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Interviewing while working can be a stressful and exhausting process. Traveling to interviews, meeting potential co-workers, selling yourself as the right candidate for the position, and then coming back to the office can exhaust even the most ambitious job seeker. For most, it is necessary to remain employed while interviewing and this situation requires a delicate balance.
Should I tell my boss I’m looking?
If your office environment is one where employees leave due to lack of growth, you may feel comfortable making your supervisor aware of your desire to seek a new position. If the environment is one that encourages employee development and promotion, it may not be wise to announce your intention to part ways. Often employees encounter changed attitudes and a decrease in project involvement once it is discovered that they’re looking for a job elsewhere.
Only you can determine if it is a prudent decision to inform your supervisor. If you are seeking new employment as a direct result of your supervisor’s behavior or performance, it may be best to keep your job search private. If you have an open relationship and have discussed the fact that you are not challenged, content or properly compensated in your current position, you may choose to be honest about interviewing. If this is the case, approach your supervisor privately and reassure him/her that interviewing will in no way interfere with your performance. Employees who possess strong relationships with their supervisors often find flexibility and understanding as a reward to being honest.
When can I interview if I’m working?
Interviewing should be done before or after office hours, or during your lunch hour. Please realize, however, lunchtime interviews may prove more stressful as you will need to leave the office at a particular time and may encounter circumstances beyond your control. Potential employers can, for the most part, accommodate the schedules of working candidates and most will grant early morning and evening interviews. However, it is important to do your best to create a flexible interview schedule.
How much time will I need for an interview?
First interviews at large companies usually serve as an initial screening and can be very brief, while second and third interviews are usually more time consuming. Schedule your interview times accordingly and always take travel time into account. Potential employers are usually respectful of candidates’ schedules, but delays and rescheduling are sometimes inevitable. If you schedule second or third interviews during your lunch hour, be realistic about the amount of time you will need and inform your supervisor that you may be delayed (you need only say you have a doctor’s appointment). It is always better to prepare your supervisor for a delay than to have he/she think you are acting irresponsibly.
What other options are there besides running around during lunch?
Most often, job seekers find taking a personal or vacation day the key to successful interviewing. A day off will permit you to schedule multiple interviews, limit the stress of leaving and returning within a strict time frame and, thereby, allow you be more focused during the interview.
Associate Resources | Write and Effective Cover Letter | A Good Resume
Successful Interviews | Interviews While Working | Thank You Notes
Providing References | Resignation Issues | College Grads
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