I need some advice asap!!

[ImNotThatGirl]

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let me preface this by saying that my current employer does not know i'm applying to vet school, and they probably would not have hired me if they knew.

That being said, i applied to vet school anyway and received an interview invitation to Ross! However, the interview location is a 6 hours' drive away.

The girl from Ross who is interviewing me emailed me and asked for my availability so that we could work out a "mutual" interview time that is good for both of us. I told her that i work full time and it's very difficult for me to get the time off of work (i.e. i would have to call in sick since i don't have vacation time built up yet and my boss doesn't know about vet school and wouldn't approve). I said an interview on a friday or saturday would be best.

Her email back to me was "I have scheduled you for an interview on Tuesday, December 28th. Thank you in advance for being flexible."

now i'm like...omg...that is possibly the WORST day that she could have scheduled an interview! not only is it around the holidays when my work is freaking busy, but it's also on a TUESDAY when i said that fridays/saturdays would be best.

so now i'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. Do i call the girl and ask if she wouldn't mind moving the interview to another day? Or do I tell my boss about the interview invitation and possibly lose my job?? HELP!!!

 

[EllieGirl89]

I mean, how bad do you want to go to vet school? Is it more or less important to you than your job? To me it would be a simple decision-I'd choose the vet school interview invite every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

I guess you kind of put yourself in between this rock and this hard place by not being completely honest with your boss before you were offered a position. Is it really that bad? Would being honest with your boss REALLY jeopardize your employment? Are you allowed to request off, rather than calling in sick (because lying some more doesn't really sound like the best thing right now)? I mean, you ARE giving almost 2 months notice. Or, could you find someone to take your shift for you?

The LAST thing I would do would be to ask the vet school to change the date. Getting an interview is an honor and a privilege, and not something that is owed to you. There are people that have to work around everything from work shifts to family events to final exams, and they find a way to make it work. You're going to have to as well, if you want to go to vet school.

 

[psilovethomas]

First off, let me say that there may have been a communication error between you and the interviewer. You may want to email back stating that Tuesdays are inconvenient.
Secondly, is Ross the only school you applied to? If so and the interview cannot be rescheduled, then you may have to work something out with your employer. You do not have to tell your employer that you are requesting off for an interview. A simple "something important came up and I must take off" may suffice. If not, just simply state that you are not comfortable explaining why you need to take off. That would shut me up for sure. If it isn't the only school you applied to, you may consider declining the interview if you cannot take off work (see more below).
Thirdly, do you really want to go to Ross? Would you go if you did not get accepted elsewhere (permitting you applied elsewhere)? I hope you have done some research on Ross, especially since Ross tends to sugarcoat information during their information sessions (I've been to one!). If not, this forum has a plethora of information that exposes the pros and cons of Ross. In no way am I saying that Ross SVM is a bad school, I think it is a great school, but it is just not for everyone.

So before you make this decision- potentially losing your job (which I think is irrational but possible, I suppose)- contact the interviewer to possibly reschedule.

Good luck!

 

[psilovethomas]

Getting an interview is an honor and a privilege, and not something that is owed to you.

Doesn't Ross offer an interview to every applicant?..

 

[ImNotThatGirl]

I mean, how bad do you want to go to vet school? Is it more or less important to you than your job? To me it would be a simple decision-I'd choose the vet school interview invite every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

I guess you kind of put yourself in between this rock and this hard place by not being completely honest with your boss before you were offered a position. Is it really that bad? Would being honest with your boss REALLY jeopardize your employment? Are you allowed to request off, rather than calling in sick (because lying some more doesn't really sound like the best thing right now)? I mean, you ARE giving almost 2 months notice. Or, could you find someone to take your shift for you?

The LAST thing I would do would be to ask the vet school to change the date. Getting an interview is an honor and a privilege, and not something that is owed to you. There are people that have to work around everything from work shifts to family events to final exams, and they find a way to make it work. You're going to have to as well, if you want to go to vet school.

I know what you mean...obviously going to vet school is WAY more important than my job. but if i can keep my interview AND keep my job for the time being, then that would be ideal. obviously i'm going to quit my job once i get into vet school. but what if i get fired/quit my job to go to this interview, and then i end up getting denied?? then i won't be going to vet school AND i will be without a job.

i know my boss wouldn't keep me on if she knew, because why should she keep me on if i'm just going to be leaving once i get into vet school? i mean, would you be completely honest with your boss if you were looking for a new job, for example?? no, because the second they knew you were looking for a new job, they'd "let you go" first.

 

[EllieGirl89]

Doesn't Ross offer an interview to every applicant?..

Perhaps. I didn't apply there so I don't know. But I would still consider it a privilege to be able to interview at vet school. There are very few things that would take precedence over a vet school interview for me.

 

[ImNotThatGirl]

Perhaps. I didn't apply there so I don't know. But I would still consider it a privilege to be able to interview at vet school. There are very few things that would take precedence over a vet school interview for me.

I know what you mean. and I DO consider it a great privilege to interview there. I think it's just the fact that the interviewer said that we could set up a "mutually" agreeable time, and then went ahead and set up a time that does not work for me. If she had just set it without asking my approval, I would have just gone with it. But now I don't know if I should call her and say "could we set up a time that works better for me?" or just let it go and deal.

 

[EllieGirl89]

I know what you mean...obviously going to vet school is WAY more important than my job. but if i can keep my interview AND keep my job for the time being, then that would be ideal. obviously i'm going to quit my job once i get into vet school. but what if i get fired/quit my job to go to this interview, and then i end up getting denied?? then i won't be going to vet school AND i will be without a job.

i know my boss wouldn't keep me on if she knew, because why should she keep me on if i'm just going to be leaving once i get into vet school? i mean, would you be completely honest with your boss if you were looking for a new job, for example?? no, because the second they knew you were looking for a new job, they'd "let you go" first.

I understand your dilemma. But you won't be getting into vet school at all if you don't interview 😉 I think the idea of telling your boss it's a personal reason that you aren't comfortable discussing is a decent option.

And no, I wouldn't tell my boss when I was looking for a new job, but I did tell my last boss that I would be applying to vet school. They new the whole program at my first interview. I was a second year in undergrad when I applied and I told them my plan for my last two years and for when I was applying to vet school, so they knew the whole time. They were also very understanding when, a few months later, my plans changed when I ended up transferring to another school. They accomodated me, and I ended up leaving the company for other reasons but they surprised me with their understanding of my change of plans. Maybe your boss would be more understanding than you think? When does Ross start? I mean, they would have a pretty long time to replace you, and you could even offer to train your replacement. Just some food for thought.

 

[ImNotThatGirl]

I understand your dilemma. But you won't be getting into vet school at all if you don't interview 😉 I think the idea of telling your boss it's a personal reason that you aren't comfortable discussing is a decent option.

And no, I wouldn't tell my boss when I was looking for a new job, but I did tell my last boss that I would be applying to vet school. They new the whole program at my first interview. I was a second year in undergrad when I applied and I told them my plan for my last two years and for when I was applying to vet school, so they knew the whole time. They were also very understanding when, a few months later, my plans changed when I ended up transferring to another school. They accomodated me, and I ended up leaving the company for other reasons but they surprised me with their understanding of my change of plans. Maybe your boss would be more understanding than you think? When does Ross start? I mean, they would have a pretty long time to replace you, and you could even offer to train your replacement. Just some food for thought.

Yeah, that's a good idea, to just say it's for personal reasons. I wouldn't start at Ross until next September, so that would give me plenty of time to train my replacement. Maybe I am just being irrational, and maybe my boss will surprise me. Who knows! Thanks for your advice, guys, it really helps. 🙂

 

[Nissan]

Is it out of the question to have someone cover your shift, if that's how your job operated?

Truth be told, one of my previous employers never actually allowed me to go to one of my interviews even after I had given 2 months prior notice. I had to ask my co-workers to come in during the day I needed off and we traded hours during the week so it would be fair. And I left "without permission." When I returned, my boss didn't say anything and I still kept my job. But again, I don't understand the dynamics of yours.

That said, even if somebody couldn't cover for me, I still would have gone. Nothing was going to stop me from going to my interview. ...Except maybe a freak blizzard when I was trying to go to Minnesota one time 🙁.

 

[sumstorm]

First, asking for a different schedule for the interview isn't disrespectful if it is done appropriatly. Don't use email. Call, say something along the lines of 'that date is problematic, do you have any other openings?' She may say no, but she may also say 'well, I have X, Y, and Z. would any of those work for you?' You need to know your preferences when you call, so that you can answer efficiently. Either way, thank you, express your enthusiasm for the interview, and get off the phone.

The reason this may not work with a vet school is that some schools only do interviews on specific days (I don't know about Ross) but it shouldn't be damaging to politely request a change in schedule.

 

[168135]

My old boss used to have her schedule done up 2 months in advanced. A friend of mine received a interview for a scholarship after the schedule was up. She could not find someone to replace her shift so she spoke to my boss about getting it off work. The boss refused. She pretty much quit on the spot. She ended up receiving the $40 000 scholarship which covered her tuition and living expenses while she took her program.

 

[Horsingaround31]

I think you should definitely contact the admissions person, but do so tactfully. If she can't change the schedule, then it might be time to talk to your boss. I work full-time and had to have a very candid conversation with my boss and she surprised me! She thought it was great and now gives me time to ride out with a large animal vet (about once a week) and to take classes. Her only stipulation is that I get my work done and done well. I know I am very lucky, but you too may be surprised. It beats sneaking around!

 

[Robdude]

I'd just lie.

Monday night call or send a text or whatever form of communication is appropriate (maybe it's leaving a voice mail). Say that you feel horribly sick and almost certainly will not make it into work the next day.

Leave Monday night/Tuesday morning, drive six hours, do your interview (I'm assuming an interview is no more than an hour or two - but most likely, significantly less). Drive back. It will be a long, sucky day.

Go to work on Wednesday, explain that you must have gotten food poisoning from the chicken you cooked for dinner on Monday. The fact that you will be exhausted will make your story more believable.

No place of employment is going to fire you for that unless they were already looking for a reason to fire you. People get sick, it's a fact of life.

 

[168135]

No place of employment is going to fire you for that unless they were already looking for a reason to fire you. People get sick, it's a fact of life.

My old rinky-dinky fast food job required a doctors note if you called in sick. If you were fairly new and didn't have one, you were fired.

I don't understand why she can't tell her boss that she has other plans or that she has an interview. Hopefully, when she took this job, she didn't lie and tell her boss she'd be willing to keep this position for the next 10 years.

 

[MonkeyPoo]

If you are not applying for the January session then why is your interview so soon? And Good lord don't they have Someone available that lives closer than 6 hours away? I would definitely call an admissions counselor. I was in a similar pickle. I had an interview set up, and had been prodding my interviewer for weeks trying to set a date, we set a date and come the night before the confirmed date and time he still hadn't sent me the address. I was flipping out.... It turned out okay, everything does. Call. see if they can help you or make a suggestion as to what to do. Really.

 

[Bill59]

I'd just lie.
...No place of employment is going to fire you for that unless they were already looking for a reason to fire you.

I would.

 

[postbaccprevet]

I'mNotThatGirl,

I'm actually having a hard time seeing why this is such an enormous dilemma for you. It is a daily-life decision that you have to make, alone, as an adult. How are you going to make decisions regarding the life and death of an animal as a veterinarian if you can't decide on your own, without consulting 30 other strangers in an online forum, how to proceed with what amounts to a scheduling conflict?

I'm sorry, but I think the other people here are extremely generous to be holding your hand through this. You'll probably have to exhibit a bit more maturity during your interview, if you can ever decide what to do.

 

[scb44f]

I'm sorry, but I think the other people here are extremely generous to be holding your hand through this. You'll probably have to exhibit a bit more maturity during your interview, if you can ever decide what to do.

I disagree that this person is not showing maturity. How is it immature to gather others' perspectives of a situation before making a decision? Yes, there will be more challenging decisions to be made in the future, but I believe what ImNotThatGirl was going for was a little input from people who might have been in a similar situation before making a hasty choice.

Back to the original topic, I agree with some of the advice already given and do not have much to add.

 

[Armymutt25A]

I'm kind of shocked at the number of people who are so willing to compromise their integrity and yet say they want to be veterinarians. If you can't tell the truth on one little issue, how are you ever going to be able to tell the truth when there is something more important at stake?

I wish NCSU did interviews. Some of the people here are fodder for discussions.

 

[168135]

I disagree that this person is not showing maturity. How is it immature to gather others' perspectives of a situation before making a decision? Yes, there will be more challenging decisions to be made in the future, but I believe what ImNotThatGirl was going for was a little input from people who might have been in a similar situation before making a hasty choice.

I don't know what the big deal is. I'd come to a huge forum maybe AFTER I asked my boss and he/she denyed me... then again, probably not. I'd start looking for another job if my boss did let me attend an interview that's important to me, especially after asking x number of months in advance.

And if you come up with the piddliest little excuses as to why you can't ask your boss ("My boss will definitely say no!" "My boss wasn't aware that I was applying so I CAN'T ask him!"), why you can't start looking for another job ("It's IMPOSSIBLE to find another job in my area!"), and why you can't ask to reschedule your interview ("Omg, what if the interviewer gets mad at me for asking and I don't get into vet school because of it?")... well, you're too much like my ex and you're heading down a very negative, very lonely path.

 

[scb44f]

I don't know what the big deal is.

Eh, I don't really see the big deal in asking either. Point is, even though you wouldn't have done it, is it really that "weak" of the OP to ask? Sometimes I don't understand making a fuss over things. If you don't want to answer the question, don't answer the question.

Agreed with ArmyMutt25A.

 

[heylodeb]

frightened by the lack of inegrity that is being shown.

Lying to your employer is NEVER EVER a good idea. (whether they are a veterinarian or fast food emplyer, one day it will come back to eat you!)

and to ImNotThatGirl - I don't think we'll be able to answer this one for you, but the best bet would be to request a personal day, if denied, choose what is more important to you. (current job or Ross admissions)

 

[VeganSoprano]

I don't think it is a problem to *ask* for a new interview date. They might say no, but I think they will understand that you have responsibilities beyond your vet school apps and if a mutually agreeable date can be found, I don't see how that would be a problem. Just be willing to accept that it may be impossible to reschedule.

Second, what kind of job do you have where your boss will fire you because you *might* be leaving in 9 or so months? Did you lie during your job interview and say you'd stay for 2 years or something? If so, you made your own problem there. But somehow I doubt you did that. The economy may be crap, but I can't see how your boss would figure it's better to fire you now than have you leave months from now. Switch shifts with someone. Offer to work Christmas Eve and other less desirable shifts during the holidays. I honestly doubt you'll be fired.

 

[sumstorm]

The economy may be crap, but I can't see how your boss would figure it's better to fire you now than have you leave months from now. Switch shifts with someone. Offer to work Christmas Eve and other less desirable shifts during the holidays. I honestly doubt you'll be fired.

I'm with Bill; if I found an employee lieing, I'd wonder what else they lied about; at minimum, they would be written up, and I would be evaluating their every move in the future. Actually, correction, I have fired 2 employees for lieing, dismissed several volunteers, and sent an intern packing (after they relocated for the position) from the zoo where I worked. Integrity is important.

Did the OP say they planned to be around for a while? Did the employer emphasize the desire for a commitment during the interview and the OP practice deception by omission? Then the situation is already problematic and there is a real potential that any solution that affects the job results in termination. As an employer, there is a possibility that I had another candidate, and that I'd rather be training that individual now so I don't have to do so at a different (potentially more difficult) time. Every job I have worked since HS has asked where I forsee myself in 5 years, or what my future plans are. If my plans don't mesh with the employer's, I might take the oppurtunity to explain the advantages of hiring me for the short term vs hiring another candidate for the long term (which for companies that need to make unfavorable changes, the ability to have a scape goat for the changes can be a huge advantage...or if you know your skills can increase a base quality that can then be managed by others, it's an effective ploy.)

Otherwise, I'd first call the interviewer and ask for a different interview date. If that didn't pan out, I'd ask for the day off. If that was denied, I'd ask for permission to trade it with another employee. Then I'd ask, beg, and sweeten the pot if necessary (I'll pay for lunch delivery on that day) to get the day free. If that didn't work, I'd tell the employer that I absolutly can't work that day and accept the consequences (if the interview was worthwhile for me.) These are all typical discussions folks have when job-seeking while employed as well.

 

[david594]

Did the OP say they planned to be around for a while? Did the employer emphasize the desire for a commitment during the interview and the OP practice deception by omission? Then the situation is already problematic and there is a real potential that any solution that affects the job results in termination.

This is the impression I was under from the beginning of this thread. They lied about their commitment to get the job and having to fess up to applying in the mean time will out them for it.

Otherwise I can't see an employer giving an employee an issue over something like this.

 

[that redhead]

i know my boss wouldn't keep me on if she knew, because why should she keep me on if i'm just going to be leaving once i get into vet school? i mean, would you be completely honest with your boss if you were looking for a new job, for example?? no, because the second they knew you were looking for a new job, they'd "let you go" first.

Yes, I would honest about that sort of thing in my interview. I don't mean to snark, but there is a reason they might not select you over another candidate for the job position - not to thwart your career dreams but so they don't get stuck between a rock and hard place, especially around peak season/holiday season/whatever. While I understand that you wanted the job, I think not being upfront with them about even the possibility of going off to vet school is a bit selfish. I think it'd be silly for them to fire you for going to an interview (and I'm really not sure why your boss "wouldn't approve" of such a thing) but I think it's time you came clean to your boss, both for their own sake and your intergrity. I would then hope they wouldn't come up in an interview or as a reference, because at this point, I can't imagine them being too pleased.

I think you should be honest with your boss and tell her you have a vet school interview that you can. not. miss. There are still six weeks between now and then during which you can have someone cover for you or whatever. But perpetuating the lies is a really bad idea and as mentioned above, is a very poor trait in a candidate for veterinary school.