Interviewing while working full time

[caseyumbs]

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Has anyone had any experience with keeping a full-time job while at the same time interviewing with medical schools. It seems like it would be tough since most schools only interview during the week M-F and dont have sat. or sun. interview days. How could you tell your employer you have to go interview without saying that you're gonna leave the company in a few months for med school? Just wondering how other people on this board dealt with a similar problem......

 

[tBw]

I was just honest with them. I had worked for them for 5 years and I told them I was interviewing for med schools. There was no problem. As I had something like 13 interview offers I can't imagine trying to go on that many interviews and *not* having to tell my employer. Besides many med schools want references from your current employer if you are employed...so they are going to know anyway.

 

[thackl]

I asked my boss for a LOR last Oct. I found out in Dec I would be getting laid off in Mar (go figure 😉 )

Woo hoo! I got to study for the MCAT while getting paid to do nothing, then got a great severance, 6 mo of paid benefits for my family and 9 mo of unemployment to collect while finishing out prereq's. I'll find something to do between Dec-Jul when my unemployment runs out.

But seriously, see if they will give you a good lay-off pkg. It could be a great break before starting med school or you could start getting ahead in studies. If you don't want to risk the job, then find a way to hide what you're doing.

 

[zbarnes]

Every job is different but my employer had known for a long time my intentions to got to med school so it wasnt a problem telling them, it was a problem arranging it.

I worked a full 40 hours before my first interview, it was during finals week at school and i drove up less than 12 hours before the interview went to sleep and went. Do not do this! That was a horrible interview, try and get enough time off beforehand, at least a day to relax and prepare.

 

[labangel]

IMO it would be best to let your employer know what you are doing. If your job is in the science field, I would think that they're used to people leaving to continue their educations. My boss was very understanding and I had saved up lots (almost 4 weeks worth) of vacation days.

 

[Arginine]

My employer knew that I was applying to med schools, and I used a combination of vacation time and sick days whenever I had to leave town for an interview. It's best to be honest with your employer, but if this is not possible in your situation, then at least let your employer know ahead of time when you'll be out and make sure you get your work done even when you have to take time off. It will make the office environment much more pleasant--you don't need added stress during the already stressful process of applications & interviews. I found it helpful also to schedule interviews for as many Mondays as possible, so I could fly in on the weekend, have my interview on Monday, then arrive home Monday pm, back to work Tuesday am.

 

[GoodMonkey]

my employer did not know. i took vacation days. it was none of their business where i went on my vacation days, so i used them for interviews. it was a work environment where i knew that i would have been let go right then had they known of my intentions to go to school 10months later. i couldn't afford to lose my job. some people aren't always in the position to let their employer know what they're doing... especially in the super-corporate environment in which i used to work.

anyway, most all of my interviews could be scheduled on a friday or a monday, so i only had to take off one day per interview.

 

[woolie]

I think Goodmonkey has an excellent point; alot of companies would fire you on the spot, as mentioned. I am trying to figure out what to do for this next year because 1) I need to make a certain amount of money, and 2) I hope to have a good amount of interviews and 3) I would prefer to be as honest as possible. It really does stink to have to be so secretive and I would like to avoid that extra stress.

I've actually had alot of trouble finding medically related work because people look at my resume and say: whoa! you're going to medical school, right? then we can't have you for just two (now one) year." It doesn't seem fair, since I know alot of people do manage to find these jobs and do leave in a year. People just take one look at me and say: 'you won't stay'. Well, I would if they gave me the chance. Very frustrating. One research guy said that, and then said he wants his lab people to stay for at least three years ... !