Interview on my day off? WWYD

[AuntieMillicent]

I have applied for a promotion, I currently work 4 days a week and work have scheduled my interview on my day off.

I am afraid that if I point this out to them it will look as if I am inflexible or difficult...but I do have plans that day. I can potentially reschedule them. Or should I go to the interview without fuss to show willing?

Alternatively it may look as if I am too soft if I don't say 'Nope, not coming in on my day off!'

Not trying to make excuses but I am a bit addled today anyway (painkillers and tiredness) hence asking for advice!

I work in the public sector and its very hard to get the interviewers in the same place on the same day to conduct interviews. If you could not attend you would usually lose the chance of doing the interview.

The quandary was mainly because I am sure it is an oversight, it is normal for us to work for ourselves on days off, therefore it would be quite possible that someone would say they couldn't attend as they had private clients.

As it is, it is possible for me to rearrange mine, but this would not always be a possibility, if someone has clients who cannot do other times, or if risk or other factors are present.

I used to book the interviews when it was appropriate for me
if someone needed to move their interview I would accommodate it as much as possible.
if I had other meetings/deadlines I needed to allocate time for I would put the interviews in when I could, and when those on the panel also were available

Hopefully following your promotion your role won't involve making too many decisions.

Yes, it will obviously go against me to seek advice when I am not sure about something. Along with many other internet users.

Ask is it possible to move to X day as original A day doesn't suit.

The difference being that conducting the interviews is part of her job so of course she wouldn’t be expected to work on her day off. Attending an interview as a candidate isn’t work, just as it wouldn’t be if you were an external applicant so doesn’t require scheduling around your working days.

I understand this, sorry-I was more meaning that this supports my thinking that it is an oversight, they've clearly not thought it through so well.

I'm wondering why you started your thread @AuntieMillicent

The vast majority of posters warn you against raising this with the interview panel.

But you seem not to want to accept the message that a change of day request would convey. No matter how 'reasonable' it seems on the face of it, or even if there is a genuine error on their behalf about your day off, there is a risk it'll be perceived as dictating when you're available rather than when they want you to be available.

@AuntieMillicent - I have already posted to say I think you should stick with the scheduled slot but forgot to say: good luck with your interview, btw.

Can't see what the issue is?

You sound hard work op

To you. In my job it absolutely would be seen as work, to be done be in paid time.

Which part of OPs multiple explanations did you not understand?

I am not sure where I haven't accepted it.

For asking a question? This place baffles me sometimes.

Well, now you know that one of the managers can't make it, you could always say " As manager A can't do Monday, shall we make it Tuesday instead?"

I could do, but as the invitation to interview hadn't been retracted, I assume they're fine to just go ahead without her.

Fuck that. There's nothing wrong with saying when you're available and when you're not, and making reasonable requests.
We're past the women know your place bollocks, don't look bolshy, don't cause trouble, just do as you're told.
Maybe you're all thinking OP is extremely junior, because otherwise this "advice" everyone is handing out is rubbish.

That's an interesting take! Thank you.

I am a professional and a clinician, not extremely junior and this role is a step down from what I did before (I took it after the previous company I worked for liquidated.

You've continued to press the point that they have made a misunderstanding of your day off.

In your first post you listed how you could be perceived by them if you asked to rearrange. 90% of posts say yes, that's right.

But you've come back numerous times trying to 'rationalise' how you could ask, mainly because they hadn't realised it clashed with your day off.

It comes over as if you're doing them a massive favour by turning up rather than punching the air because you've got an interview presumably for a job you want.

I haven't tried to rationalise how I could ask? In five separate posts (I just searched all of my own!), the first one being at 09:47 so 7 hours ago, I have said I would attend the interview.

Responding to other posters doesn't change that.

I do think It's a misunderstanding. Still doesn't change that based on responses, I've decided to go to it without question.

I have had to reschedule clients (which they would've been aware that I may have to do) but I've done that.

You continue to respond without acknowledging that you could be in the wrong

Since you don’t work there what do you care? Not every company is like mine, nor is it like yours. Flexible fine but this is an interview for promotion. Believe me it doesn’t look good even if someone doesn’t say something even if they make the right noises, even if the company seems flexible.. And since I did recommend sending a differently worded email to ask to move the date that should be fine.

And yeah I work with humans too who understand life outside the workplace - slightly snide considering again I said to ask to move the interview but with pro activity and flexibility.

I’m not the only one and think your comments while well intentioned and empathetic aren’t universal. A lot of industries even in this day and age don’t bend over backwards for employees and then give them promotions. I know because I have worked for many multinational large companies at a senior level. The first part maybe but the second part doesn’t always follow. Why shouldn’t the OP put her best foot forward to begin with - that is what I am saying.

Woah yeah, I'm the snide one 😂