On being asked how to negotiate time off when accepting a new job, I surprised myself by the annoyance I felt at the question. Times are tough! I work with people who really, really want to get a job. And it sounded whiney to even suggest that by the way, I always go to the beach in August.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it is now normal to lay conditions on your acceptance of a new position. And I think some upcoming travel is normal, necessary, and reasonable to deal with. Here are some occasions that seem entirely okay to me:
- Getting married and going on a short honeymoon,
- Returning to a former residence to settle on the sale of your former home
- Caring for a relative after surgery,
- Taking your teen-ager on a long-promised college tour.
Beware the tone of entitlement! Few will hold a job for those who:
- always spend a week at the beach with friends,
- yearn to see the Eiffel Tower,
- just might want to attend a family reunion.
A very balanced discussion on this point can be found in the Washington Post’s Jobs section for June 15, 2008. The author, Susan Kreimer, has interviewed a few specialists (including me) on this topic. Each person approaches it from a different perspective. Do track down the article, available through The Washington Post online site.
A good guideline to keep in mind is that every request or condition you make might make it easier for the potential employer to choose someone else. Think very carefully about the conditions you are presenting. Is it worth the risk? Only you can answer this question.
I’d love to hear your stories about negotiating time off. What has been your experience?