AIBU to ask for a day off work and not tell them why

[monkeyfeet]

I have an interview for a new job next week, something more suitable for me more money, less time, closer to home etc... I found out I had an interview after work yesterday but earlier in the day I had been told at my current work I would be doing a project all next week and in truth it would be difficult to get someone to cover.This is the first interview I have had in ages I really hate my current job but it is very difficult to find work at the moment, I work in the construction industry. I have to go to the interview but I really don't want them to know in case I don't get the job but it marks my card so to speak. This is the first interview I have had in ages. So AIBU to ask for the day off but not say why?

Just tell them it's personal and there are confidentiality issues that mean you can't say more .... usually does the trick!

And if they ask further, I'd mutter something about '...medical...'.

If you were making a habit of it, I'd think YWBU but it's a one-off, and less inconvenient for them (due to having warning) than if you were sick, after all.

Good luck!

ah it's personal, yes I will do that then they cannot pry.

I almost never tell anyone why I want a single day off. If they ask I almost always lie. Not sure why I do that, but it does mean I have lots of practise when it comes to interview days.

You ask for a day of annual leave and say you will make sure the project is completed even if you have to complete it in your own time. You say that you need the day because of unavoidable personal circumstances and appreciate it is difficult but you have no other options open to you.

Sagacious Cloud why do you feel the need to lie. What on earth do you do that has to be kept secret.

Not sure exactly why. Think its because my mother (not unreasonably when I was a child) used to demand to know where and what I was doing all the time, basically until I left home at 18. Somehow as an adult, that need to rebel still exists. Interestingly I don't lie to family or friends, just to work colleagues.

What would you do if they say NO?

If this interview is important and you are worried just phone in sick or get husband to ring up for you.

Yes i know that many people on here are too innocent and nice to take this route but at least tehy cannot say no.

Its probably bad but if I needed the day off for an interview and my employer was known to demand reasons, I'd probably throw a sicky. If my employer didn't pry or knew I was seeking work elsewhere I'd probably tell the truth, and the TRUTH in very little detail IS that its personal....

Thank goodness I'm not the only sicky thrower in certain circumstances kind of person MrSpoc

When I was going for interviews I carefully cultivated a 'dodgy boiler' story!

I would throw a sicky too purely on the grounds that this interview is too important to risk missing if the current employers refused the AL, which they can do, especially if they usually request a certain amount of notice.