Time off for job interview

Hannaho

Hi! I have a job interview in two weeks time. I really need to do the interview as things were so stressful in my current job that my G.P. wrote me off for two weeks. I told my manager that I had a medical appointment on that meddate as I did not want to tell him I had an interview. I offerred to come in early, go to med appt/interview and then come back and work through lunch to make up time. I also offered to take a day's holidays, but none of these was acceptable. The interview date can't be changed. I feel like my only option is to ask G.P. for letter for appointment. G.P. knows how dificult things have been in work, and that I need to get a new job. Any ideas a?nyone

roadsmart

Ring in sick on the morning?

harrymagina

Best way to do it is ring on sick. If is a good company and really want to hire you they will change the date

Tell me how

Can an employer deny a days holiday requested with sufficient notice?


If so, ring in sick but I would go to your GP on that day and get a cert for the day. (Blinding headache/backache )

Your employer will likely twig that the day you are out sick was the day you pleaded to have off and could end up putting you on the spot that is best avoided if you end up staying in your current role.

Good luck with the interview and overcoming the illness I see in your future.

Hannaho

Thanks all - think I will just ask G.P. for Cert if I can't get day off. Tell me How - what do you mean by illness in my future - are you psychic?

smcgiff

harrymagina wrote: »

If is a good company and really want to hire you they will change the date

Not the best advice.

It's likely the company has already arranged interviews with other candidates and will proceed with those. And it wouldn't make them a bad company.

Jim2007

smcgiff wrote: »

Not the best advice.

It's likely the company has already arranged interviews with other candidates and will proceed with those. And it wouldn't make them a bad company.

I have to totally disagree. Over the years I've had several occasions to move interview dates and times and it was never a problem. And really if a company is so inflexible to someone they are trying to recruit, it does not say much for them as an employer... If it were me I would not think twice about canceling if they were not flexible.

agent graves

Tell me how wrote:

Good luck with the interview and overcoming the illness I see in your future.

Hannaho wrote:

Thanks all - think I will just ask G.P. for Cert if I can't get day off. Tell me How - what do you mean by illness in my future - are you psychic?

that was a joke because you had planned to go "sick" so you could make it to your interview..

o1s1n

Tell me how wrote: »

Can an employer deny a days holiday requested with sufficient notice?

Yep! When I was a manger we had busy periods in which it really didn't matter if the person wanted a day off, they couldn't have it.

If they requested it months and months in advance then I'd usually try to help them out, but we could still say 'no' if we needed to.

Tell me how wrote: »

If so, ring in sick but I would go to your GP on that day and get a cert for the day. (Blinding headache/backache )

Your employer will likely twig that the day you are out sick was the day you pleaded to have off and could end up putting you on the spot that is best avoided if you end up staying in your current role.

Good luck with the interview and overcoming the illness I see in your future.

Pretty much. I've had people ring in sick before when I knew damn well they had an interview. They got a doctors note though so not a lot you can really do.

degsie

o1s1n wrote: »

Yep! When I was a manger we had busy periods in which it really didn't matter if the person wanted a day off, they couldn't have it.

If they requested it months and months in advance then I'd usually try to help them out, but we could still say 'no' if we needed to.


Pretty much. I've had people ring in sick before when I knew damn well they had an interview. They got a doctors note though so not a lot you can really do.

Glad I don't work for you!

o1s1n

degsie wrote: »

Glad I don't work for you!

Hah! me too

If we let people have holidays in December and June which are critical half and year end periods, orders would be missed, revenue would be left on the table and we'd lose our business.

So as horrible as it is, if it wasn't done then nobody would have a job.

smcgiff

Jim2007 wrote: »

I have to totally disagree. Over the years I've had several occasions to move interview dates and times and it was never a problem. And really if a company is so inflexible to someone they are trying to recruit, it does not say much for them as an employer... If it were me I would not think twice about canceling if they were not flexible.

We're going to have to agree to (vehemently) disagree on this.

Irish_Elect_Eng

Managers often know who is actually interviewing, either from the behavior of the employee, indiscreet co-workers or industry contacts. In the past, when asked for a day off by an employee that I thought/knew was interviewing I would jokingly ask, "So what time is the interview?" or "Say hello to Mr. x at Company Y" Very few can hide the shock :-)

Then if I wanted to retain them I would start a conversation about what thy wanted to stay, it was usually new challenges and development opportunities rather than simply money or title. Surprising sometimes how folks print their CVs rather than really talk with their manager. unless there is a really big issue a lot can be done to meet peoples needs.

I always recommend taking holidays for interviews, it would not be unusual to be asked, how you got time off for the interview or where does your current manager think you are, and saying you called in sick or lying to your new employer is not a good start. Past behavior is a good predictor of future behavior.

When conducting interviews I have often had to reschedule interviews at the request of the candidates. There are a thousand valid reasons why this could be necessary. I think that the best type are:

(1) I could not get annual leave to attend because <Insert reason given by your manager>
(2) Unexpected Issue/Meeting/Task x has arisen and as I have responsibility/am needed I need to reschedule as I need to meet my responsibilities with my current employer.

If youi need to reschedule you should:\

(1) Give a simple clear reason.
(2) Propose a new time where you are certain of your availability.
(3) Widen your flexibility, offer to meet in the evening after work or morning before work.
(4) Clearly state your continuing interest in the proposed role.


Best of Luck.

skallywag

Hannaho wrote: »

I told my manager that I had a medical appointment on that meddate as I did not want to tell him I had an interview.

What would you have done if your employer had been fine with this, but then requested for you to provide a letter / proof of attendance of the medical appointment?

blindsider

Jim2007 wrote: »

I have to totally disagree. Over the years I've had several occasions to move interview dates and times and it was never a problem. And really if a company is so inflexible to someone they are trying to recruit, it does not say much for them as an employer... If it were me I would not think twice about canceling if they were not flexible.

It's still a 'Recruiter's market' = more candidates than jobs. Until that changes, companies are unlikely to be v flexible - unless it's a specialised role.

Roles in any semi-state org, education, civil or public service have assigned interviews - no flexibility - if you can't make the time you're given, you lose out.