How to Mention Your Vacation Plans During an Interview

By Beth Braccio Hering, Writer

Obviously, the easiest way to avoid a situation in which vacation plans interfere with a job prospect is not to plan a vacation while you’re job hunting. But life has a way of complicating matters—your sister’s wedding date is out of your control, you put a deposit down on a dream cruise months before even deciding to get back in the job market, or your spouse already secured time off the first week of August for a long-awaited family excursion to Disney.

The vast majority of recruiters understand that people have lives and plans that occur. But how and when you present this information can determine if you remain the top contender for the position.

Creating Open Communication

It’s easy when you’re in the middle of a job hunt to only focus on the interview process. However, it’s essential to remember that your interview process is the first building block of your relationship with the company if you land this job. Start on the right foot by creating open and transparent communication.

— Mind Your Timing

Managers use first interviews to get to know candidates and evaluate whether or not they’re worth further pursuit. Thus, experts generally agree that bringing up vacation plans at this stage is unnecessary and might even be viewed as presumptuous.

On the other hand, second interviews convey greater interest, so come ready to broach the subject of vacation during a second interview. If a hiring manager asks when you’re available to start, consider this a good opening.

For instance, after stating that you’d need to give your current employer two weeks’ notice, you might add something like:

“While we’re on the topic of dates, I just want to mention that I already booked a flight to Omaha for a family reunion from July 1st to July 7th.”

The absolute latest point to mention a vacation is when a job offer is extended. Don’t start working and then dump the scenario on your new manager. Such an action disrupts office life and can come off as self-focused or manipulative.

— Practice Your Presentation

New employers basically want to know the time frame of your absence, so keep statements simple and to the point. Practice stating your plans with confidence—you don’t need to feel guilty about having a life. Remember, you’re not asking for permission, you’re just extending the professional courtesy of advance notice.

And definitely tell the truth! Don’t create an elaborate story about needing to go to your brother’s destination wedding in Mexico when you’re actually traveling there for R&R with your spouse. Lying to “sound better” fosters stress, especially when a new coworker innocently asks to see pictures of the happy couple.

— Reiterate Your Commitment

If you are confident that this role is the right one for you, ensure you convey that. Keep it simple and sweet, but share your enthusiasm for the role and responsibilities when you’re sending your thank-you note after the interview.

Communicate how committed you are by mentioning a topic that you would only know due to diligent research or about a specific topic from the interview. You’ll personalize the conversation and keep the hiring manager’s great rapport with you front and center.

— Clarify Time-Off Policies

Finally, be ready to discuss with the employer how the situation will be handled during the final offer. It might be a situation that you need to problem-solve together to find the best solution. While some companies do offer paid time off from day one, more likely scenarios that might be presented include:

Suggest moving your start date so as not to interrupt the onboarding process.
Inquire about borrowing the vacation days from what you’ll get in the future.
Ask for unpaid time off.

— Weigh Your Options

If you do run up against an employer unwilling to budge, consider whether or not that’s an insight into how much this company actually values work-life balance.

Are you in a position where you genuinely need a job as fast as possible? Are you able to cancel your vacation plans when push comes to shove? If it’s a matter of nonrefundable tickets, weigh that against the salary you’ll have coming in. Which is more essential to you right now?

On the other hand, if it’s a personal commitment that will create lifelong regret if you miss out on it, you may need to pass on the job opportunity.

If you genuinely love the company, consider reaching out to the recruiter. Perhaps it’s time-critical that they have someone in the role, and it’s simply not an option for them to extend the time frame currently. Inquire if there are other roles that you might be a candidate for. Reiterate that you are passionate about what they do and would love to join the team.

Timely, Concise Communication Is Essential

In the end, you likely won’t need to choose between a vacation and the position you’re applying for. Confidently and concisely sharing your plans at the right point during the interview process helps ensure a successful start as you build your career with a new company.

If you do, however, find that you need to continue in your job search, FlexJobs can help! We post new job listings daily in over 50 categories, including remote and flexible jobs that can help you build your career while balancing your personal commitments. Sign up today, or take the tour to learn more!

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