How do you interview for jobs when you're already working?

[slackerinabox]

I have a feeling, and based on upper management shuffles going on in my company , that lay offs are coming very soon. I have no proof so I don't want to jeopardize my job in this current economy, but started sending out resumes on Friday. I've received a call back so far and have to return the message in a few minutes.

How do you schedule interviews? I'm out of sick days and personal days and don't want to burn any bridges or cause panic where I work. I'm ok with not getting paid for a day or eating into vacation days, but how do i call out without raising a red flag?

 

[bignateyk]

Just say you are using a vacation day? Do you have to provide a reason?

My conversation usually goes like:

Me: "Hey [boss], i'm not gonna be in tomorrow"

Him: "Ok."

 

[guyver01]

call in sick.

being out of sick days means you wont get paid. but you can still get sick.

or schedule your interview for the morning, and come in late.

that's what i did.

told 'em i had car trouble.. and would be late.

 

[JDub02]

i've used vacation days. no one has asked where i was going. i kept quiet until i was offered the new job, then i informed my boss and worked out an end date that ensured a smooth transition. so far, no bridges burned.

 

[Exterous]

Just say you are using a vacation day? Do you have to provide a reason?

My conversation usually goes like:

Me: "Hey [boss], i'm not gonna be in tomorrow"

Him: "Ok."

Ditto. Or just call saying for personal reasons. As long as you have had good attendance and don't plan on being out for more than 1 day they shouldn't take an issue with it

 

[lokiju]

Lie.

 

[Gillbot]

Vacation day, or explain to them you currently have a job and if they are really interested, they'll make arrangements to meet you off schedule.

 

[slackerinabox]

Just say you are using a vacation day? Do you have to provide a reason?

My conversation usually goes like:

Me: "Hey [boss], i'm not gonna be in tomorrow"

Him: "Ok."

Well, we have a 2 week policy on vacation days, but I suppose I can call out with a personal emergency and just let accounting decide to dock me or use vacation time.

The question is about multiple interviews - my hope is to have at least 3 interviews a week.. That gets hard to explain away. Of course I can schedule interviews to be on the same day and get three out in one day, but calling out a day a week is gonna raise flags.

 

[Zee]

you shouldnt have burned all your sick/personal days already, that's how

 

[spidey07]

Vacation day, or explain to them you currently have a job and if they are really interested, they'll make arrangements to meet you off schedule.

Yep. If you make it clear that you're interested but of course you have current commitments at your present job they'll work with you. The prospective employer understands. Or offer to do a phone interview as a first step during lunch to show you're interested. I've had interviews plenty of times after business hours.

 

[SSSnail]

Take a day off, when boss asks say you're interviewing.

 

[ViviTheMage]

3+ interviews per week seems like a lot...what field?

 

[slackerinabox]

3+ interviews per week seems like a lot...what field?

Complete wishful thinking on my part, but I've had 3 interviews a day before the economic slow down. Currently working as a web manager but I'd love to put my primary training to use, video editing/ production.

 

[clamum]

I've only had to do this once and I did the interview at lunch. The interview for the job I had before my current one I had outside of their normal business hours (I wanna say around 6 pm).

 

[ViviTheMage]

Complete wishful thinking on my part, but I've had 3 interviews a day before the economic slow down. Currently working as a web manager but I'd love to put my primary training to use, video editing/ production.

Interesting, usually takes me 2-3 interviews and i've found what I am looking for.

 

[Crusty]

Who are you and what did you do with swbsam!?

 

[slackerinabox]

Interesting, usually takes me 2-3 interviews and i've found what I am looking for.

Unfortunately, here in NYC and the field I've been looking, it seems like 1/3rd of job postings are bogus - either temp agencies looking for bodies or freelance work with zero benefits. Usually this isn't disclosed in job postings. Nevermind that there's a huge pool of workers out there. Based on a better economy, it's taken me a month of hard interviewing to find something.

 

[BoomerD]

1) If you're out of personal/sick days, that may raise a red flag to prospective employers.

2) If your company permits you to take a day without pay, that's probably your only option unless you can arrange to use vacation time.

3) Can you arrange the interview during your lunch break? How about 1st round phone interviews?

4) Be VERY selective about who you interview with. That way, you're not wasting vacation/un-paid time off only to find out you don't want to work for that company anyway.

5) GET TO WORK YOU FUCKING SLACKER!!

 

[da loser]

Yep. If you make it clear that you're interested but of course you have current commitments at your present job they'll work with you. The prospective employer understands. Or offer to do a phone interview as a first step during lunch to show you're interested. I've had interviews plenty of times after business hours.

yup, i'd try to schedule during offtime or during lunch.

it shows you have a strong work ethic too.

 

[Gillbot]

Yep. If you make it clear that you're interested but of course you have current commitments at your present job they'll work with you. The prospective employer understands. Or offer to do a phone interview as a first step during lunch to show you're interested. I've had interviews plenty of times after business hours.

I've had people meet me after 5PM or on a saturday. They also appreciated the fact I wasn't going to just "bail" or hide on my current employer. Shows you are not a typical "ladder climber" and you take your job and responsibilities serously.

 

[her209]

Offer to do it on a weekend.

 

[rh71]

step away and use the cellphone... worked for me.

you can always say death in family.

 

[slackerinabox]

OK, this time the company agreed to meet with me at 8pm. They completely understood -here's hoping other companies are as flexible

 

[nerp]

Jury duty.

 

[snowraven]

Just take vacation days - be sneaky. Telling a white lie never hurts anyone.. It also helps to have a boss that trusts in you 100%. And co-workers who got your back.. mainly because they are also looking for other opportunities. And make a pact that say the first to leave will try to hook up the others with gigs also.