Career Clinic: My interfering boss is making it impossible for me to find a new job

Excuses?

The thing is, you don't need excuses. You are entitled to holiday so take the holiday. The only issue you might have is if you need to change a day at short notice (as can happen).

My preference has always been to say to my supervising partner with a huge grin on my face that I am going to a job interview. If they say "Really?" just tell him or her not to be silly, but you've just got some stuff on.

Why do you need an excuse?

Senior Associate -08 Jul 2010 | 10:05

Imply you're going for a job interview. What are they gonna do? Sack you?! The fact he's interested means the firm wants to retain you.

Hmmm -08 Jul 2010 | 11:13

Good question.

I suggest interviewing only for those roles you will really take - no need for practice interviews at this stage.

Also, tell your agent you can only do Mondays and Fridays - that way you can take a long weekend and make it appear like you are socialising with friends. I have found firms very flexible to that kind of arrangement and won't frown upon the request for interviewing on days that suit candidates.

Your boss will inevitably guess, but so what. Better to be discreet than rub their nose in it.

Best of luck.

ME -08 Jul 2010 | 12:26

Try this

Tell your boss you're going to get your haemorrhoids removed. After that s/he'll start minding his/her own business.

Billy Doing -08 Jul 2010 | 13:55

Impressed

Think ME solved your problem, what great advice!

Tom -08 Jul 2010 | 15:43

This is what white lies are for

There are plenty of white lies you can tell. Doctor's appointment is the classic one. If you boss asks what it's about, imply it's something personal/embarassing.

Home emergencies (plumbing, pet illness etc.) are good too. You should have an idea how sympathetic your boss would be to these things. (I wouldn't try "ill pet" on my current boss because he would just want the animal to die, but others would go for it.)

Or try to arrange interviews at lunch time if they are close to your current office. Say you are meeting a friend for lunch.

Beth -09 Jul 2010 | 12:32

Your holiday entitlement is your own affair and you do not have to justify what you need holiday for.

You may be reading too much into this behaviour by the supervising partner. Your supervising partner may simply be asking what your plans are as part of that inconsequential small talk that some managers (including me) engage in with staff to give the impression they are interested in them.
The partner has no right to ask that question and you have no need to answer it if you do not want to.

I don't know what stage you are at in your career. If the employers really want to see you and you are an important hire they will accommodate your availability times and respect that it is not always easy to keep having days off. My employer interviewed me for my current position on a Saturday morning.

Don't do what I did - I went for other interviews in work time saying I was going to meetings. That really is a very white lie and not honourable at all. Could have got the sack if I had been found out. Good luck.

high street solicitor -09 Jul 2010 | 14:00

ME Again

Some of the above posters are correct, you should not have to provide excuses but honestly, such advice fails to address the reality of the situation.

I assume you want to leave on good terms and want your remaining time to be as pleasant as possible. If that is correct, complex excuses or taking the moral high ground will not achieve the same. Such action would mock your current boss who will know what is going on.

So, be polite, be courteous, be discreet and respect the firm. You never know, you may want to go back following the move. I was made redundant from my last job and because I had left on good terms, my old firm took me back.

I should add that the foregoing assumes my previous advice above was correct. I think it was, but then again I gave it! Depends on what kind of person you are I guess.

Best of luck,

ME!

ME -09 Jul 2010 | 14:52

Viable excuse

Put some humor into your excuse. Tell him/her you need to give your brain a break and you are going to goof off. If you can, look cross eyed when you make the statement and smile. Paltering a bit also helps. C'mon, you are a lawyer, not a mozo or zek! You can ideate some ordure to feed that supervisor. Stop being anile.

KH -10 Jul 2010 | 21:47

Is this a joke or a serious question?

If you cannot handle this, how will you ever make partner?

HGR -12 Jul 2010 | 16:12

I agree with HGR - stop asking questions. In fact, no more questions for the rest of your career.

Questions are a sign of weakness. Especially lighthearted anonymous ones.

People who can't figure out stuff without asking questions should be ashamed of themselves.

Now get back to work. This is law - you're not supposed to having fun.

Anonymous -14 Jul 2010 | 14:09