How am I supposed to go for interviews AND work full time?
Discussion
So my OH has just got a job in London. I don't particularly like the idea of living halfway across the country to them so I've been forced to look for jobs over that way too.
But, I'm in a fairly good job at the moment and was wondering how you're supposed to find time to go to interviews 3 hours away? It basically means taking a day off work for each interview. Sometimes interviews might be quite last minute, my company doesn't really approve of last-minute holiday-booking. How am I supposed to do it??
How do you find the time to go for interviews and hold down a full time job at the same time?
But, I'm in a fairly good job at the moment and was wondering how you're supposed to find time to go to interviews 3 hours away? It basically means taking a day off work for each interview. Sometimes interviews might be quite last minute, my company doesn't really approve of last-minute holiday-booking. How am I supposed to do it??
How do you find the time to go for interviews and hold down a full time job at the same time?
LIKE I SAID
If it's last minute i.e you get a call for an interview the following week - I can't request annual leave at short notice like that. So?
If it's last minute i.e you get a call for an interview the following week - I can't request annual leave at short notice like that. So?
crossle said:
One of the qualities I look for in a job candidate is the ability to use some your own initiative to solve your own problems.
Don't worry though, it sounds like you wouldn't get as far as an interview here...
Yep. That's right, I don't so much as breathe without asking fellow PHers how I should do it. That's why I have 1289 posts.Don't worry though, it sounds like you wouldn't get as far as an interview here...
SunnyD said:
LIKE I SAID
If it's last minute i.e you get a call for an interview the following week - I can't request annual leave at short notice like that. So?
Look at his length of membership though....If it's last minute i.e you get a call for an interview the following week - I can't request annual leave at short notice like that. So?
crossle said:
One of the qualities I look for in a job candidate is the ability to use some your own initiative to solve your own problems.
Don't worry though, it sounds like you wouldn't get as far as an interview here...
Yep. That's right, I don't so much as breathe without asking fellow PHers how I should do it. That's why I have 1289 posts.Don't worry though, it sounds like you wouldn't get as far as an interview here...
Annual leave again. Sort out a few interviews in London and go for a few days. Renegotiate the time of some if you can to fit your schedule.
Tell your prospective employer you can only do interviews on such and such dates perhaps and book those days as holiday now. If you don't need to use them, cancel those days off as soon as you can and reschedule accordingly. Its tricky and your bosses will probably suss it out straight away (admittedly sometimes they get it wrong - I had one ask me how an interview went when I'd just spent the previous day at a hospital with the then gf getting her face lasered - I was not amused!).
The point is though, you're not doing anything illegal or naughty and if they get fed up with you and sack you (quite hard to do without substantial evidence) then your problems been solved for you.
Now grow a pair and get some interviews lined up. You sound like the prats round where I work who mutter "why should I use my holiday leave to get my car serviced/teeth checked/smear test" etc.
The point is though, you're not doing anything illegal or naughty and if they get fed up with you and sack you (quite hard to do without substantial evidence) then your problems been solved for you.
Now grow a pair and get some interviews lined up. You sound like the prats round where I work who mutter "why should I use my holiday leave to get my car serviced/teeth checked/smear test" etc.
Pfftt... you think you have it bad???
I tying to explain to my OH that whilst she is looking for a job (first one, not employed atm) that looking and going to interviews is not a part time job.
She is refusing to get a full time temp job in favour of a part time one (do they actually exist) so that she can do interviews and look????
I told her not to come to me in a month when money has run out an noone wants a part time temp!!
Somehow I got complained at for not geing around much when doing 8:30am - 5:30pm then going home and studying/applying for jobs until midnight and then rinse and repeat until I got a job I wanted.
But when it comes to her that is too hard.
Oh and get this... every job needs to have a custom CV which takes 1/2 - 1 day to prepare... I got in so much trouble when I couldnt stop laughing at that!!
I tying to explain to my OH that whilst she is looking for a job (first one, not employed atm) that looking and going to interviews is not a part time job.
She is refusing to get a full time temp job in favour of a part time one (do they actually exist) so that she can do interviews and look????
I told her not to come to me in a month when money has run out an noone wants a part time temp!!
Somehow I got complained at for not geing around much when doing 8:30am - 5:30pm then going home and studying/applying for jobs until midnight and then rinse and repeat until I got a job I wanted.
But when it comes to her that is too hard.
Oh and get this... every job needs to have a custom CV which takes 1/2 - 1 day to prepare... I got in so much trouble when I couldnt stop laughing at that!!
Easy way out of all this... Call in sick!
Don't that too often though! Most employers I've found over the years can be flexible. If there not then do you really want to work for that company?
Also I've done the long commute and at other time's lived away from the OH. It's not all bad. and 3 hours away isn't too far. Could be in another country!
Look for the compromise as well. Move to a place where she has easy access to London and her Job whilst you've a reasonable commute?
Don't that too often though! Most employers I've found over the years can be flexible. If there not then do you really want to work for that company?
Also I've done the long commute and at other time's lived away from the OH. It's not all bad. and 3 hours away isn't too far. Could be in another country!
Look for the compromise as well. Move to a place where she has easy access to London and her Job whilst you've a reasonable commute?
Have you considered informing your current employer that you are intending to relocate and agreeing something with them?
Leaving a job because you are relocating is not the same as leaving because you can't stand the place/not paid enough etc so it should not be seen as a bad reflection of them.
I did this a few years ago. I decided to relocate to where my girlfriend lived and informed my current employer of my plans. Together we agreed to an extended notice period and a full handover to my replacement and I could take time off (where reasonable) for interviews.
Leaving a job because you are relocating is not the same as leaving because you can't stand the place/not paid enough etc so it should not be seen as a bad reflection of them.
I did this a few years ago. I decided to relocate to where my girlfriend lived and informed my current employer of my plans. Together we agreed to an extended notice period and a full handover to my replacement and I could take time off (where reasonable) for interviews.
When I've interviewed with a prospective employer, I've always requested that it's done outside of 'normal' business hours. My justification? I don't want to sneak around and take the piss with my current employer, and in the same way I wouldn't sneak around and take the piss with them should they employ me. It's never prevented me getting an interview yet.
ralphrj said:
Have you considered informing your current employer that you are intending to relocate and agreeing something with them?
Leaving a job because you are relocating is not the same as leaving because you can't stand the place/not paid enough etc so it should not be seen as a bad reflection of them.
I did this a few years ago. I decided to relocate to where my girlfriend lived and informed my current employer of my plans. Together we agreed to an extended notice period and a full handover to my replacement and I could take time off (where reasonable) for interviews.
TBH that's a really good idea. They already know the situation with my other half moving away so I'm pretty sure they're half expecting me to announce that I'm leaving. And it's a small/personal enough company for them to possibly be accommodating so it's def. worth a try. Thanks for the advice.Leaving a job because you are relocating is not the same as leaving because you can't stand the place/not paid enough etc so it should not be seen as a bad reflection of them.
I did this a few years ago. I decided to relocate to where my girlfriend lived and informed my current employer of my plans. Together we agreed to an extended notice period and a full handover to my replacement and I could take time off (where reasonable) for interviews.
Funk said:
When I've interviewed with a prospective employer, I've always requested that it's done outside of 'normal' business hours. My justification? I don't want to sneak around and take the piss with my current employer, and in the same way I wouldn't sneak around and take the piss with them should they employ me. It's never prevented me getting an interview yet.
That's a good call and very justified. I think I'd just be worried that with the increase in competition for employment at the moment, as soon as I suggest something that might be seen as "being awkward" I'm going to get dismissed.SunnyD said:
crossle said:
One of the qualities I look for in a job candidate is the ability to use some your own initiative to solve your own problems.
Don't worry though, it sounds like you wouldn't get as far as an interview here...
Yep. That's right, I don't so much as breathe without asking fellow PHers how I should do it. That's why I have 1289 posts.Don't worry though, it sounds like you wouldn't get as far as an interview here...
That's 1289 in 6.5 years, or about 198 per year. As opposed to 116 in 2.5 months, or about 556 per year at the current rate. But you might have run out of dumb things to say by then?
Best of luck with the job hunt by the way.
crossle said:
SunnyD said:
crossle said:
One of the qualities I look for in a job candidate is the ability to use some your own initiative to solve your own problems.
Don't worry though, it sounds like you wouldn't get as far as an interview here...
Yep. That's right, I don't so much as breathe without asking fellow PHers how I should do it. That's why I have 1289 posts.Don't worry though, it sounds like you wouldn't get as far as an interview here...
That's 1289 in 6.5 years, or about 198 per year. As opposed to 116 in 2.5 months, or about 556 per year at the current rate. But you might have run out of dumb things to say by then?
Best of luck with the job hunt by the way.
He is talking about a big distance...and after all, if you don't ask to start with then your never going to find out, he is now slightly smarter for asking the question
Good grief Crossle I dunno what I've ever done to you but I was only asking for advice/wanted to hear how how other PHers have handled the same situation.
I probably should have titled the thread "Advice on taking time off for interviews" or something, as I see the current title makes me sound a bit needy and stubborn. I wasn't having a good day at the time... still, I shouldn't have to explain myself in order to avoid being branded a "dumb" "ignorant" "prat" for asking a question!?!
Jeez, I'm a successful businessperson not a McDonalds runt, and I don't appreciate being treated like one. Despite how successful you and/or your business might be. It was a valid question.
OK rant over.
Everyone else - thanks for the helpful advice!
I probably should have titled the thread "Advice on taking time off for interviews" or something, as I see the current title makes me sound a bit needy and stubborn. I wasn't having a good day at the time... still, I shouldn't have to explain myself in order to avoid being branded a "dumb" "ignorant" "prat" for asking a question!?!
Jeez, I'm a successful businessperson not a McDonalds runt, and I don't appreciate being treated like one. Despite how successful you and/or your business might be. It was a valid question.
OK rant over.
Everyone else - thanks for the helpful advice!
Speak to your boss, is the business busy? if it isn't they may well be happy to let you go for interview rather than being sat in the office doing naff all, I was lucky the company knew I wanted out but I was respected enough by my direct boss that it was a case of go for the interview but arrange them to have minimum impact so an early interview was preferable to a late one meaning I was still in the office by lunchtime, not that there was much for me to actually do that afternoon.
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