How do I get time off for my job interview?

katielou93

I’ve been offered a job interview for a job with a permanent contract and currently work on a zero hour contract so I really want to attend the interview. However, I’ve just come back from 2 weeks off sick, I’m scheduled to cover someone on annual leave, the interview date can’t be changed and the interviewer has invited me to the interview only 2 days before the interview (which is also on the day I’m scheduled to cover at work). 

Due to the nature of the job the interview is all day so it’s not like I can book a half day even. I have no idea what to do about work but I really want to attend the interview! 

Does anyone have any advice? 

oh_really

Your zero hours, turn the shift down, I'm sure someone else will appreciate it.

katielou93

oh_really said:

Your zero hours, turn the shift down, I'm sure someone else will appreciate it.

You’d think it wouldn’t be a problem but because it’s only 2 days before the job will be really unhappy about me calling in 

elsien

Ditto. Generally speaking, the point of a zero hour contract is that you are not committed to any hours and they are not contractually obliged to give you any. 

[Deleted User]

Could you ask for a video online meet and at lunch-time?
Arranging the time to be early morning so you are just late/over sleep/held up for current place.
Fingers crossed the interview place might not get the right candidate and offer you another day - this happened recently I ignored the original invite (good job (no pun!) in the end as it was one of the hottest recorded days plus it wasn’t my nominated week day off so going was in practical) and got a message after the date passed saying we’ve set more dates for the next week so actually got a 2nd chance which I think was a first, but I wondered if others struggled to get to interview too.
Good luck.

elsien

You also don’t need to tell them why you can’t work it, if you don’t want to. Apologise for the short notice but you have a personal commitment that’s come up that can’t be changed. 

They might get the hump and offer you less hours but for a full time job that you really want, it’s probably worth the risk. 

If they want your full commitment they could reciprocate by giving you contracted hours. Otherwise it’s having their cake and eating it.

epm-84

katielou93 said:

However, I’ve just come back from 2 weeks off sick, I’m scheduled to cover someone on annual leave, the interview date can’t be changed and the interviewer has invited me to the interview only 2 days before the interview (which is also on the day I’m scheduled to cover at work). 

If the interviewer is being inflexible with interview dates then they are likely to want someone to start ASAP, unfortunately that likely means if there's someone suitable who is not in employment at all then they'll get the job as they'll be able to start the day after the interview if needed.

elsien

OP is on a zero hour contract. No reason they couldn’t start straight away.
But having a set interview date doesn’t necessarily mean that anyway, that is a huge leap to make - we had set interview dates due to the difficulty in getting managers together for the interview panel but start date was always weeks down the line, pending references and DBS. 

theoretica

Your current work will be inconvenienced by you taking the day off - but more so the longer you delay telling them. 

epm-84

elsien said:

OP is on a zero hour contract. No reason they couldn’t start straight away.
But having a set interview date doesn’t necessarily mean that anyway, that is a huge leap to make - we had set interview dates due to the difficulty in getting managers together for the interview panel but start date was always weeks down the line, pending references and DBS. 

I've found employers who do assessment days quite often request references before the interview stage.  However, they don't approach current employers prior to a job offer being made so it means for those not in employment the employer already has the references at the time of making the offer but still need to request one for those currently in employment.

Yes it's a valid point there may be difficulty in arranging alternative dates when all the interview panel is available but in instances like someone's just about to go on holiday for 2 weeks and they won't make a final decision until they return.

gettingtheresometime

Deleted User said:

Could you ask for a video online meet and at lunch-time?
Arranging the time to be early morning so you are just late/over sleep/held up for current place.

The OP has already said the interview is an all day affair