To lie about interviews?

[Blossomworld]

What’s the protocol for when you’re applying for new jobs? How am I supposed to get time off for interviews. I can’t keep finding excuses, and I’ve actually had a fair bit of time off for appointments for the kids lately so it’s be cheeky to ask for more. But if I’m honest and say I’m looking for other jobs it’ll almost definitely put my contract renewal at risk.

I wouldn’t lie. If you get the job you will have to tell your employer and so they are likely to realise your sick day was really an interview and that could impact on your references. Employers have to give you time off for interviews.

ChairOnToast

I work term time only and get annual leave but it is scheduled to be taken in the school holidays. You can’t take any of it in term time. That’s the most usual way term time only contracts operate.

Ask for interviews at times you are less likely to be needed by current contractor or either first thing/last thing. It might mean extra childcare but it’s a small price for protecting your income source. I often interviewed around 7/8am as some candidates couldn’t take the time out of a standard working day.

You’ll just have to be honest

Used to be that companies that were serious about getting the best candidate would happily arrange interviews out of hours (done it myself from both sides in the past).

Of course arbitrarily limiting your selection pool may be a thing these days.

You need to talk to your line manager and ask if you have a job next year. If they still can’t confirm, explain you will unfortunately need to start looking for other jobs for financial reasons and may need time off for interviews.

Yes this. If you don’t know yet if they’re keeping you on it’s perfectly reasonable to be job hunting. They wouldn’t expect any different. Talk to them.

@Catlover77 actually I do. Didn’t realise it was unusual.

We get a number of paid sick days per year. That’s what I was referring to. I was just trying to emphasise that until this academic year I had a near on perfect attendance and punctuality record. Whereas now, unfortunately due to circumstances outside of my control, I haven’t.

My manager won’t commit one way or another to telling me if I’ll have a job in September. Due to the jobs im applying for being the same hours as I work now, it’s unlikely I’ll be able to request an interview outside of my working hours.
The job adverts all state the day they’ll be holding interviews on, all 3 on completely different days.

I think you’re all right and I’ll have to just be honest and explain it’s because I need back up plans. To be honest, regardless of whether my contract is renewed or not I would still like to move on.

They are not days to be taken ie they are not a top up to your holiday allowance. They are to be used in genuine circumstances

I am entitled to 3 months paid sick leave but obviously my employer is not thinking most employers are going to need or take that many, even taking just half of those days would still mean I was off sick for 6/7 weeks of the year which is a lot of absence. I would say that in most jobs the number of paid sick days granted us far higher than the number of days they’re expecting people to need so taking 50% of those days is quite high. I haven’t taken a single sick day in the last 12 months and on average would say I only take a maximum of 2 or 3 days in any given year. Obviously if you’re sick you’re sick and it’s completely reasonable to take the days you need but they’re not there for things like interviews and just because you don’t max out the number of given sick days doesn’t mean your attendance is good.

For the sick days queries, it depends on where you are. In Australia, especially in government roles, you receive your 'special leave' or 'personal leave' pre-loaded. This could be for sick days, appointments, parental leave etc etc it's different to annual leave. You use up the days/hours and they roll over to another year so you keep accruing them. They're an entitlement. Probably not the case for OP but that's how they do it out here.

I have had a number of people on fixed term contracts and have always accepted that for the last 3 months at least their mind will be on securing their next role. I will also help them with applications etc. I feel like it is the least I can do for them experiencing the stress of instability. Speak to your manager and say quite honestly that your position is uncertain and you’ll need to be looking abs therefore take time for interviews as as your contract currently stands you’ll be unemployed in x months.

I said I had a hospital apt. In essence I did, for a job interview there 😂

"My manager won’t commit one way or another to telling me if I’ll have a job in September."

Well if your manager wont commit to whether you have a job in September tell him/her that you need to look around for other jobs and so will need time off in the same way you would need time off for health appointments etc .

When will they know? September is less than 3 months away and so they should be in a position to to confirm or not by now. You asking might focus their minds and they may come forward with a contract extension...

I think she’s holding out to see if she can get somebody who can commit to more hours. Wether it’s my choice or not, I think it’s highly unlikely I’ll still be there in September.
Looks like honesty will be the best policy.. although I’ll try my hardest to get interviews late in the day and hopefully after work, but being as they’re in school, it’s likely they’ll be in school hours.

@Blossomworld

I think she’s holding out to see if she can get somebody who can commit to more hours. Wether it’s my choice or not, I think it’s highly unlikely I’ll still be there in September. Looks like honesty will be the best policy.. although I’ll try my hardest to get interviews late in the day and hopefully after work, but being as they’re in school, it’s likely they’ll be in school hours.

Seems fair enough. If her hesitancy backfires on her, tough.

Good luck with the interviews.