Interview Dates

[isitme111]

I'm looking to apply for other roles but it's hard for me to book time off work at short notice for interviews. I do have a fixed day off each week though. Is it acceptable to put on job applications that I am only available for interview on this day of the week ?

I mean you can certainly put it but it might put some recruiters off or make them think you're less committed - but then again the same people probably will think the same if they shortlist you, invite you to interview then find you can only do a Tuesday or whatever. I don't know about elsewhere but in my industry it's not really the norm to say that kind of thing though unless the question is explicitly asked on the form. If you are going to put it I would probably frame it more positively to say something like 'I am readily available for interviews on Tuesdays, for interviews on others days on the week I would prefer 2 weeks notice or I may struggle to attend' rather than 'I am only available for interviews on Tuesdays' which sounds a bit demanding.

It really does depend on what kind of roles you're applying for though, for some of the specialist jobs I recruit to there's a real dearth of people so if you were well qualified and experienced I would bend over backwards to interview you on your preferred day/time. Whereas for more entry level/junior roles I usually have a lot of good candidates so it's pretty much take the offered day or leave it - I do always give people at least a week's notice, usually 10 days, plus a choice of times, and we interview remotely, so I tend to expect a keen candidate to make themselves available within those constraints. Harsh maybe but I haven't really got time to be waiting a month until the one day one candidate can easily do when I could have recruited someone and got them started in that time...

Thanks Maxelly - I totally get where your coming from. Personally I think it's a bit off to specify a particular day but if it's the only day I can do.. I like your suggestion of phrasing it more positively though.

I don’t know what prospective employers expect you to do? I only managed to get the job I’m in now as I swapped a rest day with a colleague who was agreeable, so I could attend the interview. There isn’t always a lot of notice either. I have seen some places now say things like ‘Interviews will be held on 23 of March’ in the initial advert which is more helpful.

An old friend used to be a team manager in a life assurance/pension company and was telling me she'd asked a candidate where her current employer thought she was. The woman told them she’d booked sick. Friend couldn’t believe it. I asked how did she expect people who were already in jobs and may have to give a few weeks notice for leave, or not be allowed to book odd days here and there, to get to an interview on a Thursday at 11:00 (for example).

Agree LutonBeds when employers specify the interview date as part of the job advert it's extremely helpful ! So fortunate for you that you were able to swap a rest day with a colleague.

My experience is in contrast with a PP in that employers were more than happy to arrange interviews for both parties' convenience. In fact I was quite pleasantly surprised by this when I was job-seeking for the first time in many years recently.

Most of them treated the whole thing quite like arranging any business meeting i.e finding a free place in both calendars knowing we were all busy people.

This was for Zoom interviews though so easier than arranging a day when multiple candidates have to attend site, so might not apply to your situation.

In any case, you shouldn't put your limited availability on the initial application - there's nothing to be gained for you, but it might put off someone who would actually like you enough to be flexible once they've read your application. If at that stage you really can't agree a suitable date then you haven't lost anything.

Thanks SirCharles I think I won't put availability on for now and see how it goes.