How to Get Time Off for a Job Interview

How to Get Time Off for a Job InterviewGet Time Off for a Job InterviewHow to Get Time Off for a Job InterviewWhen youre employed and secretly job hunting, scheduling interviews is tricky. The best strategy making the appointment outside of work hours is not always an option, which means youll need to ask your boss for time off. And you cant be totally truthful about the reason (yet) without the risk of pissing off your boss or even getting fired on the spot. So how exactly do you ask for time off, without unduly compromising your integrity or your job security? Theres no perfect answer. Probably the most common method is taking a fake sick day. However, that method has a lot of flaws (such as having to fabricate an excuse that will pass the BS detector). But there is a less-imperfect way to get time off for an interview, without resorting to outright lies. It involves three stepsSchedule interviews early or late in the day.Its less noticeable and less disruptive to arrive late or le ave early than to mysteriously disappear, then reappear in the middle of the day. (Some people like lunch hour interviews, but Ive always found the time limits nerve-wracking.) Ask for a half-day off. Even if the interview is scheduled for a specific time slot, it might start late or run overtime. (Tip Having extra time after the interview gives you an opportunity to write your thank you letters) If you come back early, bonus (Its that under-promise, over-deliver thing.) Be truthful, but vague. Heres an example of what I mean by truthful-but-vague I need to take a half-day off on the morning of Tuesday, January 27th. I should be in by 1200, if not before. I tried to schedule it outside of work hours, but couldnt. A good manager will not ask you for details. (Then again, if your manager was really good, you probably wouldnt be job hunting.) But if by option the boss asks why you need time off, go with something likeI need to take care of some personal matters. Im not comfortable disc ussing it.It has to do with my finances. I need to go for a follow-up appointment. Good for 2nd interviewsEveryone understands how the system works. Youre not doing anything wrong by job hunting when youre employed. After all, youre entitled to time off, youre entitled to a personal life, and youre entitled to privacy.When you resign, your boss will figure out that you were attending interviews while you were working. But as long as you handled it as honestly as you could, and didnt shirk your duties, the split should be friendly and result in a new job reference for future use