it came across as you being determined to bring her as you had paid quite a bit, it was her first concert, was a big thing etc. Its fine if thats not exactly what you meant but thats how I took it and gave the advice to be prepared for not getting time off just in case if you didnt want to let her down. Because despite what anyone else tells you you are not guaranteed to get the days off.

In the post above I'm not having a go at you just trying to explain things to some poster who hadnt bothered to read the thread.

galgirl32

UPDATE !!!!

Thanks for all your replies. However, I didn't get the job (although I thought the interview went very well ) so I got to take my daughter to her first concert and created some fantastic memories. And So the job hunt is still on-going

Artful_Badger

Sorry to hear you didn't get the job, hope you have better luck on the next one.