How To Get Time Off To Go On Interviews When You Are Employed

It is easier to get a job while you are still employed. Many companies will view the fact that you are currently employed as evidence that you are reliable, loyal, and the type of person that many businesses would want as an employee. Hiring managers would rather hire somebody who still has a job, than a person who is unemployed.

One of the most difficult tasks of being employed and job searching is finding time to interview. A hiring manager will call you up with the good news that you have been selected for an in-person meeting. You get excited, thinking of the possibility of being hired for the position. Then comes the reality: you need to figure out a way to take time off for the interview.

How do you find time to interview when you already have a job? Is there a way to sneak out for an interview without being caught by your current boss? In this article we discuss ways that you can interview for other jobs, while still being employed

Find Times Outside of Work

The first thing you should do, and the best scenario, would be to schedule your interview for days that you are not working. This could be during the weekends, after normal business hours, or any weekdays that you are not working.

When an interviewer first contacts you, they will ask you to please give several dates that you are available for a meeting. Don’t be afraid to be open about your availability. Tell the hiring manager what times and days would work best for you. If you can only meet during night time hours, or during the weekends, then be honest and tell them that. Give your interviewer several times that work with your schedule, so that together you can find a time that best works.

Most companies will be flexible with finding a time that works best for you. This is because, in their eyes, you are an incredible candidate and they want to hire you. Turning you down for the times you would be able to interview would mean potentially losing you as a candidate, and that is a risk most businesses do not want to take.

Businesses will happily meet with you during weekends, night hours, or whatever situation is necessary. Be honest about what your availability is for interviewing. Prospective employers will respect your dedication, loyalty and work ethic.

Find a time outside of your current working hours that is convenient for both you and the company you are interviewing with. The best part about finding a time outside of work is that it is convenient for you, and it does not detract from time at your current job.

Take Time Off Work

There may be no opportunity for you to meet outside of work. Maybe you have other obligations other than your current job that prevent you from interviewing. Or maybe you just feel nervous asking the company to accommodate you at unusual hours.

You might have a situation where you will be required to take time off of work in order to attend an interview. The time that you have allocated for personal days, vacation days, and sick days is yours to spend the way that you would like to. Take time off for the day you are planning on interviewing, if you have enough time off available to do so.

Remember that you are under no obligation to tell your management or coworkers exactly what you are doing with the day. A simple “I need the day off” will suffice. Then you can feel free to go to your interview as scheduled. It is important to give as few details as possible. Your current boss and coworkers do not need to know why you need the day off.

If your management does inquire as to what you are planning on doing that day, try to keep it as vague as possible: “I’m busy that day” “I have something else going on” or “I have an appointment.” Managers will not press for more information.

Whatever you do, do not try to weave an elaborate lie for why you need the day off. If your boss ever found out that you were lying, that could put you in an uncomfortable situation with your current job. You don’t want to get caught driving around town in a business suit, when you are supposed to be in bed sick.

Don’t tell your boss every week that you have a new medical appointment or that your dog needs to go to the veterinarian again. Keep your time off as discreet and private as possible.

Get Creative

Think outside the box for ways that you can schedule an interview during the workday. Maybe you can plan your interview for early in the morning, and then come into work during the afternoon. This would allow you to only miss half of a day of work. It isn’t advised to do it the other way around, as you would probably be too anxious, thinking about your upcoming job interview for later on in the day.

Some people do interviews during their lunch break, extending their lunch break as necessary in order to accommodate the interview time. This is an option if you absolutely cannot miss any time from work, and cannot meet up outside of working hours. But this option rushes your interview and cramps you for time, and it is not the best solution.

Many people have jobs that allow them to travel or work from home. If you have a profession that allows you to control your own schedule, or you are a person who is always on the road at meetings, you could schedule an interview during the day.

Planning Your Interviews

Remember to request time off far in advance, as soon as you know about a potential interview. Employers often prefer to know about time off requests in advance, so they can put together work schedules. Sometimes a company will email you, asking you to come in tomorrow for an interview. You might be able to pull off ditching work once or twice for an interview.

If you continue to ask your current employer for last minute requests for time off, they are going to get suspicious. They may also refuse to grant your time off.

Be considerate to your current workplace and schedule your time off well in advance.

Job hunting can be a long process. You might be invited to dozens of interviews before you land a job offer. Of course, that is quite a bit of time to miss off from work. Remember that you are still employed by your current job. It is important for you to be dedicated and loyal to them, and to show up for your scheduled shifts to the best of your ability.