WWYD: Accept this job offer?

[nicoliae]

...made my decision...this can be deleted.

[dexteroni]

What do you mean by no time off? You aren't allowed to take time off? Or you just won't be paid for it?

[heygrey]

will they offer unpaid time off? i'd be okay with that, i think.

[nicoliae]

They said they highly discourage unpaid time off.

[orangeblossom]

Highly discouraged and realistic are two different things.

Would it help if you laid out your vacation plans in the negotiating, so that they'll know up front and they can make their own decision from there about whether they want to hire you? What is the penalty of taking unpaid time off? What if you have a sick day, is that frowned upon the same/more than vacation time, or is all unpaid time off frowned upon. Life happens, and the odds of you being able to go 18 months with not one single need to be off, just doesn't seem realistic to me. At least in my world, as it seems like I have at least one drs. appt/month.

If they are non-negotiable on the time off than that could be a dealbreaker for me in your position. Desperate and looking for a job for a long time, I'd consider it.

[dexteroni]

"I'm interested in this position, but in order to be able to accept it, I will need to be able to take some days off here and there. For the remainder of 2012, I would like X number of days to be taken at my discretion. For 2013, I would like this specific week, these specific days, and X days to be taken at my discretion." The worst thing they can do is say no, and then you decline the job.

[kershnic]

There's always take it and keep looking, or take it and quit in 6 months if the lack of vacation is killing you. Even if you have to call out for interviews, what's the worst they can do to you? Answer changes if you're in a small field where people will talk to other future potential employers. Also changes depending on how little experience you have previously. Sometimes taking a hit to earn some experience is worth it.

I'd go with orangeblossom's answer of laying out your vacation plans and obvious liklihood that you'll get sick at some point and see what they say. If they balk, it's not right for you. Your husband doesn't think you should take it, you've only been searching 2 weeks, and you're not desperate for the money. You're lucky that you don't have to sell yourself short if you don't want to.

[dexteroni]

Out of curiosity, what field are you in? I've never heard of a position not allowing (or even highly discouraging) employees taking any time off.

[nicoliae]

Aug 22, 2012 20:38:12 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

Out of curiosity, what field are you in? I've never heard of a position not allowing (or even highly discouraging) employees taking any time off.

I'm in the financial field and this is not the norm.

I think I'm going to take the advice of telling them I'll need x days left and see what they say. Thanks girls!