Potential new employer and a planned vacation

I've been talking to a recruiter and have gone to 2 interviews with the recruiting company and 1 with the actual company that I could potentially be working for. I have 3 more interviews with the actual company before they make their decision, but I already had planned to take a vacation at the end of this year.

When would be the best time to let them know? I really want to get this job as this will be my first networking job if I get it. Should I tell them at the interview stage, offer stage, or if/when the company decides to bring me in full time?

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Comments

lordy

I would tell them asap. This way they will decide if they can deal with it or not. If you tell them to late that might bringt them into an unpleasent position.

On a side note: Three more interviews? Seriously? Maybe it's just me but if a company doesn't know if they want to hire somebody or not after two interviews then something is wrong with their decision process. Just my 0.02 EUR

kurosaki00

I would bring it up when they make an offer.
you know, something in the lines of
Im extremely excited with your offer etc etc
I just have a little question, I have this planned trip by the end of the year.. its very important etc etc
No hurt in asking if they are ok with it.

This will be a bit hard though since its going to be your first networking job. So you also have to consider that what if They need you that week?
what if hell breaks loose? Which in IT is pretty much every friday before week end.

networker050184

I agree with kurosaki00, just bring it up if there is an offer. Not point in bringing it up any sooner.

From what I've seen this isn't an issue with most companies. I've never done it myself, but I've seen quite a few people start work and go on vacation in the first month or so. If you have something planned they should be willing to work with you on it.

DarthVader

I'm sorry, I disagree.
You should not give up that kind of information before you are an employee. If they are concerned about that being a busy time of year or something, they will ask you if you have vacation plans. If they dont ask, you should not tell them.

It is not being dishonest. As of right now, they should have no expectation that you would discuss vacation plans with them.

ptilsen

@DarthVader, I have to disagree with you on principle, though not in this specific case. While it will not be an issue with most companies, they do need to know your start date, which can be affected by a vacation, and they do need to know if you have a need to use vacation time shortly into your employment, since that is out of the norm.

However, in prtech's case, I agree that it's so far out that it really shouldn't matter. It's not that I see any harm in mentioning it, but four or so months' notice of a vacation after you start is more than reasonable. Every company I've worked for has had a policy of requiring notice two weeks prior to a vacation, certainly not four months.

Personally, I would probably mention it at some point simply to cover all bases. I really can't see it affecting your chances to mention it nor in any other way being harmful.

Raisin

I don't see how it would be too much of an issue. You're planning on the end of the year so it's not like you're asking for vacation immediately after being hired. The only possible issue I can see is that if someone already has those days requested and then you come in and get permission from management to take those days... You could end up having coworkers angry at you before you even start your first day.

I've seen this happen a few times when a higher level manager, who isn't in charge of scheduling, says yes to a new hires request without checking to see if the request is going to create problems.

Hypntick

We actually hired 2 guys that mentioned they had planned vacations 5 months out. It was nice to know when they were hired, although it had no bearing on their offer. It shows that you're considering the business needs of your employer, which always looks good to management.

DarthVader

ptilsen wrote: »

@DarthVader, I have to disagree with you on principle, though not in this specific case. While it will not be an issue with most companies, they do need to know your start date, which can be affected by a vacation, and they do need to know if you have a need to use vacation time shortly into your employment, since that is out of the norm.

However, in prtech's case, I agree that it's so far out that it really shouldn't matter. It's not that I see any harm in mentioning it, but four or so months' notice of a vacation after you start is more than reasonable. Every company I've worked for has had a policy of requiring notice two weeks prior to a vacation, certainly not four months.

Personally, I would probably mention it at some point simply to cover all bases. I really can't see it affecting your chances to mention it nor in any other way being harmful.

I never said anything about a start date?? of course you have to work that out with them.
As far as the vacation: If you have accrued the vacation time then there should be no problem. If you haven;t then you would need to take leave without pay. Either way, that's an issue for you and your future manager to work out.

YFZblu

Six total interviews? Geez...

higherho

YFZblu wrote: »

Six total interviews? Geez...

I had 5 and only one of them was a face to face which during that face to face was a dual interview for two positions. Crraaazzzyyy

lunchbox67

I agree with I agree with kurosaki00 and Hypntick

prtech

Thanks for all your input. I'll just wait and bring it up when they make an offer. I don't want to wait until after I start because if they don't approve it, I would have to quit. It's a vacation I can't miss (I'm getting married).

As to the amount of interviews, it's because they have cultural interviews and several technical interviews.

paul78

Hey! Congrats on your pending wedding. And a new job too (hopefully!)

I doubt you will have anything to worry about. No decent manager would ever say "no" to a wedding.

MeanDrunkR2D2

Like others said, bring it up at the offer stage. Explain that it's for your wedding/honeymoon and they'd be happy that you shared that information far in advance, not to mention an early congrats from your soon to be boss.

When I took the job I had now, I had a vacation already paid for/planned that occurred 6 weeks from when I was hired. I told them at the offer stage that I already had a vacation planned for those dates and it wasn't a problem for them to give me those days off knowing that I had asked them at that point. Had I waited until after I started, it would have been 4 weeks notice and I'm sure that they wouldn't have liked that near as much, even though they would have still accommodated it.

NatalieWashington

It is a very tricky situation. Decide carefully.

Devilry

I wouldnt bring it up until you got the offers, and since you have so many interviews your offers and negotiations are probably in HR hands. If that is the case, then just talk to HR about it to be in your contract. I have done this many times.. honestly no medium to large company has an issue with it. Small mom 'n pops? Yes they will.

rwmidl

No problem bringing it up during the interview. Usually (and I have done this in the past) when asked "when can you start?" I tell them the start date then say "I also have a scheduled trip on xxxx that I have already paid for. Will this be an issue?" I have NEVER had an employer bring that up as an issue. If they have a problem letting you have time off because you have already scheduled a vacation, you do not want to work for them. That being said, if you don't have the vacation time you may have to take it off without pay/make up the time (I've had to do that before). Bring it up, and as I said I've never had an employer have an issue with it. If they do, I would run away as that means they will probably be a little inflexible on something else down the road!

dave330i

Something so far out usually isn't worth mentioning.

networker050184

If its for your wedding I'd definitely just mention it and let them know. It sounds like you will probably be out for more than a few days and possibly longer than you will have accrued at that point. If they have some sort of problem letting you off to get married you definitely don't want to work for this place anyway. Always remember that you are also interviewing them during this process to see if you'd like to work for them.

petedude

As far as when to mention vacation, I think much of it depends on timing.

If the vacation falls within the first three months of you landing there, I'd say: yes, bring it up somewhere during the interview process. More than three and less than six: bring it up shortly after you're onboard.

pizzaboy

like networker said, once you tell them is for your wedding and they have a problem its not a company you want to work for. How my experience went was I interviewed years ago for a position and mentioned during the interview (because they seemed impressed and we were hitting it off) that I was getting married in 9 months and would need a week (cruise was already booked). IT Manager was cool but the HR lady went ballistic, was like wow. Interviewed for another position that same year like 2 months before the wedding, mentioned it again and this time was a totally different response. IT manager was like not a problem, congratulated me and even made some jokes about the ball and chain.

prtech

I have no problem with unpaid vacation. Would asking for 2-3 weeks of be unreasonable?

rwmidl

prtech wrote: »

I have no problem with unpaid vacation. Would asking for 2-3 weeks of be unreasonable?

Only you and your potential employer can answer that. If you have honestly paid for your wedding/honeymoon they should be willing to accommodate (note: don't offer to take the vacation as unpaid leave, let them bring that up).

networker050184

Agree with rwmidl. Just let them know and I'm sure they will work with you. They might even front you the time paid, but let them decide not to pay you!

prtech

Thanks for the great advice. I do hope they work with me because I really want to get this job.

prtech

Got the job!!!

networker050184

Congrats!

Plantwiz

prtech wrote: »

Thanks for all your input. I'll just wait and bring it up when they make an offer. I don't want to wait until after I start because if they don't approve it, I would have to quit. It's a vacation I can't miss (I'm getting married).

As to the amount of interviews, it's because they have cultural interviews and several technical interviews.

You didn't mention you were getting married (congratulations by the way), but this would be something I would recommend mentioning early on. While you may likely get the time off (paid or unpaid) you may not get your honeymoon immediately. So, it would be in your interest to be open about this sort of thing.

We had to defer our honeymoon, we got married during a time of year when neither of us could justify beign gone and frankly it worked out much better to live together a few months before taking off on a honeymoon (plus we left work during a time when it wasn't so busy making our time away more enjoyable). YMMV

EDIT _ CONGRATS! I see you posted you won the job offer!

prtech

Thank you! They mentioned that if I made it to the last interview it means they are making an offer. So in the beginning of the last interview I mentioned that I had a pre-planned vacation and they said no problem.

I'm psyched to start my first networking job. They also have a CCIE lab so I can't wait to mess around on that and finish SWITCH soon.

4_lom

DarthVader wrote: »

I'm sorry, I disagree.
You should not give up that kind of information before you are an employee. If they are concerned about that being a busy time of year or something, they will ask you if you have vacation plans. If they dont ask, you should not tell them.

It is not being dishonest. As of right now, they should have no expectation that you would discuss vacation plans with them.

Sorry, but in my opinion this is completely wrong. You should tell them during your initial interview (ya know that part at the end where THEY ask if YOU have any questions???) It would be better for them to find out early on that you have a planned vacation, rather than telling them: "Hey guys, I know it's only my second week here, but I'm gonna go on vacation now...".