when to tell a potential employer about a prior engagement?

[disney world dreamer]

i applied for a job and have yet to be contacted for an interview but expect to be sometime this upcoming week.
on the application i did say that i could start any time.
i do have 2 prior engagements though.
one being march 19th (my 6yr old niece is having a one year cancer free celebration) and the other being april 12th-16th when i go to WDW.

do i let the employer know this at the end of the interview or only after i've been offered the job?

if after the job is offered then how do i approach the subject?

 

[Mizzoufan]

I would let them know during the interview. Esp with March 19th right around the corner.

 

[ronandannette]

I disagree. As a hiring manager I would find it unseemly for you to bring it up during the interview. I'm looking for what you can do for the company - not vice-versa. If I offer you the position I'm obviously ready to discuss "what's in it for you" and it's very common for candidates to already have vacations booked. It's not off-putting at that stage but do be prepared that not every request may be accommodated.

 

[smadath]

I've almost always been asked during the interview when I can start. If I have any conflicting engagements, that is when I mention them along with the date I can start. I do not mention them until the interviewer asks, though. Also, mine have only been for one day events, such as doctor appointments. And, as ronandannette pointed out, the request may not be accommodated. Typically, vacation time isn't granted until after probation periods.

Good luck in the job hunt!

 

[NHdisneylover]

If it were me, and you are looking at wanting a full week off only a month from the interview date--I would just list start date of after that vacation. If they ask if you can start sooner, explain that you have to be out of town from the 12-16 April but could start sooner if they can accommodate the time off so soon.

If I recall correctly, you are the poster applying for work in daycare. Numbers (adult to child ratios) are very strict in that setting and time off has to be carefully handled. An employer who is short handed and wants someone to start ASAP is probably not going to be able to give you a week off nearly instantly.

 

[Gracie09]

When you get an offer.

 

[mamacatnv]

If it were me, and you are looking at wanting a full week off only a month from the interview date--I would just list start date of after that vacation. If they ask if you can start sooner, explain that you have to be out of town from the 12-16 April but could start sooner if they can accommodate the time off so soon.

If I recall correctly, you are the poster applying for work in daycare. Numbers (adult to child ratios) are very strict in that setting and time off has to be carefully handled. An employer who is short handed and wants someone to start ASAP is probably not going to be able to give you a week off nearly instantly.

As a hiring manager I agree with this. A day for an appt. or something along those lines is one thing, an entire week is another IMO. I would present it as stated above, that your start date is after your vacation and then explain, let the employer weight the options.
Be prepared for them to consider a different candidate who is readily available and does not have any vacations in their first 90 days.

 

[anniemae]

I would not mention it in the interview. For the 19th, don't think you have to be too concerned. Most places understand you need to give a 2 week notice at your current job if you have one. You have not even had an interview, and that stuff takes time. So by the time they interview you and extend an offer, you may be past the 19th anyway. You would probably be looking at the 23rd to start, that is considering you go on an interview this week, get an offer next week, start fresh on Monday the 23rd.

For the April date, I would wait for an offer to be extended and let them decide. You can tell them you have a trip planned for April and would they rather you start sooner and take the week without pay, or wait until you return to start.

Good Luck.

 

[Thing 1]

I agree to wait until you are offered the job. I would also state your start date after both even and see what they say. Day cares are a bit different than a large company. As a child care director, I am not going to want to hire a new teacher, train her and have the classroom start to adjust to her and then have her out for a week right away. Parents don't like that and its hard for the kids. If they question why your start date is a few weeks out, you can explain that you had some prior commitments.While both things are high priority for you, asking for two things would send up a red flag for many companies. The reality is you might have to decide if you are willing to bypass this job for either or both of these events.

 

[Dawnlight]

I'd say wait until an offer is made or if a start time comes up during the interview. Dh recently had this come up while job-searching and spoke with the recruiter beforehand. Dh suggested a start date of Jan 1, but the company wanted him sooner. We had a vacation planned for Dec 22-29. The company asked he start the week before our vacation and let him go on the vacation without taking the days out of his vacation allotment.

Hope it works out well for you!

 

[Happy Snowman]

I wouldn't say anything until the offer is made or if they ASK in an interview specifically if you have any trips planned. Most employers know you have a life and might have conflicts. They aren't going to have issues with a trip that is already booked and if they do, are you sure you want to work for them? They might ask you to take that time unpaid depending on their PTO policy, but I would expect that if I were applying for a job so close to my trip.

 

[mom2rtk]

Ask when an offer is extended.

Then expect to be low man on the totem pole for a while when scheduling additional trips.

 

[Kellydelly]

It is customary to wait until an offer is extended to bring up dates that you have plans that the employer may need to work around. Of course if you are asked during an interview if you have any upcoming schedule conflicts then you could bring up your commitments at that time. I have done that before and did not get the job, so be prepared to be put on their long list if they are considering you.

 

[Skywalker]

I would say after you were offered the job. And only if your trip is already booked and paid for. As to your niece's celebration, this might come off as harsh but I would not ask for time off for that. If I was already established somewhere, sure I would take a personal day or vacation day to be there, but you haven't earned any of that yet. Maybe you can show your support to your niece in some other way either before or after the actual "event", but to ask to miss a day on a new job...I just wouldn't do it in addition to vacation.

 

[SnowFuries]

Is this a "9-5" type job where the schedule does not change week by week or will your work schedule be in flux and actually have to be scheduled?

I think that will make a difference in what you can or should do. It will be difficult to get time off for a position that is a steady "9-5" especially this early in the hire.