Ask Work It: Taking leave or time-off to go for job interviews

Key Concepts:

1. Medical Leave and Honesty:

Main Point: The speaker strongly advises against using medical leave for job interviews.
Supporting Evidence: Abusing medical leave erodes trust with the current employer. If discovered, it can severely damage one's reputation.
Quote: "Please please please don't don't don't lie okay don't don't abuse that mistrust because people are going to figure out like how come you always fall sick and you don't don't really look sick and if it gets found out it's really really going to look very bad on you."
Ethical Consideration: Using medical leave for non-medical reasons is considered dishonest and unethical.

2. Managing Interview Schedules and Leave:

Main Point: Strategies for attending multiple interview rounds without raising suspicion or depleting leave balance.
Step-by-Step Process:
1. Inquire about the number of interview rounds: Ask the recruiter about the expected number of interview rounds to plan leave accordingly.
2. Consider half-day leaves: Opt for half-day leaves instead of full-day leaves to minimize time away from the current job.
3. Explore online interview options: Determine if any interview rounds can be conducted online to reduce the need for physical absence.
4. Negotiate interview times: Request interviews during lunch hours or after office hours, if possible.
Example: If a company offers two to three interview rounds, plan leave strategically over a couple of weeks.
Flexibility: The speaker acknowledges that there isn't a single "fixed answer" and encourages listeners to share their own experiences.

3. Interview Timing and Considerations:

Main Point: Discusses the pros and cons of scheduling interviews during lunch hours.
Arguments:
- Against Lunchtime Interviews: Interviewing a candidate during their lunch break might not be ideal as they may be hungry or rushed.
- For Lunchtime Interviews: Some companies and HR departments are willing to accommodate candidates during lunch hours.
Alternative: Suggests scheduling interviews just before or after lunch to avoid disrupting the candidate's mealtime.
Candidate Consideration: As a job seeker, one might wonder if the interviewer has eaten lunch.

4. Leave Planning and Prioritization:

Main Point: Emphasizes the importance of planning and managing leave, especially if saving it for other purposes.
Scenario: If an individual is saving leave for travel or personal reasons, they need to carefully plan interview schedules.
Statistics: The speaker believes that job searching while employed generally doesn't require a significant number of leave days.
Actionable Advice: Plan a little bit and ask for the number of rounds that you need to have, can you do it online, can you do it after office hours during lunch breaks.

5. Conclusion and Encouragement:

Synthesis: The speaker summarizes the advice given: don't lie, get creative with leave management, and avoid lunchtime interviews if possible.
Call to Action: Encourages listeners to share their own tips and experiences regarding job interviews while employed.
Final Thoughts: Wishes the questioner, Sean, the best in his job interviews and hopes he doesn't have to go through too many rounds.