How do you get time off work for interviews?

SideWinder

SideWinder

SideWinder

Consigliere
Joined
12 Jun 2004
Posts
151,034
Location
SW17
Just wondering how people manage to stay within their job and still go for an interview during the week.

Is it as simple as mentioning you're seeing the doctor/dentist/whatever? Surely it would cause problems if there is more than one stage in the interview process?
 
At first try get some time off using the the things you mentioned earlier, or ask your the new job place what to expect in terms of "stages", if there's only one meeting/interview before the job is accepted and the rest is all done over the phone/paper work etc, happy days?

Basically what I'm saying is find out first, before having to worry about freeing more time.
 
What i did was say i had a doctors appointment, then at a second interview i had to say that i had to go back to the doctors to have blood tests done.
 
How about saying I'm going for an interview, my work is covered and I'll make the time up later.

If they say no say you'll see them at the disciplinary tomorrow kthxbye.
 
Dentists
Doctors
Subsequent hospital referral
Sicky
Holiday

In that order. If they ask for evidence (which I never have been) they can whistle for it, as I can self-certify for five days and it's a 'highly personal matter anyway boss' :D.

Telescopi said:
How about saying I'm going for an interview, my work is covered and I'll make the time up later.

If they say no say you'll see them at the disciplinary tomorrow kthxbye.
Click to expand...

Do you really advise that or are you joking? Assuming the former, that's a bad idea as if you end up staying there'll be serious atmosphere and you can forget payrises and promotions. One might say 'what does it matter you're obviously leaving anyway', but you never know what might happen, so never burn your bridges until you've been offered the next job in writing.
 
Fist ask for a day off, holiday or unpaid if you have none left, just think of some excuse, tell them that you have broadband engineer coming, new fridge delivered, whatever you can think of. If your company is not keen on giving you time off on short notice etc then try the dentist/doctor appointment thing, if this doesn't work then pull a sickie. From experience many companies will give you a day off without any issues.
 
Last time I needed time off for an interview I just said can I take the afternoon off. Used some flexi time for it.

And if I need any time off to go to an interview soon I'll book some leave for it.
 
I leave a blow up doll in my chair at my desk, clearly you have to be smart and dress it appropriately. Glue the phone to the ear / gaping mouth so that people don't disturb it. Works all the time, 1 percent of the time.
 
Haha, well the obvious answer has been posted:

Flexi time
Annual leave
unpaid leave
Doctor/Dentist

For the job I am in now, I knew a possibility of an interview would happen. I was at work one day and it transpires that the manager asked to see me as soon as possible. I wanted to go but couldn't get out of work without a decent excuse. I needed the rest of the day to go home, shower, put a suit on and return to the place of interview.

My old man came to visit me at work and we chatted outside about the situation (he was involved by knowing the guy who wanted to interview me((Nepotism ***!)). Either way, I discussed with old man and fabricated a story that my Mum had been driving to work and was involved in a car accident and taken to hospital.

I psyched myself up and went back into my work place looking all upset. (A/S Level drama skills). After some deliberation I told them my old man had come to pick me up and I asked to leave ASAP so we could go to the hospital. I left, went home, got sorted, went to interview, lasted about 2hrs. Found out I got the job that night.

It was epic, but I always felt bad for saying that something bad had happened to my old tit.
 
Robbie G said:
Do you really advise that or are you joking? Assuming the former, that's a bad idea as if you end up staying there'll be serious atmosphere and you can forget payrises and promotions. One might say 'what does it matter you're obviously leaving anyway', but you never know what might happen, so never burn your bridges until you've been offered the next job in writing.
Click to expand...

I'd ask for an interview before or after work or take a long lunch if it was close enough.

I can't stand the two faced absurdity of making up stories to go to an interview as if the employer could or would want to prevent you leaving. Given the choice between pretending to be ill or throwing my toys out of the pram I'd throw my toys every time.
 
i just take a day off as holiday

why would you lie ?

your not at work working for your pay so your lieing.

take a days leave and stop being dishonest.
 
CraigN said:
i just take a day off as holiday

why would you lie ?
Click to expand...

For many jobs the interview is a multi-stage process. One job application could use up three days and you might not even get it. Lying is the only practical way to attend without using up shed loads of holiday.

CraigN said:
your not at work working for your pay so your lieing.

take a days leave and stop being dishonest.
Click to expand...

I think you're being a little naive really. I hope you don't believe that most companies have the scruples you seem to have and would pay you the same respect of ultimate honestly at all times?

If companies were completely honest 100% of the time, they'd have HR cases left right and centre. It's the same thing but the shoe's on the other foot.
 
i cant think of any interviews i have had that was just a single interview. I always take the time off be it a half day or a full day.

I don't think I am being naive. If you got caught your existing job could be on the line i would not want to risk that.
 
Take a day of as Leave of half day if you can. Or like i did not that long ago, state you have a job interview.

Did this as i was secure in my current job and approaching review time. There followed a nice long chat about why i was wanting to leave where i stated that it's not challenging enough, and I wanted more responsibilities, this was step up the ladder for career development, (and also more money).

If discussed sensibly it can be a useful negotiating strategy. Anyway, it's always nice knowing what your market worth is and how close to it is you are.

I've interviewed people and if they are in employment, always nice to know how many of them told there current employers what they were doing, and how they arranged to attend. Do you really want to take people on who are that happy to be dishonest to there bosses, rather than directly tackling the problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom