telling a potential employer about leave already booked...

I'm applying for a few permanent teaching jobs that will all start in the new school year. Prob is that in the middle of February, we've booked and payed for a trip back to the UK and will be away for 3-4 weeks. This trip was done and dusted before I decided to go back to work, hence the fact that I didn't think about the timing of it. So I'll be at work for 2-3 weeks and then miss almost a month.

Anyway, there's a handful of potential jobs that would suit me perfectly, but I'm unsure as to when I should inform the employer? DH says to be upfront anf honest at the interview stage, my close friend who is currently a teacher in the governement system, says don't tell until I start in the new year - she reckons I shouldn't do anything to risk me not getting a permanet job (its extremely hard to get a government permanent teaching gig here). I'm somewhere in the middle, thinknig that I might mention if they offer me the job.

What do you think?

I've done both - started a new job and then told them and told them then started. TBH I think telling them after you start is "fair, as in you being offered a job should have nothing to do with the fact that you're needing a month off in Feb... BUT... I think it is polite to inform them at interview stage.

My employers didn't really care... but I don't work in a job like teaching where there are clear terms and breaks and things.

GL...

Can you wait until you're offered the position, then tell them? Not at the interview stage in case it sways the decision, but once the offer is made? I personally wouldn't wait until starting in the new year - surely that would be a massive upheaval to the new class/start of year? Plus they would know you had full intentions of a holiday and kept it from them.

A tricky one, but if it were me, I'd either tell them at the interview or if offered. Good luck too :crossfingers:

I'd advise them at the interview stage in most cases - it's often a question that comes up anyway. DH had this when interviewing for his current job, as we were getting married about 6 weeks after he started with them, so had everything organised already including honeymoon. They were totally fine with it :)

The more I think about it, the more I think telling when you start isn't the best idea as they will need to plan for it. They'll need to find a replacement and it is courteous to give them time to do that.

I have been in this situation and told the potential emplyer during the interview. After the interview was almost complete and they asked of I had any questions I said "No I don't have any questions but if I am up for serious consideration for the job, then I do have to let you know thatI have pre booked and paid for a holiday between X and y dates that I cannot cancel"

I still got the job and took the right amount of leave as unpaid leave.

HTH Nae x

As a HR Manager i appreciate when people tell me that this is the case at the interview. That way i can plan around it. It has happened too many times for me to count but it has never had an impact on the decision of who to employ. If the person is right then we can work around a holiday. So I would definitely tell them upfront.

I agree with Nai. I'd appreciate hearing it at interview, and it wouldn't have any bearing at all on my decision to hire (the right person). This is the same advice I gave when working in recruitment.

In my view, an employer who chooses not to hire you for taking a pre-arranged holiday is not an employer you want to work for (I guess with the exception being urgent operational reasons).

Good luck with the job hunt and have a fabulous trip!

Thanks everyone. I think I'll be upfront, I'll feel better about it anyway. In regards to finding a replacement - thats often done on a day by day basis in school, but I'll need to write a months worth of lessons for the relief teacher to follow. But I'm more worried about them not choosing me because as the kids are still settling into the school year, I'll go and disrupt it for a month.

I agree... I'd much rather hear about it in the interview. I don't think it would influence my decision.