Job interview

[Tulips78]

I'm a nurse, if I get offered a job interview on a shift when I'm working what do I do? I don't really want to tell my manager I've got a job interview and she's very unlikely to accommodate it, obviously she has no reason or obligation to anyway. But it looks bad to the recruiter if I say I cant do it or ask for an alternative date. What do people do in this situation please?

Negotiate the interview time/date or book annual leave?

If it's NHS to NHS then the policy is your manager should try to accommodate it.
If it's not just for an alternative date, lots of people do, it can't be helped.

So is it okay to ask a company you want to interview for to change the date if you cant do the date you ask for?
It's not NHS to NHS its NHS to a private company or a charitable organisation or a government/council organisation

Yes of course. They must understand the nurses need to book time off well in advance. Hopefully they will appreciate your loyalty and commitment.

I work in recruitment, If it's last minute I'd suggest Drs or dentist appointment. Do you have kids?
Booking holiday could be expected but there's although nothing wrong with suggesting to the recruiter with alternative times/dates. It just depends on if they have set recruitment days

I don't think it does look bad to the recruiter if you can't make that day. Shows you have a good work ethic in a very important job.

What? Just say you cannot do that date, did they not ask you about availability when you applied?

Tell them your days off and ask to rearrange to then.

@Socksandfrocks in my NHS nurse role we are expected to make appointments out of work. We were reminded the other day after people asking that only maternity appointments would be allowed in work times (because they legally have to)
Annual leave is very rarely approved without at least a couple of weeks notice

I have no kids

I've worked for about 6 different NHS Trusts over the years and every single one has had the policy that they HAVE to allow you time off for interviews (infact I assumed this was NHS-wide!). It's a little different from 'appointments' because that's typically been assumed to be things like car MOTs, Dentists, Opticians, and (back in the day when you got a choice) Doctors apps, ie things where you'd get a range of times or dates to choose from.

Since COVID my current Trust has clamped down and now they say that only Hosp appointments and Interviews are essential because, again, those are things that you can't choose the time and date of.

The recruiter has to take into account you already have a job, I’d go back with the dates you can do. I’ve done it many times and it’s never been a problem. Good luck

@FarmGirl78 is that when you're going from an NHS job and interviewing for an NHS job though? Is it not a bit awkward to tell your manager that you're interviewing for another job? Especially if you don't get it and have to go back with your tail between your legs...

Perfectly fine to ask for another date - many do and it’s not a problem

Take the time as leave, it's the only way if you can't swap a shift.

When applying if you have regular shift dates/times, it's not unacceptable to state Due to the nature of my job,, I am only available for interview on (dates) or (times) or with x number of days notice. IME

I don't see how they'd ever know whether your interview was internal or external. Would they ask? For me, neither would be a problem. I suppose it depends on your Trust official policy.