During the hiring process, employers may ask job candidates when they’re available to begin working. If you’ve already scheduled and paid for a vacation in advance, then it’s essential for you to communicate your plans with the interviewer. Learning how to mention your vacation itinerary to an employer can help you be transparent and maintain good standing with the company. In this article, we discuss steps and tips for how to discuss your upcoming travel plans during a job interview.
When to Tell your Vacation Plans in a Job Interview – Career Advice
Negotiate a later start date
If the employer expresses concern about your vacation, then consider requesting that you begin working at a later date. The alternative allows you to travel as planned, and the employer can avoid changing its PTO policy or restructuring the workload to accommodate your absence.
Pay attention to the date on your offer later. If youve yet to receive an offer, ask the interviewer when the new team member needs to start their role. Next, think about the dates youve chosen from your vacation. If the start date and vacation are close in range, then it may be helpful to extend your start date until after youve returned.
Select an appropriate time
After preparing to recite your request, select the best time to converse with the employer. Consider mentioning the vacation after youve established an interest in working for the organization. For example, during the first-round interview, you may still be learning about the position, and it may be too early in the hiring process to discuss availability.
However, in the second interview, the hiring manager may want to know when you could start your employment if hired, which is an opportunity to address your travel plans. You might also decide to wait until after the company offers you a job, where accommodating your vacation is necessary before you accept the offer. Regardless of the occasion you pick, it might be best for the conversation to take place ahead of your first day in your new role.
Anticipate the hiring manager’s response
Think about how the interviewer may respond to your travel plans. Channeling their perspective can help you prepare to reach a compromise that enables you to keep your vacation without disrupting your relationship with the company. The urgency of the employers recruitment process may influence their willingness to accept your limited availability. For example, if they prefer an employee to start immediately, but your vacation is in the coming weeks, then you may need to assure them you can still adjust to your position after you return.
Another way to assess the employers reaction is to refer to their policies for PTO. Some organizations may require employees to enter probationary periods, which means they may not be eligible to take time off until after the probation ends. If your potential employer uses this policy, then you might consider requesting an exception since youve already finalized your trip. Contemplate the information youve learned about the company in the interview as indications of their response.
Practice what you want to say
Once youve chosen the words of your request, rehearse your delivery. Your voice and body language as you speak to the interviewer can affect how they perceive your message. It might be helpful to practice reciting your pitch while looking in the mirror. Practice delivering eye contact and using a straight posture, which can show your confidence. You can also exercise clear enunciation of your words and use an appropriate projection of your voice so that the interviewer can understand your message immediately.
Even though you haven’t yet nailed down an offer, you need to tell your potential future boss about your scheduled time off. Vicki Salemi, Monster career expert
You’re in a job interview, getting more and more excited about a particular opportunity, and the employer’s really into you, too. But there’s a knot in your stomach. You planned a vacation and it’s quickly approaching. How should you break the news? Is it bad form to bring up your vacation before you’re even offered the job?
There are a few things to keep in mind so you don’t get distracted by the PTO conversation. Yes, the conversation absolutely needs to occur, but with tactfulness and grace, there will be no need to stress.
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Convince them you’re the perfect fit
The company youre interviewing with doesnt have to let you take time off. Thats why its important to convince the team youre the absolute perfect fit for the job.
Build your personal brand, perfect your elevator pitch, and polish your resume. Remember to tailor your resume to the job listing and pack it with relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences.
Then, when it comes to talking about taking time off, youll have convinced them they cant hire anyone else, so pushing the start date back or allowing you a few days off wont hurt.
Unless the employer broaches the topic, dont bring up your vacation plans during the start of the interview process. This is something youll want to discuss later on, closer to the job offer when the hiring manager starts discussing logistics. Listen for, “When can you start?” Once the hiring manager asks this question, then you should bring up your pre-planned vacation. Its not uncommon for hiring managers to ask, so be prepared to answer at any time throughout the interview process.
If your prospective employer didnt ask this question, another great time to mention your vacation is when they are reviewing the companys benefits package with you.
FAQ
How do you tell a new job about a pre planned vacation?
How do you mention a vacation?
How do you ask for vacation time at a new job?
- Inform your new boss while accepting the offer.
- Plan out your work and delegate tasks.
- Educate yourself about the company policies.
- Observe others.
- Build trust and rapport with your boss and team.
- Let people know sooner rather than later.
When should you schedule a planned vacation interview?
