Asking for time off--for a job interview?
 

Any advice on how to approach asking for time off, when the purpose is to go to a job interview at a different company? Kind of a delicate situation.

I'm technically supposed to ask for time off 2 weeks in advance, and provide a reason, i.e. doctor's appt etc. but I have someone who wants to meet with me ASAP this week.

I am considering just telling my manager exactly what the deal is. I have, after all, been telling them I need more money. Maybe this will help get the point across.

Of course, they could say no. But the alternative is trying to make up something up and take the time off under false pretenses, and I don't really want to do that.

What would you do/have you done in these circumstances?

Well, consider this: If you tell them you're interviewing for another job, they may say fine. And then set you free, to do all the interviewing you want.

*Cough Cough BLUE FLUE Cough Cough*

Is it possible to do the interview during a lunch hour, or after-hours?

No way would I tell them the truth. But I've never had a problem lying, so maybe that's just me.

I'm with zip--no need to concoct some elaborate story. Just call in sick. The interview shouldn't last all day anyway, so you'll have time to check email and stuff from home.

Don't tell them, you'll be history faster than you know it, no matter how "indispensible" you are. Sickness is the way to go. Delhi Belly, and if they whine, give graphic details.

infectious Diarrheal condition - You are not allowed to work for 24 hours - offer the beginning of some nasty details then trail off your voice - OMG gotta GO!!!! then hang up quickly.

Keep in mind that your future employer is probably going to notice the way you are handling yourself at your current company - a fib now could be recalled later when you are really sick. Can you ask for a long lunch and return to make up the hours, if the nature of your job will allow that sort of flexibility?
Good Luck, Flint! I hope it works out for you.

And how is the future employer going to know?

Or just I need a Personal day .
No explanation , no lie , I just need a day off

When I was employed and at an interview for another job, I was asked if I had cleared it with my current employer - maybe they no longer do such things or would not care, and maybe I would not have had to answer, but I was asked. [I think I lied to them anyway]

I've been on all sides of this equation Flint. I really respect your desire to do the honorable thing, BUT if you do it in this case you have a very high probability of taking it in the shorts. Quite a few HR departments I've worked with in the past would send you packing immediately under the real or not so real idea of protecting the company from theft/sabotage/morale damaging attitudes.

Call in sick. Considering that you are apparently a very good employee they shouldn't give you too much grief over that.

In the current environment I would say "no I haven't cleared this interview with my current employer as that would leave me in an untenable situation if we aren't able to reach an agreement here". If they know your current employer knows about the interview they'll assume your decision to leave has already been made and they might not offer you the same package as they would if they felt they had to entice you over.

Just tell your boss that you're having "female problems" and they won't ask for the details.

At my last job I told my boss every time I sent out a resume or had an interview.

If you tell them you're sick, there's a chance someone will see you in your interview clothes. The you'll have some explaining to do.

That and Personal Day option just go to show how long it's been since I've had to do this sort of thing. :blush:

This is the option I'd take.

It's one thing for your current employer to know you want more money, but it could end in no job at all if things don't go your way at the interview. Better to go to the interview outside your normal work hours, get a firm offer in writing and then show it to your current boss and ask if there's anything he'd like to say about it. Who knows, maybe then they'll realize you really do want more money and other companies are willing to pay you what you think you're worth.

Funeral

only advisable if you are actually happy to accept the new job.

yeah well I thought that went without saying.

I like the way you think.

Flint: " Uhh, yeah. I'm having female problems. She's pressing charges and I have to go to an arraignment..."

Flint: "The echo? well, I'm on the can right SPPLORRT! right now, maybe the bathroom FFFFFFFFTTTTT echos a bit. Hang on, I feel a big one coming..."

:greenface

A mostly empty ketchup bottle can be your friend....

A close acquaintance of mine was in this situation recently. She was moderately happy with her current job, but there was a "reorganisation" on. She took a personal leave day, and went to an interview for a job she didn't actually want, just for the experience and to keep her hand in. Her boss knew all along.
The result? Her existing employer "reorganised" her to a transfer to a more interesting department, a promotion, and raise of $15,000/year.

It might work, but it might backfire.
Never be irreplacable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

Read The Rules of Work. Convince your boss that everyone around you is irreplaceable.

But look out Every body around me is an Idiot ( when it comes to certin things ) ,
Example , I get to drive for 6 + hrs Tomorrow ( Literally past 2 other techs houses ) to do a 2 hr job .
Every body else just gets to shrug their shoulders and say I dont know , I get to figuer it out .

Brilliant.

but that is the point. you are the only irreplaceable one there so you would never be considered for a promotion - one of the idiots would be more likely to get the job. the point is to be excellent at what you do, but quietly point out how each person is a crucial part of the company in their current role. you're complimenting your coworkers which is a feel good, positive morale thing and it also shows the boss you are a team player - not one to stab anyone in the back in the name of petty politics.

of course, that may not be applicable in every company.

I don't want to be promoted, I just want to get by.

Wait, is that wrong?

not in my opinion. we're not all meant to do the same thing. even two individuals with the exact same IQ, education, and skill set shouldn't necessarily make the same career choices. each person should find what they enjoy(or at least tolerate) that pays well enough to provide a life style they are comfortable living in. Some people will really truly love their $35,000 year jobs while some will hate their $350,000/year jobs. Who made the better career move?

THIS GUY no contest.

$35K a year would be nice. I pull in about $30K, but I also pull about 55-65 hours a week.

I'm thinking of changing my name to Michael Bolton. Do you want to be Samir? Or Peter?

I'll write my thoughts on promotion later.

He has a meeting with the Bobs...

I was Peter, except that instead of getting a construction job I just slacked off for a while.

Flint:

Just use your own "voice". That is the one you can't escape. Tell the story that you feel most comfortable with. Or the one you feel the least comfortable with. That's the summary of "my" "wisdom".

It was a lot more eloquent in my head. But I still think it's the best course.

But Look out , I do complement my co workers , I also DON'T play politics , I DO NOT get involved in that Kindergarten shit ( their Aint NO money in it , breaks down the team , etc,,, ) , even when they are trying to slam me , I just get to clean up their messes
the Only promption I can get is to Service Mngr , I do NOT want that , I make Over time ( They dont ) , I have been approched befor for this position and turned it down Both times . like UT I don't realy want to get promoted , I just want some body to try and get up to speed and help me that will stick around

To answer the question Flint, I myself, have "doctor's appointments" and will be back at work as soon as possible. The doctor can take an hour to 2 hours to see for a full visit. I am not sick, I just have an appointment mmm'kay?

If the interview is important enough, a better job, more money, and you have a chance at getting it, call in sick that day.

I'm late here, I bet the interview has already happened.

I vote for, "I'm taking tomorrow off for personal business", and do it.

So can you really be fired in America for looking for another job?

You can be let go at anytime for most any reason unless you have a contract. It isn't so much the idea of looking for different employment though. It has more to do with the fact that many people tak company information and property with them when they get new jobs if they have the opportunity.

and most people don't have a contract, unlike in the UK

Seriously? I did not know that.

That issue is dealty with here by enforcing "garden leave" i.e. when you leave the sort of job where you have that information, you are not allowed to start working for another employer until a certain time period has lapsed, in order to render the information/contacts less useful. During that time, your former employer pays you a full wage. I never managed to swing it, myself ...:(

yes, it's a little scary.

Scary? uhuh. Without a contract I can anytime I want and work anywhere I want.

you're self employed, though, aren't you? same is true of self employed in UK.

sorry, sometimes I forget about that. I wasn't always self employed and even then I could walk away to the competition without worry.

contracts prevent employers from abusing employees, dismissing them unfairly etc, and ensure that if you do get terminated, you will get notice or pay in lieu, so you know you'll have breathing space to find another job.

how do you imagine a contact prevents you from working when and where you want? Flexitime is more common in the UK, despite contracts. you are no more or no lessfree to have more than one employer than you are here. If your first employer doesn't like you 'moonlighting" here, they can just fire yiou. In UK, they canonly fire you if it's written in your contract.

edited to note this was written before your last post, so is not so relevant now

But if you have a contract and you want to quit, that's not immediately feasible, is it? I'm not sure about the legality of firing you for moonlighting here anyway, unless you were moonlighting with a directly competing company--and even then, most employers make you sign "non-compete" clauses to make sure it's nice and clear that they don't want you doing that. Non-related industries, I don't think they could get away with it without getting sued.

They don't have to directly terminate you. You may experience a loss in some hours, maybe even so much so, that you have to take another position.

I never worked at a job where I just couldn't SAY I had an interview and would be gone.

Isn't there labor laws to protect people from persecution? Maybe I've only worked for employers under a union. *nod*

I'm still waiting to hear how this turned out.

yes, generally you can just quit. it's usually a couple of week's notice, but it can be less if both parties agree, so if you want to quit, you just do. The penalty is usually a bad/no reference. Technically, they can refuse to acept no notice. few places do. They can fire you for no reason at all here, unless you have a contract. I*t's not technically Moonlighting bacause you don;t have a contract, but so what? They can fire you just because

Wider employment rights and protections only kick in after you've been employed for a year. Your contract is your sole protection during that first year.

Last I knew, non-compete clauses aren't legally binding except in two states in the US.

The little contract work I've done has never dictated that I not work for anyone else while under contract.

*shrugs*