To apply for a job if I can't make the interview date

[downthedirtroad]

I'm gutted. I've seen a role advertised that would be my perfect next step . Looking at the closing date I can predict when the interviews would be held and that week I have an immovable appointment. Typical. I very rarely have any time off (sickness or otherwise) but this just happens to fall when I have had to take a personal day. I'm a teacher. Should I forget it, maybe speak to them before applying, wait and see what happens...

I wouldn’t worry in this case because the interview date hasn’t been specified. I had to move an interview recently because I was moving house - the interview was set for completion day (on sale and purchase) in a town 30 miles away. I did offer Skype but luckily someone sane on the panel decided that was a bad idea for me, and set the interview a week later - and it went well, I was successful. If you don’t ask, you don’t get, and if you don’t apply you can’t ask!

From the otherwise as an employer who has interviewed, I would say apply, however, I given the number of people involved in interviews in my public sector organisation, we rarely give flexibility on interviews. But that depends on the role, number of candidates and occasionally if the candidate is exceptional on paper.

The worst they can say is no and if you don’t apply you won’t even get that!

I applied for a teaching job knowing that the interview might be when I was on holiday. When I was invited to interview and realised that I would indeed be away, I contacted the headteacher and in the end it was decided a phone interview would be possible. If they want to interview you they will, hopefully, work something out.

I think you'd be mad not to apply because of when the interview might be. Especially when the advert says TBC

If they've not set a date by the time of the advert it's quite possible one of the governors is having trouble getting time off work, or someone is on holiday, or the school is expecting OFSTED

The last job I had in a school the interview was well out of the usual window because one of the panel was expecting to be on paternity leave so they scheduled it much further on than usual to ensure they were back

You won't get the job if you don't apply

I only did this once, said on the application form I couldn't make the interview date and was there any chance of rearranging and was rejected immediately. With public sector roles they specify the date and if you can't make it, tough. This was about 15 years ago though, they might be more flexible now. And maybe they would have rejected me anyway.

But teaching may be different.

And this is different because they've said TBC so you've nothing to lose by applying except your time!