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Original poster

I have an interview but can’t get day off WWYD

66 replies

Belgianbuns · 02/11/2019 08:17

I have been shortlisted for an amazing job I applied for - it is one that I would desperately love! I have been trying for over a year to get myself a position with this company as not only is it the industry i currently work in but they are great to work for with fantastic benefits. To even be shortlisted for an interview means I can get a small foot in the door. However I am pretty sure if I apply for the day off for 1 weeks time it would be declined. So do I make up an good excuse as to why I need this day off and risk being declined or throw a sickie? I have never had 1 day off sick in the 2 years I have been there and it is not something that I approve of or would encourage. But I need to go to this interview! WWYD

OP posts:

rookiemere · 03/11/2019 07:39

Will look really suss if you take a half day sickie- much better just to take the whole day and be in the right frame of mind for your interview.

LemonPrism · 03/11/2019 07:48

Yep. Sickie. I find it crazy that people aren't given statutory time (filed through HR) for interviews.

I'm having to go to one today (Sunday 8-4) because I couldn't get any working days off. Not great having to make the interviewers miss their weekend too

AJPTaylor · 03/11/2019 08:22

Not an appointment. Might be asked for proof.
Sick day. I am amazed when people say tell your employer. In most jobs that would be career suicide

always2ndbest · 03/11/2019 08:29

Be careful! My dp threw a sickie for an interview. The morning of the interview the company he was applying for emailed his current boss asking for a reference and included the date and time of his interview. His boss called him and said they knew he'd lied and if he didn't come straight in to work he would face disciplinary procedures. He went to the interview anyway, didn't get the job and then got given a written warning, lost his bonus that month, had wages deducted and his boss made his life hell. He's left there now luckily, but just be careful if you've said they can ask for references before you've been interviewed.

DonnaDarko · 03/11/2019 08:34

Throw a sickie, do not tell them you need time off for an interview! They are not obliged to let you have time off for interviews unless they're making you redundant.

Do not give them references unless they give you a job offer in writing! I've never given references before a job offer :/

always2ndbest · 03/11/2019 08:39

DonnaDarko it was for a job in a child related field. The application asked if references could be obtained before the interview and DP had written no but they did anyway. A lot of application forms he's filled in have asked the same and he's always put no and they've adhered to that. On this occasion they went ahead and did it anyway.

Paperyfish · 03/11/2019 08:45

I had this exact problem 18 months ago. Only way round it was to take a fake sick day. I didn’t get paid for sick days, so I didn’t feel to bad. Got the job. Some times it’s the only way and it’s not like you’re the type to habitually take sickies. Also, with it being autumn time it makes a d and v sickie call in very believable!

HeronLanyon · 03/11/2019 08:48

As we are not indentured slaves it’s crazy we have to dissemble about interviews this way isn’t it ?
Definitely attend the interview (unless you can get it shifted to the evening etc).
In my twisted logic I would make a dentist appointment and attend it (checkup etc) so that there is a modicum of reality about things and so that you can show evidence of an appointment. Realise this is kind of compounding the dishonesty !
Fantastically well done op. Really good luck.

MollyButton · 03/11/2019 08:48

Not D and V (should be off for 48 hrs for that). Migraine is a better choice - if you have any cold symptoms could be brought on by that.

CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt · 03/11/2019 08:50

But if you pull a sickie and get the job, but you’ve had no official time off to attend an interview, your company will figure it out anyway? I don’t get this..

Scarydinosaurs · 03/11/2019 08:57

coolcool yup and that’s how everyone has to do it. If it was standard to request time for interviews in her industry it wouldn’t be a problem.

Dollywilde · 03/11/2019 09:02

Of course they’ll figure it out, but what are they going to do about it? You’ve already got a new job....

Also it’s not hard to interview outside work hours. Thinking back to the last times I got jobs:

Current job - 1st interview long lunch (said I had an appt at lunchtime, made up the time end of day) 2nd interview coincidentally had holiday booked already

Last job - 1st interview in my lunch hour, 2nd interview end of day and said I needed to get away early so started and finished an hour early

Job before that - pulled x2 sickies as it was the only way I could manage it

I work in a professional job in the City and I never fake a sick day outside of stuff like this - I pride myself on having integrity - but literally everyone does it. Do you think the company would hesitate to screw you over if it needed to cut costs? Almost certainly not. So why are you so hesitant that you’ll sacrifice your own career development to be its wage slave?

GaaaaarlicBread · 03/11/2019 10:02

I’ve had this situation before and what worried me was them asking my manager for a reference and they’d know I lied about being sick as they’d know I had been to an interview , so I actually made myself a GP appointment so work would let me out (so if they happened to say can I have confirmation of your appointment, I could show them the text) , went for the interview and cancelled the GP appointment on my way there so it wasn’t wasted for someone else . My manager is funny though so that was the only way for me

I got the job 🥰 good luck ! Don’t let this opportunity go ! X

Mumista · 03/11/2019 10:12

I requested a short notice half day holiday for a medical appointment. Was the most stressful part of the whole job application! Turns out my boss was looking for a new job too and we eventually both quit on the same day!

Good luck!

Bouledeneige · 03/11/2019 19:05

Throw a sickie.

Isleepinahedgefund · 03/11/2019 22:12

Last interview I had I just told my manager and he excused me from work for the hour and a half it took. He's been very good to me and I didn't want to suddenly be announcing surprise! I'm leaving! If I got the job (I did!)

Time before I arranged a meeting offsite and piggybacked the interview onto that, as I didn't want my manager (different one) to know I was looking for another job.

Personally I wouldn't throw a sickie in case I was found out, but needs must if that's the only way you can get the time off.

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