At what point do you tell a prospective employer you need time off?

[jtvang125]

I have an upcoming personal trip in May for 6 business days that was planned a few months prior. Travel arrangements have already been made and the time off has already been approved with my current employer. I applied to two positions that came up back in Dec and I have an interview for one next week. Should I disclose this during the interview or wait until I'm offered the position?

I feel that if I tell them during the interview it may hurt my chances of being picked. At the same time I feel it's a bit unprofessional to wait until after they made their decision because it's not just a day or two but a whole week and so soon after being hired. It's definitely bad timing but this opportunity came up which will open new doors in my career so I just couldn't let it pass up.

 

[MrSquished]

I have an upcoming personal trip in May for 6 business days that was planned a few months prior. Travel arrangements have already been made and the time off has already been approved with my current employer. I applied to two positions that came up back in Dec and I have an interview for one next week. Should I disclose this during the interview or wait until I'm offered the position?

I feel that if I tell them during the interview it may hurt my chances of being picked. At the same time I feel it's a bit unprofessional to wait until after they made their decision because it's not just a day or two but a whole week and so soon after being hired. It's definitely bad timing but this opportunity came up which will open new doors in my career so I just couldn't let it pass up.

Wait until you get an offer. Then say how excited you are to join the company, and then drop the info.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

What type of job is it? As a general rule it would be part of negotiations once they decide you're their ideal candidate. If it's a problem and they can't accommodate be prepared to eat it on the trip if the opportunity is that good.

 

[cbrunny]

I booked off my two week honeymoon on the offer phone call. I wasn't gonna accept the job if I couldn't go. But it was also my honeymoon.

 

[jtvang125]

What type of job is it? As a general rule it would be part of negotiations once they decide you're their ideal candidate. If it's a problem and they can't accommodate be prepared to eat it on the trip if the opportunity is that good.

It's a mid-level IT job with the state's D.O.T. I was thinking that too but qualified IT professionals are a dime a dozen these days so I think there's a good chance they'll just go with the next person than deal with it. I can cancel my trip but it's my wife too so that makes it a little tougher to swallow.

 

[pcgeek11]

I wouldn't mention it until an offer is made. Then it would be proper to explain it just as you did here.

 

[pete6032]

When they give you the job offer and you're ready to accept you tell them then. Not a second sooner.

 

[blackangst1]

As others have said, when you get the offer. I recently did this. Got an offer for a job the same time my new house was closing and I had already had time off set up to move. When they offered a start date, I explained the situation and asked for a week later. They were more than willing to accommodate. Position was network engineer at Blue Cross if it matters (similar IT job).

 

[jtvang125]

Ok, thanks guys. I'll wait until I get an offer before disclosing the situation.