When to tell potential new employer about upcoming trip?

[Anonymous]

Hi all. I am currently unemployed and interviewing for my next nanny position. The only issue is, I have a 2 week family trip to Europe currently planned for May. Normally, I would never think of going on vacation so soon after starting a new position. But, this is an almost once in a lifetime opportunity, is already booked, and paid for (family is paying). So not going is not an option. The question is when to tell potential new employer about said trip? The options are:

A. During the interview
B. Once an offer is made
C. After starting work

I am leaning towards B because I wouldn't want telling them about it during our interview to jeopardize my chances of getting the job. I also think it would be rude to wait until after starting work to tell them, because it would seem I am not being honest upfront about it. Do you all agree?

And PS - I am willing to take the time off unpaid, since it will be so soon after starting the new position, and the family will likely need to hire temporary help since it is 2 full weeks.

Thanks everyone!

[Anonymous]

Tell them in the interview. If they can't cover the two weeks, they will rescind the job offer anyway if you go with B, and they may fire you if you go with C. It wouldn't just "seem" like you weren't being honest and upfront, it would actually be that.

I would say that most of us have been in this position when starting a new job at one time or another. 90% of the time, employers are happy to work around whatever it is. The other 10% of the time, it's a deal-breaker for the job. If it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, though, you may prefer to go and find a different job if that's the case.

[Anonymous]

I would mention it during interview! Enough time to have grandma/grandpa come or find 1 or 2 people to help. If they like you, that won't be an issue I don't think.

[Anonymous]

If a family wants you, a 2 week vacation is not going to be a deal breaker. I would be up front during the interview.

[Anonymous]

MB here and I agree with PPs. If I really liked you and thought you were the best candidate I wouldn't think twice about your trip and would appreciate that you were upfront so I could find backup care with enough notice. If you waited until after I gave you an offer it might make me rescind it because I would feel you weren't being honest by telling me initially.

I'm sure there are a few families who don't have any options for backup care and may choose not to hire you but then those people would probably be difficult to work for anyway if they don't have backup care.

[Anonymous]

Post your question on the parents' forum and your answers would be much different. Most mothers here would not follow their own advice. Such hypocrisy.

Just visit the jobs and career threads. Learn how your MB "leans-in" at her own job. She has a right to fight for every benefit she can get away with, but you should shut up and be happy to do her parenting job.

[Anonymous]

MB here. If I decide you're the right nanny for our family then a preplanned vacation would not prevent me from offering you the job.

If I'm teetering between two absolutely equivalent candidates - then maybe it would tip the scales, but that seems unlikely.

Be as upfront as you feel able to be. Definitely DO NOT wait until after you've started - that's just kind of rotten. But do it in the interview if you get the sense that this would be a good fit and a job you want. Then couch it in terms of "I want to be very upfront about one thing, because I'm really excited about this opportunity." Then tell them about the trip and that you would, of course, expect that to be unpaid time.

If possible, you might also assure them that you don't have any other plans for any significant vacation or time off for the next several months....

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

This happened to me two summers ago. I told the family in the interview that I had a trip planned and they didn't have an issue with it. I started new job for two weeks then left to Europe for two weeks. They even gave me a sweet card and $200 saying "have some wine and connolis on us!" I picked up right when I got back and it's works out great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Post your question on the parents' forum and your answers would be much different. Most mothers here would not follow their own advice. Such hypocrisy.

Just visit the jobs and career threads. Learn how your MB "leans-in" at her own job. She has a right to fight for every benefit she can get away with, but you should shut up and be happy to do her parenting job.

You don't know what you're talking about and your post doesn't even make sense. I'm 14:25 and I'm also someone who interviewed for a job I really wanted when I was 10 weeks pregnant. I was under no obligation to tell them then, I could have waited months, but I DID tell them during the interview because I think it's better to start off on a good foot by being completely honest. They appreciated that I told them AND I got the job.

[Anonymous]

Haha OP are you the one who posted on the regular forum about this? If so, my answer is the same in both places. Either A or B. It has nothing to do with being an MB, that's just what I would be comfortable doing myself. I'd be too worried it would put a bad taste in my employer's mouth (nanny job or not) if I waited until I accepted the job to say "oh by the way I'm leaving for 2 weeks". That said, I know plenty of people who have done it (although not in the nanny world) so I know it is a totally normal thing to do.

Do what you are comfortable with. If you're comfortable waiting until you get an offer, just go with that. I mean, they may let you go, I have no idea, but I suppose if they do, they probably wouldn't have hired you if you were up front in the beginning anyways.

[Anonymous]

In the interview is upfront and honest. I have done this twice (notified potential employers about an upcoming trip during an interview) - I waited until the end when it was clear things had gone well and we were both going to seriously consider the partnership, and both times was hired. In making the offer/negotiations we worked out whether it would be unpaid or would count as my vacation/PTO or some other solution. If they like you, this won't put them off making an offer at ALL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haha OP are you the one who posted on the regular forum about this? If so, my answer is the same in both places. Either A or B. It has nothing to do with being an MB, that's just what I would be comfortable doing myself. I'd be too worried it would put a bad taste in my employer's mouth (nanny job or not) if I waited until I accepted the job to say "oh by the way I'm leaving for 2 weeks". That said, I know plenty of people who have done it (although not in the nanny world) so I know it is a totally normal thing to do.

Do what you are comfortable with. If you're comfortable waiting until you get an offer, just go with that. I mean, they may let you go, I have no idea, but I suppose if they do, they probably wouldn't have hired you if you were up front in the beginning anyways.

Really? For any fulltime job, vacation time is not a "given," especially two weeks together just a few months after you start. This would be a gamble I don't see many people making. The job could say "no, you can't go," which means, "go, but you are out of a job if you do."

That said, most places know new hires may have previously-planned conflicts early in a job tenure, and would plan around you if you let them know BEFORE they hire you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haha OP are you the one who posted on the regular forum about this? If so, my answer is the same in both places. Either A or B. It has nothing to do with being an MB, that's just what I would be comfortable doing myself. I'd be too worried it would put a bad taste in my employer's mouth (nanny job or not) if I waited until I accepted the job to say "oh by the way I'm leaving for 2 weeks". That said, I know plenty of people who have done it (although not in the nanny world) so I know it is a totally normal thing to do.

Do what you are comfortable with. If you're comfortable waiting until you get an offer, just go with that. I mean, they may let you go, I have no idea, but I suppose if they do, they probably wouldn't have hired you if you were up front in the beginning anyways.

Really? For any fulltime job, vacation time is not a "given," especially two weeks together just a few months after you start. This would be a gamble I don't see many people making. The job could say "no, you can't go," which means, "go, but you are out of a job if you do."

That said, most places know new hires may have previously-planned conflicts early in a job tenure, and would plan around you if you let them know BEFORE they hire you.

Yeah. 2 people at my company (they took the vacation time unpaid) and 2 of my friends did it. Although I suppose my friends could have been lying about how well it went over. But they also took the time unpaid.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, unpaid, definitely, but I can't see telling people after they hired me. I would wonder if there was another one of these trips down the road they hadn't mentioned if I was the boss. It would seem like it was potentially underhanded -- like calling in sick on every Friday before a holiday weekend.

[Anonymous]

Look in the jobs and careers section to see how it works. "Full disclosure" thread. Very interesting.