New job and asking for time off

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello

i will be changing jobs soon as I am moving to a new state.

i have prior obligations - my brother’s wedding the end of May, and grad school clinical that is mandatory in the summer for 4 days.
Both are in different states than I’m moving to so my brother’s wedding would be 2 days off I’d be flying.

my question is, what is the best way to go about to ask for these days off when I get hired? Immediately? Wait until after orientation? I hate to have to but as I said these are things I cannot miss, and I am not one to take off work.

thank you

I had to have 2 weeks off for prior plans around the holidays and made it a condition of the job offer...

I have never said during an interview that I had specific dates I needed off in the event I was hired. I have said upon hire that I had a specific date/dates that I must have off, but would be happy to be flexible in my scheduling around those dates if it helped my being out. I have never had an issue.

For anyone who thinks "it'll be fine" if you just call out for a scheduled day that you were denied off I can assure you that would be met with disciplinary action where I work and I believe other places I've worked as well. I wouldn't use the word "punishment" so much as "expected consequence". If you pull this as a new hire you should expect it may well affect your ability to stay with that employer.

1 Votes
Specializes in corrections and LTC.

As a health administrator, I have interviewed and hired a lot of staff. I always appreciated when the person being interviewed brought up planned time off during the interview. I like that up front honesty, and never one time held that against them. They always got this time off - people have lives and plans and some of those plans are very important and cannot be rescheduled.

If they waited and told me when the offer was extended? It didn't sit as well with me. I felt they were putting me in a bind, that it was an ultimatum. Either I get this time off or I won't come on board.

If they waited until orientation, or after orientation? They may not get it, depending on the time of the year and other staff that have already requested and been granted that time. If you plan on flying to another state for Christmas, or your dad's retirement party, or your 10th class reunion which is held over the 4th of July, you knew that at the interview. If you wait until or after orientation, I feel like you are telling me 'either I get this time off or I will quit'. Bye - I am not playing games with you.

1 Votes

Immediately during interview process.

On 11/26/2019 at 3:27 PM, ocean.baby said:

If they waited until orientation, or after orientation? They may not get it, depending on the time of the year and other staff that have already requested and been granted that time. If you plan on flying to another state for Christmas, or your dad's retirement party, or your 10th class reunion which is held over the 4th of July, you knew that at the interview. If you wait until or after orientation, I feel like you are telling me 'either I get this time off or I will quit'. Bye - I am not playing games with you.

You are right in that it would be best to just get things out in the open up front. But then there are the people in your position who find it high-maintenance, demanding, aggressive, etc., etc. when anyone other than themselves advocates for something they want/need. That attitude is what, over time, has meant that job-seekers must wonder and worry about best timing.

I find your mindset a little harsh given the number of employers unapologetically hiring for positions that are rotating days, shifts, weekends, holidays and whatever else, making non-negotiable offers, withholding wage information until the last minute...in short, failing to state their case up front and take whatever lumps may come. Instead, things are expected to be orchestrated to their advantage with the job-seeker in the take-it-or-leave-it position. Why the double-standard?

One way to not have to play games would simply be to discuss your gracious nature up front with those you are interviewing and ask if they have any needs such as those we are discussing, and let them know you would be happy to accommodate. Then they will have no need to withhold information from you in an unnecessary attempt to manipulate you into considering their important plans.

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