Q&A CAREER COACH
I just started an internship and found out that they aren’t giving the Monday and Tuesday off before the Wednesday, July 4 holiday. My family throws a big party out in the Hamptons over the holiday — it’s our favorite of the year. Would it be bad form for me to ask for those two days off? Can I call in sick or should I just be upfront?
You know how patriotic the president is, so who knows? He may declare the day before the Fourth as a national holiday. But seriously — and trust me, it is hard to take your question seriously, unless you want to flame out like a Roman candle — right now, you’re trying to make a good impression. Asking for time off because your family throws a big Hamptons party is so . . . so . . . South to East Hamptonesque, and you will sound like a Jitney jerk. Do your job and head out after work on Tuesday. If you’re lucky, they will close up shop early anyway so you and everyone else can pretend you’re going to beat the traffic.
I’m on my third round of interviews with a company. I sent a thank-you note after the first round. Do I keep sending thank-you notes even if I am meeting the same people? Seems a little ridiculous to keep thanking them in writing. I’m not sure I even want the job anymore. What’s the protocol?
Thank you for reading my column and thank you for taking the time to write a question and thank you for the important topic of your question. Get my point? Each meeting is a separate meeting, and unless it is like “Groundhog Day” where it is exactly the same as if it didn’t happen before, then you send a short note to each person you meet. Of course, I wouldn’t say the same thing each time. A personal line or two about the most recent conversation you had is all you need to do besides reiterating your interest, and that you are looking forward to the next step. You play the interview game to win. You don’t have to say you want the job, just that you appreciate the time and are interested in continuing the conversation. You don’t have any decisions to make until they make an offer. So, unless and until they do, continue saying thank you.
Gregory Gian grande is a chief human resources and communications officer in the mediaindustry.E-mailyourcareer questionstogotogreg@nypost.com. Follow Greg on Twitter: @gregg ian grande. His Goto Greg podcast series is available a ti Tunes.