Declare holiday at an interview?

[Wellthatsfuckingpeachyinnit]

I have an interview tomz at a fantastic company, temp to perm. I have holiday booked for 3 weeks from mid July. Have not worked since mid May and still waiting for benefit claim to be processed so zero income ATM. Do I declare holiday at interview? Worse case scenario is that I don't, invent a story to cover the holiday and hope they don't fire me - or if they do resume job search once more on my return. Hols is camping/cottages in Highlands so not anticipating returning with a fabulous tan. If nothing else I'll get 4.5 week' pay before going away.

No, tell them if they offer you the job and be prepared for them to insist some/all
of it is unpaid as you won't have accrued any holiday entitlement at that stage.

Couldn't you ask to start after you get back? It isn’t that far away. You don't sound that fussed about the job if you don't mind getting fired for a holiday! Personally I wouldn't lie, but I would wait until they offered me the job to tell them about the holiday, not mention it at interview.

Why would you invent a story, that's a daft plan.

Tell them if you're offered the job and either agree a deferred start date, annual leave, or unpaid leave.

Not at interview, declare when you have offer paperwork or if they ask about pre-booked hols when they made the verbal offer

And good luck! Come back to let us know how you get on

Tell when offered, they tend to ask anyway

No definitely don't mention it.

Let them appraise your candidacy based on your skills and experience, not additional personal information such as holidays, kids etc.

Then IF they offer the job, you move to negotiating the start date - that's the point where you mention the holiday, as negotiate with them as needed.

Don't rule yourself out at interview stage - if you tie with another candidate, you're giving the panel an easy option to dismiss your application!

I’ve never known an employer to not make a based on a pre planned holiday. Not in the UK. If it’s a permanent position you should be fine.

I’d always allow someone to take pure planned holidays. I wouldn’t declare it at interview unless they ask about start dates, but would when an offer is made. “I should let you know I have a holiday booked from date to date. I’d love to start immediately and would expect to take unpaid leave, but if you preferred I could start when I return.“ I wouldn’t bat an eyelid if someone said that, if they do it may be a bullet dodged.

I had an interview when I had booked a 3 week holiday, I told them at interview, they let me start on the date advertised, and take the holiday.

Don't tell them at interview. If they contact you to offer the job that's when you tell them you have a holiday booked.
I've done this twice.

Employers advertising jobs at this time of year are going to expect candidates will have holidays already booked.
I've never known an employer not honour booked holidays

Ah because the first couple of months will be employed via agency, so was thinking would need to come up with something to explain why I needed 3 weeks off and figured saying holiday might not cut it and they might replace me.

Would they really be expecting you to start then? I’ve always been asked when I will be available (which is usually about notice periods).

don’t lie - daft idea.

I think because your situation is with an agency, and initially on a temporary basis, it would look very bad not to disclose at interview that you have such a long holiday coming up- especially if the start date is imminent.

Taking 3 weeks unexplained leave one month into a job would look far worse.

Aw that's really kind thank you - and yes I will. 😃

If they're interested in employing you they'll probably ask at the interview if you have any holidays booked, I used to be involved in recruitment in my previous role, it was one of the stock questions.
We asked so we would be aware and could work around it, it was never a deal breaker.
Three weeks is a long time to be away in a new role though, it could interfere with any training they have in place.
I'd try to negotiate a start date for your return or at least suggest it.
Good luck though, let us know how it goes 🤞

When I've been at an interview I've always been asked about holidays.
Generally if you mention during the interview they'll honour it, if you don't they may not.
I did once turn down a job where my holiday would have clashed with the induction dates and they were going to offer it but said it wouldn't have worked so I chose the holiday.
I was already employed at that point elsewhere and just looking for something different, had I been out of work I may have given the holiday a miss though.
3 weeks is a long time, especially for a new person in a job I think you'll have to mention it and hope they can push back the start date.

Wait til offer then discuss start date. If it’s full time then u likey you will quay for that much annual leave in first month, you may be asked to start after your holiday?

Tricky one. Usually pre-booked holiday is not a problem. However,

• it's working in the holiday industry at peak season.
• It's 3 weeks away

They are unlikely to permit existing employees to take that.

I think if they know in advance, they probably won't offer you the job. But if they don't know in advance, it'll really piss them off and you won't get the perm role anyway.

Which is more important to you? The holiday or finding work, and this job specifically?

We always ask about pre-booked holidays at interview. Wouldn’t affect decision around person - but disappearing for 3 weeks would!

They are probably expecting interviewees to have holidays booked given the time of year. They may ask in interview.

Don't lie - the stakes are too high, that if they find out, they can no longer trust you on anything else. Good luck OP. Hope you get the job AND your lovely long holiday!

Big thanks to everyone who responded; I now have a second interview on Monday and they haven't asked about holidays. Yet........