Job Interview before Holiday - what to do?

Whatsisname

Hello hello,

I've a job interview with Penneys on the 29th of May for temp retail assistant for 6 months. However, I'm away on holidays from the 3rd of June to the 10th.

Should I mention this in the interview or what? I've read about people saying not to mention it until/if I get offered the position, but I'm not sure if thats the best idea.

Anybody have experience with this or any advice on how to approach it?

NZ_2014

Don't think it seems to be mentioned, unless they ask you when you can start or if you have any other commitments or something like that.

Mrs OBumble

You're not available to start until 11 June, due to existing commitments. The potential employer doesn't need to know what they are.

B.A._Baracus

I always find things like this interesting :P
Obviously you don't know if you will be offered a job but it's best to think what to say.

If you don't mention you have any commitments you could miss a call whilst you are away. That's you screwed with the job. Even if you bring your mobile with you on holidays and picked up the potential call... ain't going to be a positive thing to say you wont be back until the 10th. They will also say why didnt you inform them.

On the other hand,
if you mention you have commitments you could very well be shooting yourself in the foot. 29th of May is a Thursday and they probably will be letting people start a week later (5th of June) and it's not like there is a shortage of people who want the job. So if you can't start when they want. They may very well offer it to someone who can.


In your shoes I would just say nothing.

Whatsisname

Yeah its a bit of a pickle to be in alright and I've been trying so hard for so long to get even an interview for most places (like alot of people) so I'm just praying it doesn't go against me.

I'll say that I have existing commitments until the 11th but from then on, I have no problem working any hours needed. I re-read the job description and its 11.5 hours a week so hopefully there might be some leeway with it not being a 40 hour week.

maj206

Hi whatsisname,
i too had an interview for pennys for temp retail assistant at the start of april, at beginning of interview i was asked if i had any holidays booked/planned which i had (am heading away in 3 weeks time for a week) so i was honest and told the truth! i didnt get the job which i was quite shocked by as i was more than suitable for the role and had loads of relevant experience! a friend of mine mentioned to me that they need the part timers to cover all the full time holidays throughout the summer months and need them to be available for this reason! not sure if it was part of the reason i didnt get the job but hope you have better luck

Whatsisname

maj206 wrote: »

Hi whatsisname,
i too had an interview for pennys for temp retail assistant at the start of april, at beginning of interview i was asked if i had any holidays booked/planned which i had (am heading away in 3 weeks time for a week) so i was honest and told the truth! i didnt get the job which i was quite shocked by as i was more than suitable for the role and had loads of relevant experience! a friend of mine mentioned to me that they need the part timers to cover all the full time holidays throughout the summer months and need them to be available for this reason! not sure if it was part of the reason i didnt get the job but hope you have better luck

Hey, thats unfortunate to hear, especially as you're more than qualified, I know how frustrating that must be!

Turns out its actually a permanent part time position with 11.5 hours a week which isn't a whole lot so I'm hoping I might ease through on that. If it was 40 hour week and for 6 months or so I'd be more than worried about not getting it but I'll remain positive and thank you!

highlydebased

The fact your holidays are immediately after the interview will work in your favour- I would imagine.

Also you will be subject to 3 month probation after which time you might be made permanent. It is likely you will end up working more than the contract hours over the summer also

stevenmu

One thing I'd add is that with your holidays so soon after the interview, you might not be available if there was a second interview round or if they wanted to meet you again.

Be sure to check with them what the next steps in the process would be, if they suggest that their would be another round of interviews or that they might need to meet you again over the period you would be away, then you will need to let them know you would not be available over that period (or maybe that you would be available by phone).

maj206

just to mention i was told everyone who was interviewed would find out on the 1st of may and sure enough a letter arrived that day! there were no 2nd interviews.....

Tar.Aldarion

When this was happening to me I did the interview, they offered a second interview a few days later and i said I would be out of the country at that stage. They then skipped the second round and gave it to me. Perhaps I should have mentioned unavailable on x but ti didn't hurt that I didn't.

Whatsisname

Just a quick update and further added question.

Had the interview and it went okayish, said a few stupid things that I'm extremely unhappy with but I tend to focus on the negatives than the positives and I was fine on everything else. Was asked about any dates I'd need off and she wrote it down and said she wouldn't be getting back to people for 3/4 weeks anyway so.

Also,

She went through the wage with me in there, per hour and what day. Anyone I've talked to has said this is unusual and usually a good sign. One of the interviews I did before, the manager said the payrate and I was hired from it.

So has anyone any similar experience from interviews?

Tar.Aldarion

It's not worth setting your hopes on expectations, keep looking as if you have nothing

highlydebased

Whatsisname wrote: »

Also,

She went through the wage with me in there, per hour and what day. Anyone I've talked to has said this is unusual and usually a good sign. One of the interviews I did before, the manager said the payrate and I was hired from it.

So has anyone any similar experience from interviews?

I would not be looking into this at all. Any interview I've had for a retail job (a few) they have all mentioned the rate of pay and I was only hired the once

Whatsisname

highlydebased wrote: »

I would not be looking into this at all. Any interview I've had for a retail job (a few) they have all mentioned the rate of pay and I was only hired the once

Okay okay, I'll stick to my pessimistic self! haha but no, last thing I wanna do is get my hopes up and wait 3/4 weeks to get a reply. Have already applied for another job since the interview earlier so as Tar.Alderion said, I'll keep looking as if I've found nothing yet!

Really appreciate the help from everyone here, thanks again!