I just started a new job, but it’s not so great so I’ll be looking for a different job.
Just starting, I get no vacation days. And I don’t want them to know I’m looking.
The best thing I can think of is to ask for time off and say it’s a doctor appt.
Calling in sick has the drawback of them maybe trying to call me at home.
Another idea is to schedule it for the morning, and call in that I’m having car trouble. The new boss knows I have an old car, so it’s believable. (I accepted the job offer while waiting for AAA to come tow me…)
Also, when you give your excuse, what more do you expect? I mean when I’ve called in sick, I’ve never gotten a call, much less expected one. And you can unplug the phone if necessary. Also there’s the dentist appointment, etc. There are a myriad of legitimate excuses for missing a few hours work for legitimate, non-lazy reasons
They’re not stupid. They will know you’re lying. That is what will make it difficult. They won’t say anything, but if you take time off and don’t get the job, then you’re stuck having to lie again for the next interview.
Agreed. Do not lie to your current employer. Even if the job isn’t so great, you do not want the reputation of being dishonest. This reputation can only snowball.
How the heck are you supposed to interview for a job without lying to your current employer? You can’t say “I need the morning off to go to a job interview.”
What it boils down to is there’s no really great way, seeing as you don’t have any vacation time. So you’re left with trying to schedule the interview during a time where you’re not working (not usually possible in the typical 8-5 job scenario), or coming up with a white lie.
Why would the employer know you’re lying if you claim a sick day? Even if they do call, maybe you were out buying medicine, or in the bathtub, or spent the day at your girlfriend’s house so she could baby you. There’s a million legitimate reasons why you might not answer the phone.
Doctor’s appointments also work. You’re not under any obligation to say why you’re going to the doctor; just tell your boss that you need an hour off on Tuesday to go to a medical appointment, and leave it at that.
Car trouble works as well, but it’s not as hush-hush. You’d have to come up with a believable problem if anyone asked. I like the medical excuse better; nobody will press if you just sort of dodge the question.
I always just told them I was at a doctor’s appointment and it was always left at that. They don’t need to know anything further and if they ask, they’re incredibly rude.
Is there any way your prospective employer would schedule the interview either before or after your current work hours? I’ve found that potential bosses have been pretty understanding as far as staying late/ coming in early for an interview. I mean, they know you’re currently employed. I imagine they run into that kind of thing all the time. If that’s not an option, could you ask your current boss for an extended lunch, as opposed to missing a whole day?Simply asking to extend your lunch by an hour or so to “take care of some business” doesn’t seem too unreasonable.
No, not at all. Pretty much the way Trunk explained.
You should ask for time off, giving no reason. If your boss persists, you can tell him it’s for personal reasons. Lying usually begets lies to cover up the original lie. There’s nothing wrong with half-truths (“I have personal business to attend to next Wednesday morning, I’ll be a few hours late. I know I don’t have vacation time, but this is important; I’ll take the dock in pay.”), but outright lies have a tendency to come back and haunt.
I’ve asked potential employers to meet before or after my work day and most have been happy to do so. I think they find it admirable that I don’t call out to interview. Good luck!
And you mislead your boss if he actually asks for more details… actually, sarcasm aside, this seems like a reasonable way to go… don’t open with the lie, but leave it as a fallback position in case vagueness doesn’t work out.
Doctor’s appointments are the best excuse. They work well because your employer can’t really tell you you can’t go to the doctor, they can’t ask you why you are going, and they shouldn’t ask much about how things went.
You have to lie to get a new job or at least you may have to. There is no way around it and everyone knows it. No one is going to hold that against you.
