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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

How are you suppose to go to interview?!!!

163 replies

HeyArnoldHey · 12/10/2021 09:45

Ok AIBU.....
Looking for a new job . I currently work Monday to Friday 8-5 . No flexability. One week notice required for holiday day. And questions asked ....

I have been offered a few interviews during my search . Usually 2 days before with really little flexibility on the times offered only 11am , 12, 1pm . How the hell are you suppose to go for interviews......

I went to one and had a sick day (no other option!) and didn't get that. I can't keep being sick if I don't get others.....
How does everyone manage it??

OP posts:

TheKeatingFive · 12/10/2021 10:19

Ah why is it so difficult

Just pull a sickie. It's a no win situation.

TheKeatingFive · 12/10/2021 10:20

This time rather than doing that, I'm studying every single company/vacancy and I'm already in much better position than last time.

That's super for you, but the OP already has a job

IcedCoffeeAlways · 12/10/2021 10:20

[quote Terribleluck]@bluntness maybe not the best one to advise as I'm currently unemployed, BUT looking for a better job is a FT venture IMO. If she can afford it, I would highly recommend it. It really depends what's at stake.[/quote]
@Terribleluck She might be able to afford it for a month...but then what if she doesn’t get any of the new positions?! 🙈🤣 then one month turns into two. Then you start a new job and have to wait a month to be paid.

Absolutely awful advice to leave a job to look for another!

Pedalpushers · 12/10/2021 10:22

I've always just claimed I have an appointment or am ill/need to leave early for xyz, but I've never worked anywhere particularly strict.

It isn't THAT stupid, in a lot of companies, to tell them you are looking for other jobs, I know several people who have been promoted with big pay rises after doing this.

pianolessons1 · 12/10/2021 10:23

@TheKeatingFive

Ah why is it so difficult

Just pull a sickie. It's a no win situation.

not great to have a recent poor sick record when you're looking for another job

Brefugee · 12/10/2021 10:23

Your current team sounds a bit toxic - there is absolutely no requirement that you ever tell anyone why you want to take personal leave. (unless it's really urgent for something and you want them to understand the urgency, for example)

I think that it's unreasonable for employers to give interviews only during business hours - mine will interview evenings and weekends to get the right candidate. In person, in a café if necessary, via teams or zoom if the candidate is too far away.

I'd just reply with that isn't possible because of your working hours and suggest 2 alternatives that suit you. And try to put it in your cover letter in a nice diplomatic way.

Envoitrevisage · 12/10/2021 10:23

I’m astonished people are suggesting things like quitting and telling their boss they are on their way out! Bloody hell. Agree with @Bluntness100, these are phenomenally stupid ideas.

@Terribleluck it doesn’t need to be…. And usually isn’t. Most people get their promotions by doing well at their correct role, not by having chunks of unemployment.

VladmirsPoutine · 12/10/2021 10:23

Say appointment. Don't specify.

Seasonschange · 12/10/2021 10:24

The catch 22 I have found is people are more willing to be flexible/reasonable around interviews the higher up the pay scale you go.

When I was earning minimum wage I must have pulled about 6 sickies / fake appts and used ten days of annual leave for interviews. Was a miserable year.

On my last job hunt, I did all my interviews on phone (and just worked from home on those days) or before/after work.

If there is one you really want and think you have a good shot at then you might have to pull a sickie. Alternatively you can make up a doctors /dentist appt then you don’t have to miss the whole day and just offer to make up a couple of hours. I would always tell them you’d prefer after work if possible. And if they only give you two days notice and reject you for not being able to attend then I’d see that as a red flag for them not you. When they arrange it so close it’s worth asking to reschedule.

MyPatronusIsACat · 12/10/2021 10:25

Advising such a spectacularly stupid thing is ridiculous.

As @TheKeatingFive said, most people in the real world, (and not the privelged bubble of mumsnet) couldn't even DREAM of doing this.

This is real life, not a film, or an episode of Friends! (Both Chandler AND Rachel did this at one point in the series, and it's a STUPID STUPID thing to do!)

@HeyArnoldHey Please do not take this dangerous and ludicrous advice to quit your job before getting another.

MyPatronusIsACat · 12/10/2021 10:25

@Terribleluck

that's why I mentioned only quit first if she could afford it.....

You cannot possibly know if ANYONE can 'afford it,' because neither you - or anyone else can know how long you will be unemployed for, (if you are stupid enough to give up your job without getting another one.)

So no-one can actually budget to do such a stupid thing as give up their job without finding another job, because (as I said,) you cannot possibly know how long you will be unemployed for.

Moreover, if I was an employer, I would be very reluctant to employ someone who was so reckless, and irresponsible, and stupid enough to quit their job without having another one to go to.

daisyjgrey · 12/10/2021 10:25

Christ, who do you work for? Putin?!

Rosebel · 12/10/2021 10:26

Where I work most people have just been honest and say they have an interview. I think they are supposed to give you time off.
However where I work there's quite a high turnover of staff and they don't really expect people (especially young people) to stay for long.
So maybe that's different.

TheKeatingFive · 12/10/2021 10:26

not great to have a recent poor sick record when you're looking for another job

What else is she supposed to do?

Plus it's easy to explain

MyPatronusIsACat · 12/10/2021 10:27

@VladmirsPoutine

Say appointment. Don't specify.

Good idea. ^

If you don't specify, the you are not lying.

@HeyArnoldHey That may be a good idea, to just say you have an appointment. If they do push/press you for what it is, just say it's personal.

Rosebel · 12/10/2021 10:28

Or failing that book a section of annual leave after applying for several jobs and then you have time to attend any interview offered.

girlmom21 · 12/10/2021 10:29

Any potential employer who's worth working for will generally be flexible with interview times (apart from places like the NHS where everything's set up on an online system from what I've experienced with them).

Ask for an early morning/late evening interview.

If you work 8-5 ask for a 5:30pm interview.

Terribleluck · 12/10/2021 10:30

It really depends on her job? I'm just talking from experience, and what I'm doing right now which is slightly outside the box. I've only ever resigned once without something else lined up, and it wasn't as bad, but as mentioned that year I had to all sorts of odd jobs and was so tired in the end that couldn't put my mind to something that was worth my time.

OverTheRubicon · 12/10/2021 10:31

People here absolutely do live in another world when it comes to jobs - or maybe that's just what it's like in the public sector, or they haven't applied for anything for a long time?

Barely anyone ever reads cover letters in the private sector (it's unlikely that it will even be a human doing the initial screen), so putting it there won't help
In a huge number of jobs, telling your boss you want an interview is career suicide
Lots of people have only 20 days leave and often need it to cover school.holidays

Personally I'd ask for 8am or similar and by Zoom for first rounds if possible, use leave if you can, and if not, make the excuse a dental appointment, because they legitimately often form a course of 2-4 sessions. If they won't be flexible then you'll otherwise be stuck forever.

CSJobseeker · 12/10/2021 10:32

Just be honest with the recruiter and try to negotiate more notice for the interview, and then book annual leave. This is what I've always done.

When I've been recruiting, I've always given more than 2 days notice for interviews (a week minimum is polite in my view) and I will offer an alternative date if I think the candidate is a good one.

Don't quit your job.
Don't tell them you're sick (it will be obvious when you hand in your notice if you've had a lot of sick days recently, and will sour the relationship. Remember you'll need a reference from them!).
Don't tell them what the annual leave is for.

TheOrigRights · 12/10/2021 10:32

It's not private at all either , our manager and team know every little details about each other any time off is openly discussed . Anything else would be suspicious . Any other workplace you didn't have to divulge so much but if I didn't where I am now it would be pushed and pushed.

Bloody hell.
So everyone knows if you're having a smear test, having a mental health assessment, getting a coil fitted?

I imagine there is little respect for the manager.

OverTheRubicon · 12/10/2021 10:32

@Rosebel

Or failing that book a section of annual leave after applying for several jobs and then you have time to attend any interview offered.

That also won't work, because you don't usually get jobs falling into a nice section. One job will have their boss off on leave or with covid, the other will have 3 rounds of interviews, and the last one will.leave you hanging and then give 2 days' notice.

Original poster

HeyArnoldHey · 12/10/2021 10:33

@daisyjgrey Putin lol

It's kind of one of the reasons I'm wanting to move on to be honest . We are critised heavily on our personality , personal appearance , lifestyle out of work, how we spend our lunch breaks.

I actually have a medical condition (won't say what - abit outing) it is visible in bad times and it's commented on. Told to do x y z about it from people with no experience or knowledge and it's embarrassing.

God I'd love some flexability.
If we do wfh we are to be live at all times and even have to tell our manager when we go to the toilet via IM, not chance of stepping out I'm afraid.

OP posts:

CSJobseeker · 12/10/2021 10:33

@Rosebel

Or failing that book a section of annual leave after applying for several jobs and then you have time to attend any interview offered.

How on earth would this work when you have no idea at all when an interview might be? They can sometimes be delayed by weeks. Do you use all your annual leave in one go?

CSJobseeker · 12/10/2021 10:35

@TheKeatingFive

not great to have a recent poor sick record when you're looking for another job

What else is she supposed to do?

Plus it's easy to explain

"I took sick leave to attend job interviews"

You think a future employer is going to think that's a good thing? Really?!

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