Requesting Time-off Work for Interviews

[HowDidIGetHere]

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Does anybody know what day interviews typically take place? I'm currently working and worrying about having to ask for time-off for interviews when the season starts up. I assume my boss won't like that I'm pursuing something that will end up with me leaving the company and not sure how to tip toe around it yet. Any suggestions/thoughts?

 

[Goro]

It's school-specific

Does anybody know what day interviews typically take place? I'm currently working and worrying about having to ask for time-off for interviews when the season starts up. I assume my boss won't like that I'm pursuing something that will end up with me leaving the company and not sure how to tip toe around it yet. Any suggestions/thoughts?

 

[jm192]

A lot of places will give you pretty decent notice.

If not--try to switch shifts obviously.

If you can't--you could try explaining your situation or call in/use a sick day/whatever.

I think DON'T schedule an interview later because of work. The sooner you interview, the better.

 

[razor]

If you are applying in this cycle, you won't have to quit your job until NEXT summer. I would hope your boss could deal with the possibility that you are going to quit in a year.

 

[razor]

So yes, just take time off and tell them why. Avoids akwardness next summer when you say you're quitting to go to med school and you've known this for months now.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

Does anybody know what day interviews typically take place? I'm currently working and worrying about having to ask for time-off for interviews when the season starts up. I assume my boss won't like that I'm pursuing something that will end up with me leaving the company and not sure how to tip toe around it yet. Any suggestions/thoughts?

I'm worried about the same thing. I work in a very busy diagnostic lab, and from experience, I can tell that they don't appreciate absences. Good thing I have Mondays off, so I could try to schedule my interviews on Monday without worrying about taking time off work. This only works for 5 of the 12 schools I applied for because the remaining 7 are on the other side of the continent and require at least 2 days between interview and traveling.

If your nature of work anything similar to mine, you may be able to ask a coworker to cover for your on their days off. Try to work it out. Both, work and school interviews are important, but I think you should try your best to not waste an interview because of an unaccommodating boss.

 

[dudeliness]

If I recall correctly, options were very limited for choosing interview days. And that was for the schools that allowed me to choose a day.
Bottom line is, your work will just have to be aware that you may need to take random days off.

Or you could not interview...

 

[Postictal Raiden]

If I recall correctly, options were very limited for choosing interview days. And that was for the schools that allowed me to choose a day.
Bottom line is, your work will just have to be aware that you may need to take random days off.

Or you could not interview...

Do you remember which school gave preset dates rather than allowing students to schedule their interview?

 

[dudeliness]

Do you remember which school gave preset dates rather than allowing students to schedule their interview?

Sorry, I honestly can't say for sure anymore. I remember Midwestern AZCOM letting me choose a day, and beyond that my memory fails me...

 

[Postictal Raiden]

Sorry, I honestly can't say for sure anymore. I remember Midwestern AZCOM letting me choose a day, and beyond that my memory fails me...

That's alright. I'll find out soon, hopefully.

I truly hope I get luck and have my interviews on Monday. That way, if I need 2-3 days off for traveling and interviewing, I have Sundays and Mondays off anyways, so I will only need to ask for one day off.

From reading last year's threads, from all schools I applied to, only SOMA and Nova seem to do their interviews on Thursdays. The rest interviewed students on other days, including Mondays.

Another question, do you remember how long, on average, were your interviews? Did they consume your entire day, or were they from morning till noon?

 

[dudeliness]

That's alright. I'll find out soon, hopefully.

I truly hope I get luck and have my interviews on Monday. That way, if I need 2-3 days off for traveling and interviewing, I have Sundays and Mondays off anyways, so I will only need to ask for one day off.

From reading last year's threads, from all schools I applied to, only SOMA and Nova seem to do their interviews on Thursdays. The rest interviewed students on other days, including Mondays.

Another question, do you remember how long, on average, were your interviews? Did they consume your entire day, or were they from morning till noon?

Most took from early morning (8am) until early or mid afternoon. A few took until 4, but not much later than that.
I almost always flew back home that same evening.

 

[novafan3000]

Does anybody know what day interviews typically take place? I'm currently working and worrying about having to ask for time-off for interviews when the season starts up. I assume my boss won't like that I'm pursuing something that will end up with me leaving the company and not sure how to tip toe around it yet. Any suggestions/thoughts?

Same problem, I'm terrified. Especially because it is out of the company and industry and none of the people I work with have graduate degrees. If worse comes to worst, I will just resign because I want to be professional and not selfish about it. Maybe ask to give up some hours so they can hire someone per diem when you cannot work? Im not sure, my work will most likely not be flexible about it though.

Does anyone remember schools having interviews on weekends or phone/webcam interviews?

 

[NeuroLAX]

That's alright. I'll find out soon, hopefully.

I truly hope I get luck and have my interviews on Monday. That way, if I need 2-3 days off for traveling and interviewing, I have Sundays and Mondays off anyways, so I will only need to ask for one day off.

From reading last year's threads, from all schools I applied to, only SOMA and Nova seem to do their interviews on Thursdays. The rest interviewed students on other days, including Mondays.

Another question, do you remember how long, on average, were your interviews? Did they consume your entire day, or were they from morning till noon?

As far as I know, Nova has interviewed applicants on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'm not sure what they are planning for this cycle, but if they still have the optional campus tour then you can skip that part and head back to the airport after your interview day, which concludes in the early afternoon. I wouldn't schedule return flights before 4pm. That gives you plenty of time to get to the airport. Nova is approx. 10-15 minutes away from the Ft Lauderdale airport.

 

[hallowmann]

This is VERY school specific. LECOM-E usually did them on Thurs/Fri. MU-COM did them on Fri/Sat, and I don't even remember when other places did them. For most places you'll get a 3wk to 1 month notice, so just wait until then (Touro-NY gave me 4 days). Some of them don't give you an option to.

 

[HowDidIGetHere]

Does anybody that's been in this situation before have any tips on icebreakers to bring this news to your boss?

 

[dudeliness]

Does anybody that's been in this situation before have any tips on icebreakers to bring this news to your boss?

It came up in my interview before they hired me so it wasn't really news when the time came for interviews.

 

[circulus vitios]

This is VERY school specific. LECOM-E usually did them on Thurs/Fri. MU-COM did them on Fri/Sat, and I don't even remember when other places did them. For most places you'll get a 3wk to 1 month notice, so just wait until then (Touro-NY gave me 4 days). Some of them don't give you an option to.

Well, that sucks. I don't have any vacation time until the middle of October and I have a really weird work schedule because I work 7 day swing shift.

 

[razor]

Does anybody that's been in this situation before have any tips on icebreakers to bring this news to your boss?

Yes. You ask your boss if he has a few minutes. You tell him that you are applying to medical school and in [insert month(s) here] you will be required to interview in person. Despite the time off this fall/winter, you will continue to be a diligent and reliable worker until next July. Offer him something for time off. Work extra around the holidays, over new years', whatever. All depends on the type of work, and if there are other people that can do your job that you can trade shifts with. I worked a half-day the day before my interviews, flew to wherever that night and interviewed the next day. Then flew back the same night only missing 1 1/2 days of work for each interview.

Also, be selective with interviews if you can't get a lot of time off. Pick 2 safety schools and make those a priority. Pick at least 1 dream school. Then fill in your interview season according to your work schedule.

 

[razor]

People call in sick all the time because they drank too much the night before or their kid barfed that morning and can't go to school. Any boss that respects you will appreciate you telling him the situation well in advance so that you can plan around it. Then, once you're accepted, he;ll have months to find a replacement for you rather than the typical 2 weeks' notice thing.

 

[coolingglasses]

Do you remember which school gave preset dates rather than allowing students to schedule their interview?

WVSOM gives a fixed date, but they seem like the kind of people who would try to accommodate you if you let them know immediately.

TouroNY gives a few dates in a two- or three-week block of time. ACOM I think did something similar.

Nova uses a self-scheduler but I'm not sure if there are weekdays that will always be closed off.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I worked two different jobs during interview season. The job I left that I had been with for 10yrs knew what I was doing and where I was going, and they were ecstatic for me. The second knew nothing and would have fired me for finding out. The second job I told them I was visiting family and had already planned the trips, and managed to work it out... If you have to, lie, lie through your teeth. Tell them it's a wedding, tell them it's anything, do whatever you need to... If you don't have to tell them anything, use that to your advantage! Best of luck!