Congratulations! It looks like your job application was successful and you’ve moved on to that all-important interview stage.
You’ve made it down to the final few candidates but now comes the tricky part…
No, we’re not talking about prepping your interview questions or choosing the perfect outfit. We’re talking about trying to get out of work to go to your interview.
Not sure how to do it? Just follow our advice below.
1. Keep it vague
If you don’t want to lie to your boss keep things very vague. Simply ask for some time off work to go to an appointment. You do not need to specify what kind of appointment it is. If your boss pushes you further just say that it is personal. No one can argue with that.
2. Give them fair notice
Let your boss know about your ”appointment” as early as possible. This will allow them to cover shifts/make other arrangements. Do not just pull a sickie on the day or try to get off work early because you’re ”not feeling great.” Do the right thing and you will go into your interview feeling much better.
3. Don’t come up with ridiculous excuses
Remember that this is your place of work. You might be planning to leave your job as soon as possible but until then you need to keep on your boss’ good side. Any excuses that makes you sound unprofessional or irresponsible could harm your reputation in the long run. So you can forget about the ”I slept through my alarm” excuse right now.
4. Don’t arrive at work in your interview clothes
Nothing screams ”I’ve got a job interview today” like arriving at work in a brand new shiny outfit. Wear your usual clothes to work and change in a café or at home before the interview. This will help you evade suspicion.
5. If you have to, take a holiday day
You probably don’t want to spend a day of your precious annual leave going to an interview but if you end up getting the job it will be totally worth it. It’s also a great way to take some of the stress out of the interview process as you won’t be rushing to get back to the office.
6. Avoid it altogether
A lot of hiring managers and recruiters tend to be quite understanding. They know that it’s not always easy to make it to an interview in the middle of the day. Ask them if you can arrange an interview early in the morning or in the evening. You might be pleasantly surprised.
