Excuses - interview

[blCkmagic]

Hi all, I have a job interview but can’t get leave for work as I have a conflict between a conference with my manager’s manager, where I would have to travel to the other end of country and stay overnight so I couldn’t sit the interview at same time. I need an excuse to not go to this travel/event, without mentioning the interview. Any ideas? I’m thinking to just say I’m not feeling well. I’m not the only one who can’t attend, but still feel like I need a good excuse

Just call in sick. The more elaborate the excuse, the less believable it is. Or try and reschedule the interview.

@ILikeItWhatIsIt I have an excuse, can I PM you to see if it’s too elaborate?

Could you sit the interview remotely?

The interview is virtual! but it would be hard to sit it as I have a face to face meeting conflict that I’m struggling to get time away for.

Plus, I will have to travel across the country ti the face to face meeting and that isn’t going to put me in a good interview headspace

I agree about the headspace thing; you could really do with calmness before the interview.

I tend to agree with the previous poster that keeping excuses simple is usually best. A short illness that would rule out travelling, such as vomiting and diarrhoea, might be best.

Reschedule the interview. It is virtual and I would like to think that a company would respect your need to attend a meeting with senior staff. Provide several alternative times / dates.

Oh no what a shame. You've managed to put your back out doing some housework. You can't move and are in huge pain unless you lie flat in your back. You need to see the doctor asap for some very very strong painkillers. Your poor DH will have to help you to the surgery as you can't make it alone How silly, oh dear we are all getting old aren't we. Backs are funny things. Shame you'll miss the event.

Will the hiring company not reschedule? Explain you have a work trip and offer a list of alternative dates

I always think that something gastro is the best way forward. Hard to "prove" and no one wants to catch it.
Just say you are very sorry but you can't be more than 5 metres from a loo.

Well the interview is at my current company - a different department. I doubt I can reschedule as I have experience with interviewing, and we would only rearrange due to extenuating circumstances

It's internal? Don't pretend to be ill, in that case!

Yes I have thought of something that doesn’t require sickness absence!

If it is with the same company I would be more inclined to just be honest with the interviewers. Let them know you’ve got a prior work commitment, that you take your job very seriously. I think it shows good work ethic. Use it to your advantage.

I’m in the public sector where everyone is busy and overworked. It is more so the case that, you try and make the interview timing work, as if it’s not this meeting it will just be something else further down the line.

Don’t do any excuse if it’s internal, talk to them first and explain why this date is not possible as you’re away for work, yes everyone’s busy and it can be hard to schedule but pulling a sickie or any excuse to get out of work and then interviewing internally is madness!

Aren’t you allowed to attend interviews? I don’t understand the need for subterfuge. I’d worry it would come to light, especially if you’re going for a position internally. You’d lose trust and respect at best.

How have you got am internal interview without your boss knowing.

IMO you need to tell your boss or the interview panel about the clash. Which is the better option?

Well that's quite a drip feed. Don't make sickness excuses then!

If it's internal then surely they will understand you have to reschedule!

Not rescheduling unless significant extenuating circumstances seems unnecessarily draconian and an utterly pointless power play.

Sure

Don't bloody lie if you're interviewing in the same government department! Nuts.

Tell your work you can't make this meeting in person, you'd be happy to attend virtually. If they push, cite personal commitments that can't be moved and don't elaborate.

Or ask the interview team if you can be moved to another day as you have existing commitments. Personally, I'd start here.

Didn't realise it was internal. In that case, don't make up an excuse because at some point it's going to be found out and all you'll have achieved is to make yourself out to be a liar.

You cant if its Internal. Being found to have lied to your boss will not help your career prospects at all

I’d just ask to reschedule the interview, an important meeting with a senior manager is something you should prioritise and making up lies will come back on you at some point.

Especially as the interview can be virtual, I’d ask for an alternative time slot.

To be fair this is common in public sector. I was once refused a change of interview date despite having an aunt’s funeral the same day - BY MY OWN MANAGER! I literally had to go to interview in funeral clothes, miss lunch, and drive 50 miles straight to the crematorium afterwards. Oddly enough the feedback afterwards was that the didn’t think I’d ‘performed to the best of my ability’. The official line is to do with organisational costs of assembling the interview panel