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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Asking for an interviews at a convenient time

75 replies

CantConcentrateEver · 19/01/2016 18:05

I'm 23 and have been having grad interviews. I don't live in London but have been happily going up there to attend interviews. Some of them are eg at 9.50am so early; I've booked my train in advance to save money and leave home at 6ish so not terrible.

My parents think I should "stick up for myself" to stop myself being "shat on" by future employers. Ie ask for an interview after peak train travel time to save on travel expenses (which are not reimbursed).

I OTOH think I should just suck it up and that it is what it is.

Who is right?!

OP posts:

Believeitornot · 20/01/2016 06:09

You factually explain the issue and ask for a later slot.

If they are arsey and say no then this is no company to work for.

If they say at least consider or say say yes, then yes a good company to work for.

Employers should treat their staff and future staff with respect. Sensible and successful companies realise that how they act, in all channels, adds to their reputation and helps them attract and retain.

Leigh1980 · 20/01/2016 06:20

I agree parents are completely out of the loop. My mother couldn't understand why I wouldn't be able to take 6 weeks off to go and see them (they lived abroad when I used to live in the UK) she then went to call my boss from SA to ask herself!! The reason she gave my boss was that she misses me 😂 Luckily my boss and I laughed about it as I was senior manager looking after 90 staff and she wanted me to go off for 6 weeks because 2 weeks wasn't long enough.

As a manager, I'd say it is fine to ask for a later slot. Most people I interviewed did and I never though anything of it.

PrimalLass · 20/01/2016 06:26

As a graduate I would just suck it up. However, I did ask to change the time of an interview before Christmas as it was that it not go. I did get the job, so it doesn't always mark your card as 'difficult'.

ImogenTubbs · 20/01/2016 06:28

I think it's fine to ask (I am interviewing grads at the moment). However, if they say no, then you have to suck it up. I have a very busy day, and often first thing is the only clear time.

ImogenTubbs · 20/01/2016 06:30

Also, be careful how you ask - suggesting that it's 'too early' makes you sound like someone who'll always be late.

AnotherTimeMaybe · 20/01/2016 06:36

I interview candidates often and if I was told what your parents suggested I wouldn't be impressed !
You're a graduate you need this job you have no experience and you have to make an impression!
They have their own plans as well and they possibly only see you at 9:50 am! When you have a few years of experience and you have offers left right and centre by all means request different time that still wouldn't go down well with most of us though
Remember there is competition out there, don't ruin it for yourself!

TheFear · 20/01/2016 06:36

Absolutely fine to ask, don't say why. It's not a problem in my experience both as an interviewer and interviewee.
To me, it's someone ensuring they are fully prepared and available and they are not afraid to ask for what they need.

Teaandcakeat8 · 20/01/2016 07:11

I'm another one that thinks it depends on the company set up.

Who do you think will be arranging the interview? If it's a HR assistant or similar most likely they won't be too involved in the process and won't influence the choice. If it's a small company and your interview is with the Managing Director and Chairman (as mine was in my first grad job!) probably best to suck it up.

Also try and work out what sort of interview it is; should give you an indication on the invite. If it's an assessment centre then you will obviously have to stick to the agreed time. Some larger companies seem to have specific slots and the recruitment process is very organised. Where I work is small and interview timings quite flexible. We have second interviews for a position next week and have been very accommodating of later times, in fact we are staying until 8pm to interview. I say you probably have more chance of rescheduling in a smaller less formal organisation, and you should be able to get this impression from doing your research.

Blu · 20/01/2016 07:15

The good thing is that you have not picked up your parents' 'attitude'!

In a big company It is highly unlikely that the person who arranges all the interview times is a decision maker in the process. There is nothing wrong with a polite enquiry.

AnotherTimeMaybe · 20/01/2016 10:22

Even if the person arranging the interview is not the decision maker they still have the check with the interviewer for his availability. He might not appreciate been asked to rearrange especially if he's busy throughout the day
I'm in a massive company and our HR doesn't arrange interviews the agents do it directly with us
OP you could get someone really nice and understanding but you might get someone really busy, demanding , utterly professional who doesnt have time for this
It's a risk to take, and since you need this job I assume, is it worth taking it?
If you really struggling with money and you must change the time do be very honest with them and tell the truth and be very nice about it, ask and don't demand it

Btw your parents' attitude sucks, they shouldn't teach you this style! My uncle and auntie were like this and their 45 yo ds still never ended up working ever in his life!
Good luck with interview!

Anotherusername1 · 20/01/2016 11:08

Remember there is competition out there, don't ruin it for yourself!

Remember there is competition for candidates too. I'm really surprised so many of you find it so easy to recruit. It's not easy getting the right person. It's very easy to get the wrong person. Maybe this is why so many employers were finding themselves at employment tribunals before the fees were introduced.

Sussexsavvy · 20/01/2016 11:15

I've worked in London for years and also been on the interview panel many times, you can always ask if there is a later time slot available, it won't be held against you. Many people request either first thing i.e. 8-9am or last thing 5-6pm because they need to fit the interview in around the job they already have. I've asked for an 8am or 6pm interview before because I haven't been able to take time off during the day and didn't want to make my current employer aware I was job hunting. Good luck!

RhodaBull · 20/01/2016 11:18

I think it's entirely reasonable very politely to ask for another slot. Another day... not so reasonable. Asking for travel expenses - don't even go there. I remember when I was interviewing one candidate asked to be reimbursed for her travel... from Greece! She explained she'd pre-booked a holiday and had flown back to attend the interview. We couldn't even form our mouths into words to decline the request. It wasn't as if she was resident in Greece and we'd invited her; she was just there on holiday! Bizarre.

But, anyway, OP, good luck and keep the faith!

newlabelwriter · 20/01/2016 11:21

The last two firms (West End / City Financial) I have worked for reimburse for travel so definitely worth asking, it's pretty standard for a lot of companies.

AnotherTimeMaybe · 20/01/2016 11:26

Anotherusername it depends in the industry! I find it extremely easy to find candidates for interview , in fact quite a few agencies contact us daily for candidates, which we turn down but yes it's true that it's hard to find a 'good' one that didn't lie on the interview... But that's not the case here. OP has no experience so she's not really a candidate to go for ... She needs to build up experience and good reputation first!

fiorentina · 20/01/2016 11:48

When I'm interviewing for roles I usually give a few slots but to be fair they are usually early on or after work time as that works better for me. I wouldn't be offended if someone asked for a different time.
Good luck!

BanningTheWordNaice · 20/01/2016 11:53

I'm horrified by some of the people saying that they purposefully give interviewees early morning slots to "test" them. I'm currently staying overnight in hotels prior to interviews as all of mine are 3/4 hours away and I can't be certain that I won't get stuck in traffic/have a car problem etc. I've probably shelled out about £200 on attending 2 double interviews and wouldn't have asked for a particular slot but was often given a more helpful time by managing directors once I'd reached the second round.

MackerelOfFact · 20/01/2016 11:59

If the person scheduling the interview isn't on the interview panel, I'd definitely ask if there are any other slots available - the interviewers will likely be none the wiser.

However if the person inviting you to interview is the interviewer, I wouldn't personally ask to swap it, and certainly wouldn't let on that it was down to travel, as it would imply that you have a problematic commute and may be unreliable for that reason.

To be honest, I've often been given a choice of interview slots or arranged interview times mutually in the past. I guess first job/graduate interviews are different though as there's a higher number of candidates to get through and no career experience to speak of, so showing that you have the right attitude does matter.

MadisonMontgomery · 20/01/2016 12:06

I often book people for interviews - we will have the same amount of slots as candidates, so you can definitely ask what times are available/if you could have a later time, but they are fixed so if you can't accommodate then it is tough. I regularly have people asking for a different day and the answer is always no - we have so many applicants for each job that it doesn't matter if some of them can't make it. In the current financial climate I think you have to just suck it up.

SevenOfNineTrue · 20/01/2016 12:55

Totally disagree. Do you actually want to work for a company like this? If you need a candidate to do a job, you need to be nice to them!

I didn't mention not being nice. Usually graduate interviews and assessment centres are arranged months in advance to ensure the key managers are there. If they only have three dates or three timeslots and the student can't make any of them, then it is tough luck. That's not being 'not nice', it is just how it is.

Remember there is competition for candidates too.

Yes but usually only for specialised industries such as engineering. Most of the schemes have hundreds of graduates chasing relatively few jobs especially in the prestigious companies.

Alicewasinwonderland · 20/01/2016 13:12

Remember there is competition for candidates too. I'm really surprised so many of you find it so easy to recruit. It's not easy getting the right person.

so very true.

When we recruit direct, we do receive hundreds of CVs A DAY for around 3 weeks. To be nice, let's say 75% fit the job (as opposed to come from random people who don't even satisfy our visa requirements). Of all that pile, I might keep between 20 and 50 CV (and cut number even further for interviews).

So, if I bother giving you a call to arrange an interview, a request for a different slot won't put me off. Cancelling at the last minute, being late, being ill are a different story.

AnotherTimeMaybe · 20/01/2016 13:14

To be nice, let's say 75% fit the job
Yes but how does a graduate fit the job?

Brokenbiscuit · 20/01/2016 13:19

Remember there is competition for candidates too. I'm really surprised so many of you find it so easy to recruit. It's not easy getting the right person. It's very easy to get the wrong person.

It is indeed possible to get the wrong person. That's why we're so careful at the selection stage. In my experience, candidates who seem "entitled" and "demanding" during the recruitment process tend to become "entitled" and "demanding" employees if you hire them. I have learnt to pay attention to the signals that they send before they even get to interview!

We have no trouble at all in attracting well qualified candidates to work for us. We pay well, have great T&C including very good pension arrangements, a pleasant working environment with great facilities, we offer generous holidays and extremely flexible working. Add that to a very friendly working culture, and the challenge is not to find enough good candidates, but rather to ensure that we pick the very best ones for interview. If an applicant doesn't seem that committed, there are plenty more who will take their place.

AnUtterIdiot · 20/01/2016 13:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Blu · 20/01/2016 20:00

If someone asks for a different slot due to travel (and everyone knows that the difference between a peak and off peak train ticket can be over £100) I don't view them suspiciously as having a difficult commute that will make them late, I presume that they will re-locate if they get the job!

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