From our Discussion Forum - Time Off to Interview: "I'm struggling with a boss, the type that will think you are great one day and then next she can only find fault in what you do. It has been getting worse and I have decided to leave my job. I've been on a few interviews but it is getting very hard to find creative ways to get off work to go to a job interview."
Check the comments (below) for suggestions and add yours, if you have a creative solution for taking time off to interview. So far, we have using vacation or sick time, trying to arrange the interview early in the morning, late in the day, or after work, transporting a friend to the airport - and even burglary! Here are more excuses to use when you need to take time off to interview.
Have a Good Excuse? Share a Good Excuse for Missing Work
Interviewing Resources
I am in the EXACT same position! I got off time for some “personal business” this past Friday to interview for the job of my dreams. It went well, and they want to schedule a second interview in a week. How do I ask for more time in such a short period without my boss figuring it out? I already considered before work, after work, or a lunch interview…none of which work. I only get a half hour lunch, and they other company doesn’t open before my current job…or close later than my current job. This is not a situation I have found in the books!
Once again I am in the same situation. I do not get along well with my boss – I dont say anything but I have begun putting out resumes. Already I had one interview last week and now will need to take off a couple hours next week to interview and I am not sure what to say without bringing any attention to myself.
Best thing: picking up a friend from an airport and taking them back again. Just say you’re not sure of the dates to keep it open and that’s two lots of time off they’re prepared for. Otherwise, just tell them whatever you want and they can’t exactly call you a liar and say no, can they?
of course there is always the unscheduled sick day to take, though clearly you can only do this once or twice before it becomes an issue
How about Burglary, followed by the insurance assessor, glassier, locksmith, courier delivery of new telly.
There is plumbing emergency for first thing in the morning appointments. Death in a close friends family. Need to take elderly parents (kid) to the doctor. Go into the office and complain of a major migrane and have to leave.
Just be consistant. A plumbing emergency could mean that you need to let the plumber back in the following week to finish the job. Sick elderly parents could need a follow up appoinment.
If you can trust a person (like a friend or alike, someone you can trust) in another department, tell your boss you have a meeting with this xyz. Of course this works only if your company layout, location, etc is such that you know the boss will not accidentally “walk over”.
If you (and the future company) is in the position that can do it, setup a “video interview” using a webcam, etc.
Just explain at your “future” company that you are afraid to present more excuses for running off to interviews, so try to setup an interview for lunch hour. So you’ll have a lunch interivew.
I always used personal business and made the appointments close to the beginning of the day, last thing in the afternoon or close to lunch time. Most of the time, my supervisors knew what was going on as I discussed my reason to leave before hand.
I’ve found that if you’re looking for another job – who cares about what your boss thinks? Just go and do it, step out and get an interview, if they’re professional enough (which they’re usually not) to care, they’ll ask and enquire if there’s anything they can do.
Just do it!
could some one let me know – does a company not legally have to let you have time off for an interview.
they don’t have to let you have time off for an interview…..imagine if you had 50 interviews!
There are some exceptions, for example if you have been told officially you (your post) will be made redundant, then they must give you “reasonable” time off for interviews. If you took too many interviews in this period and they made an issue you could negotiate or go to tribunal to get a view on what is “reasonable” in your circumstances. This allowance is only for permanent ordinary employment. Contract, temporary workers etc would not be allowed this time off.
Tell your boss that your husband has made an appointment with a financial planner for both of you or that you are going to see your attorney to update your wills. Also an excuse is that you had your yearly physical (which is where you supposedly went the last time you took off for an interview)and your doctor wants you to have a diagnostic test (I said I needed an ultrasound) so you will need a few hours off for the test. Or that the electricity went off during the night and your garage door wouldn’t open.
Volunteer for an extra task, meeting, event, conference of some kind that involves time outside of normal work hours. Then schedule your day to accomodate your interview or take in lieu time that you have creatively and honestly created.
just turn up late say you had a puncture or train was late
get a government job in Canada
http://www.bureaucrat.ca
don’t fight the power, be the power
“Oh what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive.”
Just be honest, people! If you really aren’t happy working with your job and want to leave, give your boss your two-week notice. If an employee told me that they had to take Grandma to the doctor and I found out that it was actually a job interview they were going to, I would fire them as soon as “Grandma’s doctor appointment” was over. I am sure they would have a very difficult time explaining during the next interview why they left my company, especially if the potential employer had contacted me beforehand. (Yes, I am a *itch!)
Honesty really is the best policy! Being dishonest in any form will always come back to haunt you!
Are you serious? Did you fall and hit your head? What person in their right mind would quit before having something else lined up? In a perfect world honesty is best but most employers would not appreciate you taking time off for interviews and you could find yourself fired. Then you have that big red mark against you and who knows when you will find a replacement job. I might sound mean but I almost wish in one of these circumstances. Then you might learn not to be such a giant B****.
It’s easy preach “be honest” but not practicing it. Such as I wanted an honest day’s work for an honest dollar. You work for me, your first loyalty is to the company, so don’t bring your problems of health, family or anything else to work, but I’ll certainly be happy to send work home with you.
Being a *itch errodes that thing called loyalty, worst it violates the trust of a leader. Thus justifies whatever means necessary to find a new job.
There are too many bosses out there in it for number one and $$$$, so why should their employees be any different in seeking advancement and quality of life.
Oh and the two weeks notice is a social consideration rendered as equals, there’s no law, just like there’s no law an employee can’t be fired without giving them sufficient notice.
Jobs are a two way street and if anyone hasn’t heard slavery was abolished in the USA more than 140 years ago.
According to a recent report, it takes an average of 17 weeks to find a new job. While I admire K’s honest approach, submitting your two-week notice and spending 15 weeks unemployed just so you have the free time to interview is ridiculous. Unfortunately, taking the moral high ground doesn’t make sound financial sense in today’s competitive job market…
I was in exactly the same position after my day gig boss brought me back from a 110 day lay-off only to change the rules and say that I could not have any personal days until i worked for her for another YEAR! I had already put in eighteen months prior to the lay-off! So after two an a half more months of “slavery” I just left the keys in the desk drawer and walked! I still have a p/t night gig and it may get a little nervous financially for a while, but I already sleep better and save gas money on that forty mile a day commute!
Most bosses are keen enough to know when you’re faking or making excuses, so if you have access to the boss’s calendar, arrange your interview date for a time when the boss will ALSO be gone.
One excuse that actually worked for me was to claim that my neighbor’s car wouldn’t start and I had to take her to AutoZone to get a new battery. This only works if you’re known to be handy with a wrench, so watch out or the boss might ask you to change the oil on her car.
But what about if you only need to give a weeks notice? and your boss is going to know that you lied, and you still want a good reference?
I’ve never had a problem scheduling an interview for after 5:00 or 7-7:30 am. Plus, the prospective employer will respect you for not impinging upon your current employer’s time.
I am always honest. Maybe it’s because I always have good female bosses, but I always tell them that I am looking for another job and when I go to interviews they do know coz they should also realise that I am good enough for someone to notice my CV. I always tell them I am happy with my job but I need more money and new work environment. There was a time where I had to go to interviews up to thrice a week and in this case you run out of excuses. So for me honesty is the best policy. Everyone has a right to look for another job, if you don’t look after yourself, no one else will.
im currently a trainee, but am looking to relocate to london. i have sent off cv’s and need some excuses in order to go down for interviews. as it is a 2 hour train ride, i would try to make my interview a friday afternoon in order to only miss one days work. but what excuse can i give? if im honest they will know i am not motivated for the training. please help
I want to be honest with my bosses about my going on interviews. But they demand so much for so little. I have been here for two years no raise but many raises in responsibilities. I am often yelled at for making a small mistake while I catch many of their’s throughout the week. I am the bottom line there is no one there to catch mine. After travel and parking I make almost no money here anyway. I fear that if I tell them I am going to lose my job and have no income to speak of, although I am pretty much at that point now. Please help tell me what to do!
I am in a similar situation. I had the phone interview which went well and they are supposed to be calling me in the next few days to arrange an in person interview. They told me already it would take most of the day, so early in the morning, after 5 pm, lunch interviews are all out of the question.
The other problem is that if this new position does not work out I will still need the job I currently have. I don’t want to risk getting on the bad side of my boss who is fairly new. I am staying in the same field but wanting to advance in to a higher paid position. I am not much for lying either. I want to use a vacation/personal day but it is also a very busy time of the year for us at the office and we have a small staff.
Help!