Need an Excuse to get out of Work for an Interview!
 

Hi All,

I was just contacted for an interview (for a job I applied to over 6 months ago!) and i'm kind of stumped how to get out of my current job for it. Unfortunately, the interview can't be moved to my day off :(. The interview location is about 2 hours from me, so I for sure need the entire day to be safe.

My first thought is, "I have a doctors appointment"...but that doesn't make sense for all day, right? Where I work is sort of close niched. I feel like they would want a definitive explanation or else it would raise suspicion which, needless to say, I don't want to do!

Any ideas of how to do this without throwing a family member under the bus or creating something super elaborate? Thank you!

Excuses I have used....sick, funeral, doctor's appointment, vacation day (what day of the week is your interview?). Can't think of anymore right now. Keep it simple, give as few details as possible.

I had a horrid job where I went on many interviews using sick and vacation time to get the **** out of there. I am certainly experienced in this. Heh.

GOOD LUCK!

you could just say you have an appointment in another area(?) city(?) that you need the day off to get to....if questioned, you could just say it's private and you're not comfortable discussing your appointment....

if someone said that to me, i would assume it's something like mental health services, therapy, marriage counseling, or a medical specialist or something that people generally don't feel like discussing the details of :)

up here, people generally travel long distances to seek specialized appointments....but i don't know if that applies to where you live or not

You call in sick the day of the interview. You'll have to put on a bit of an act but it is what it is. Tell them you've been up all night in the bathroom with a stomach virus or food poisoning, it comes on fast, clears fast and you generally don't go to the doctor for that. No big deal as long as you've got sick time coming *shrug*

Agree with ReNew - NO ONE questions "the green apple two-step". ;)

Stomach virus truly is the BEST illness excuse. You don't have to fake a cough and NO ONE wants you to come into work with that ;) And it's over in 24 hours!

But the private, long-distance appointment also works. "I'd rather not discuss the details" is a good sentence to use heh

Thank you all for your input!

nonameslob - The interview is next Friday.

Since I do have advance notice, I guess I was trying to ease my guilt a little by giving them time to reschedule things and what not if they needed to. I think I have more awkwardness about it since I've only been there for a few months. I don't have any sick/vacation days sadly.

I think i'm just bad at this in general, lol.

Definitely go with a private appointment that is out of town. I hate to lie, and that one is the truth without revealing the nature of the appointment.

Optometrist? If you need a legit note/appointment, they're usually scheduled fast and not that expensive in my area...

But "private appointment" is at least more honest and sensitive.

Good luck!!!

I'd call in with a fake stomach virus. If you try to get a day off in advance you're opening yourself up for questions and/or request for doctor's note. Also, since you just started there they might wonder why you scheduled an appointment on a day you are supposed to work and not your day off. I wouldn't chance causing friction with management in case this interview doesn't work out. Forget the guilt and cover your own ***.

Every time I made sure to do the right thing at a job in order to be "honest and not burn a bridge" it backfired.

I second the phone in sick on the day.

Besides most places of employment have to expect that their staff will want to go for interviews from time to time and don't expect to be told about it. So i don't think you need to feel guilty.

Employers don't sacrifice themselves for the sake of their staff. You have to look after your own needs first.

Well I was worrying myself over nothing. I found out today that I was going to have that Friday off anyhow, lol. It worked out!

Thank you everyone for your responses. I'll be sure to file them all away for the next time!

Yay!!! Now you don't have to risk getting an actual stomach virus during the long drive. That would for sure happen to me, I don't know if you have the same awesome luck I do or not.... Good luck on the job interview!!!