The past few weeks have been very busy for me. I have been having multiple rounds of interviews with different firms since the beginning of January. Here is a list of some excuses I have used to be able to get out of work and do these interviews:
- I think I have been exposed to someone with covid
- I have covid
- I woke up with a stomach bug
- I have pink eye
- I'm getting a package delivered today that I need to sign for
- My grandma is coming to town today and I need to get her from the airport in the morning
- I'm having a guy coming to my apartment to fix my AC
- I need to stop by the post office in the morning quick to drop something off
- I have a doctor's appointment to get my tonsils checked
- I have strep throat
- My mom got a kidney stone which led to her rupturing her kidney and bladder which further led to infection and blood poisoning, so I need to fly back home to help support my dad being in and out of the hospital. (This was for an interview in New York that I had to fly to on a Wednesday and couldn't get a flight back until Friday)
Would love to hear what other things you guys have come up with.
In this forum, shouldn't it be re-enacting a certain scene where you're hiding below your desk frantically leaving a voicemail to your attorney (VP/MD in this case) about how you killed several people and have to turn yourself in? Then claim you were out because you were trying to turn yourself in.
I have to return some video tapes
hey thats me
"I'll be out from 1-4pm today." works every time
Truth is no one cares why you're away from your desk, just whether you are or you aren't. And no one will care if you're out for 2 hours as long as you get your work done
Leverage COVID to your advantage
Depending on the frequency of your interviews, you might be able to swing a series of doctors appointments.
Felt a lump -> normal doctor -> bloodwork -> specialty doctor -> ultrasound/X-ray -> “treatment” -> follow-up. Brush it off as a cyst draining or something that was easily treatable. If anyone ask questions just say a history of cancer or your on a medication or were genuinely concerned. Could also say you had a mole and get it biopsied or something and then a follow up. Make it kinda awkward so nobody can pry too much and just say you’re worried and don’t want to talk about it.
If you have kids say little tommy is sick or there was a Covid case and you’re worried because he’s not vaxed so you kept him home from daycare. If you have a nanny -> nanny had something come up and you need to get him or cook dinner or put him down for a nap.
OK, this wins. I am forever going to remember this.
Dentist appointment. They can unexpectedly be a couple of hours and no one really remembers the last time you went.
Someone I worked with did this. Said he had a dentist appointment after returning from the UK (where he had been for the past two years before moving back to my home city after a stint there), and then said he needed an "additional cleaning," no joke. But after he missed a few happy hours, it was clear what was going on
Never lie to your employer.
I agree with this, but it's become increasingly hard to get out of work without providing specific reasons. I also can't straight up tell them I'm interviewing for other jobs because they'll rip me apart. In the beginning I would offer vague reasons like "I need to be out for a few hours to deal with a personal matter" but now they always pry for what Im doing. Its a pain
I generally agree with this but when I was recruiting for PE in IB, I had to come up with excuses for leaving for interviews which were effectively lies. Just gotta do what you need. But yes, if you're planning on being somewhere a while, don't lie
Freezing take, you should aim to lie as much as humanly possible, to everyone. It´s very fun, and trains your memory skills.
"...and the Trust shall set you free"
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Dentist is a classic, I myself have used the excuse of my Master´s study group wanting to meet up (while I had actually already graduated) to steal away into a sound-proof conference every now and then.
This is genius. I gonna start applying to pretend Masters programs now
When I was leaving my former job, I was fully remote and would just set my status to “running an errand” multiple times per week lol
Aside from these excuses, if you're in a notoriously sweaty group, how do you guys find the time to prep for lateral interviews in the first place? Especially if its for a different industry than the one you're in? Looking mainly at A1s lateraling
I’ve been leaving office as early as I can to “work from home”. I’ve been slacking a bit as I prepare, but figure it’s worth it. Also devote weekends to prep.
Going to a charity event. I actually did this (and met Betsy DeVos in the process) and then interviewed right after.
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