Shortlisted but can't make interview - advice?

hcb42

I dont think many reasonable employers would expect someone to sacrifice an expensive two week holiday for an interview, to be fair

bluenoseam

Slightly lesser magnitude of situation, but years ago i applied for a part time job where the interviews were taking place Friday-Saturday as i was due to scoot off to a music festival on the Friday morning for 3 days! Worked out a solution to have the interview on the Thursday, cleared off to the festival and was offered the job on the Monday afternoon, bit of a result!

good luck!

lucylucky

helencbradshaw wrote: »

I dont think many reasonable employers would expect someone to sacrifice an expensive two week holiday for an interview, to be fair

Similarly it may not be possible to convene the interviews at any other time.

I have considered people in absentia but only for internal posts when I knew everyone involved.

When I have short listed people for interview if they can't make it then that is one less person to see and consider.

hcb42

lucylucky wrote: »

Similarly it may not be possible to convene the interviews at any other time.

I have considered people in absentia but only for internal posts when I knew everyone involved.

When I have short listed people for interview if they can't make it then that is one less person to see and consider.

well if they are considered merely a bind on time, there is no point giving up the two week holiday is there.....! The interviewer will have a fair idea of the strongest candidates going into the process.

Heard an awful tale lately of a friend of mine who spent £1K in travel expenses for an interview scheduled twice and broken by the employer....twice! It's not the done thing to expect people to go to huge expense, and I would be wary of any employer that forced that. On the other hand, while the OP is on holiday they mgiht miss job opportunities, that is life also.

duckmaster

What's worrying about this is the OP's first question was "perhaps there is an answer within employment law somewhere?"

Do you think you are entitled to an interview that fits in with your life? Are you looking for a law which stops employers discriminating against people who are taking holidays?

As has been said already, if this is really your dream job then you won't go on holiday and you'll go for the interview. That really is all there is to it.

lucylucky

helencbradshaw wrote: »

well if they are considered merely a bind on time, there is no point giving up the two week holiday is there.....! The interviewer will have a fair idea of the strongest candidates going into the process.

Heard an awful tale lately of a friend of mine who spent £1K in travel expenses for an interview scheduled twice and broken by the employer....twice! It's not the done thing to expect people to go to huge expense, and I would be wary of any employer that forced that. On the other hand, while the OP is on holiday they mgiht miss job opportunities, that is life also.

I never interview alone and it can be time consuming and costly to assemble an interview panel. Depending on the job I have brought in specialists from other parts of the organisation which can involve a fair amount of expense.

If an (on paper) exceptional candidate cannot make the interview and there is little cost/upheaval involved I might consider arranging another date but it would have to be no more than a couple of days away from the other interviews, to be fair to the other candidates.

Sorry to hear about your friend - that is a poor way to treat someone.

pinkshoes

Definitely phone them today to see if you can have an interview before you go away on holiday.

If a company wants the best employee, then they will wait and/or be flexible, as although in a recession there are a LOT of candidates, where I work, there are very few GOOD candidates for skilled jobs, so it's always best to make sure you interview those who show the best potential.

If they won't interview you before or after the holiday, then that would make me suspicious on why the position is available, and why they're so desperate to fill it so quickly.

lucylucky

pinkshoes wrote: »

Definitely phone them today to see if you can have an interview before you go away on holiday.

If a company wants the best employee, then they will wait and/or be flexible, as although in a recession there are a LOT of candidates, where I work, there are very few GOOD candidates for skilled jobs, so it's always best to make sure you interview those who show the best potential.

If they won't interview you before or after the holiday, then that would make me suspicious on why the position is available, and why they're so desperate to fill it so quickly.

Can I ask why you think that?

When I advertised a post there was usually a four week deadline, after the advert, for applications, interviews being held within a fortnight of that and the successful candidate being informed by the beginning of the third week after the closing date.

somethingcorporate

pinkshoes wrote: »

If they won't interview you before or after the holiday, then that would make me suspicious on why the position is available, and why they're so desperate to fill it so quickly.

Rubbish, it is difficult and expensive to assemble interview panels, especially if it is a big or geographically diverse company. If you cannot fit with their allocated timescales then it is hardly suspicious that they do not rearrange a number of people's diaries to accomodate your needs. It's common sense!

Oldernotwiser

If you're only going on holiday to Europe, can't you fly back for the day?