How to Get Time Off for a Job Interview
January 13, 2009 (11:15AM) by Julie O'Malley, CPRW
 When you're employed and secretly job hunting, scheduling interviews is tricky. The best strategy – making the appointment outside of work hours – is not always an option, which means you'll need to ask your boss for time off. And you can't be totally truthful about the reason (yet) without the risk of pissing off your boss or even getting fired on the spot. So how exactly do you ask for time off, without unduly compromising your integrity or your job security?
There's no perfect answer.
Probably the most common method is taking a fake sick day. However, that method has a lot of flaws (such as having to fabricate an excuse that will pass the BS detector). But there is a less-imperfect way to get time off for an interview, without resorting to outright lies. It involves three steps:
- Schedule interviews early or late in the day.
It's less noticeable and less disruptive to arrive late or leave early than to mysteriously disappear, then reappear in the middle of the day. (Some people like lunch hour interviews, but I've always found the time limits nerve-wracking.)
- Ask for a half-day off.
Even if the interview is scheduled for a specific time slot, it might start late or run overtime. (Tip: Having extra time after the interview gives you an opportunity to write your thank you letters!) If you come back early, bonus! (It's that "under-promise, over-deliver" thing.)
- Be truthful, but vague.
Here's an example of what I mean by truthful-but-vague:
"I need to take a half-day off on the morning of Tuesday, January 27th. I should be in by 12:00, if not before. I tried to schedule it outside of work hours, but couldn't."
A good manager will not ask you for details. (Then again, if your manager was really good, you probably wouldn't be job hunting.) But if by chance the boss asks why you need time off, go with something like:
"I need to take care of some personal matters."
"I'm not comfortable discussing it."
"It has to do with my finances."
"I need to go for a follow-up appointment." [Good for 2nd interviews]
Everyone understands how the system works. You're not doing anything wrong by job hunting when you're employed. After all, you're entitled to time off, you're entitled to a personal life, and you're entitled to privacy.
When you resign, your boss will "figure out" that you were attending interviews while you were working. But as long as you handled it as honestly as you could, and didn't shirk your duties, the split should be friendly and result in a new job reference for future use!
Job seekers, do you have any other methods for getting time off to interview? Managers, what's your take on this issue? Leave your comments below!
RELATED LINKS
Will Your Sick Day Excuse Pass the BS Detector?
Never Go to an Interview Without These 10 Things
How to Handle 6 Dumb Things Interviewers Do
The Art of the Follow-Up Letter
If you are a field worker, then no one will notice that while you were in the field you stopped over at a company to attend interviews! Smart isn't it?
Doctor appointment never fails. Takes a half day, and there's no way your boss is going to say you can't go. Even if you don't have much warning, say all of a sudden your interview is tomorrow and you just found out about it today, no problem. Something came up, you've got a sudden something that needs attention and the doctor just happened to have a cancellation the next day. Never fails.
@Rhoida chimfwembe
So... I guess your point is that my advice has no relevance to field workers?? Fair enough.
@ Steve The Doer
The fake Dr.'s appointment is indeed a tried-and-true method.
My objective, however, is to avoid making up a falsehood that will later be recognized as such. Let's say you claim a series of "doctor appointments," then you land the job you've been interviewing for. Your current supervisor, who has probably been concerned for your health, is likely to feel foolish (and then angry to realize you lied).
yes, I agree with your point about doctors appointments julie. the doctor's appointment can only be used once or twice. the second time, maybe you can use the dentist or say it's a follow up.
I've used a number of excuses from Doctor to something to do with the kids at school to a personal day(reserve that for the end, b/c every boss KNOWS what that means).
This idea of "don't lie" to your employer is ridiculous. Omitting the truth is the same as lying. Not lying would only be an option if there were a law against firing people for taking interview days.
@LE
You're right that omitting the truth is akin to lying. And as I said in the post, there's no perfect way. I guess the thing is to do it in such a way that, when your current boss realizes all your recent "appointments" were interviews, s/he won't feel foolish or disrespected.
Bosses usually know when an employee is unhappy on the job, or just ready to move on, so it's really all a game. Just don't insult their intelligence by making up ridiculous scenarios.
Thanks for your thoughts Julie
I do agree with the above, any family related excuse works if not used too often.
What I have noticed is that employers seem to know when an employee is not happy with his job.
I believe that being honest with employer stating unhappiness of present job might be better than lying
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