How to handle a mid week interview

[yankeeyosh]

As I mentioned last week, I have an interview in Philadelphia. When I spoke to the HR rep last week, he said that I can do it on January 4th (next Friday), which is fine. He said he would call me back to confirm it before the Christmas holiday. He never called back. Today, another HR person spoke to me from that company (who claimed I spoke to her before, even though I didn't) to discuss the interview. Now, I find out that the interview CANNOT be scheduled for the 4th; rather, they want to do it the 3rd, which is a Thursday.

This throws a couple of wrenches in the socket because first of all, before he left on vacation, I told my boss I would probably be out on the 4th...and he will not be back until next week, so I will have to change it on short notice. I don't think that's a big deal. The other problem, which is bigger, is that I worry what people at work will say if I "arbitrarily" take a day off just after New Year's in the middle of the week. I originally requested a Friday or Monday interview but it fell on deaf ears...the only other option is apparently the 8th, which is a Tuesday, and which results in the same problem. In a perfect world, I would like to do it on MLK Day, since my company is off and many companies are not...but that's three weeks away and I don't even know if they are open for business anyway.

So, basically, my question is how to handle this at work.

[Room7]

I wouldn't worry about it at all. People's schedules change all the time, especially around the holidays. I'm sure there are a number of "family" type things that might come up for you around that time.

[winneythepooh7]

I would just take the days off. That is actually what I am doing next week in fact. My number one choice has been all along to stay with my current company, but as 1/1 looms near, I still have not gotten anything in writing stating I still have a job. I have to look out for #1 since we are now in contract for our new house.

[yankeeyosh]

Well, I guess now I have a different issue. I've dealt with bad HR before, but this takes the cake. The lady who I have been speaking with sent me an itinerary via e-mail for Thursday...apparently, the interview will run from 1 to 4:30 PM. Well, guess what? The train invoice I was sent says that my train from Phila. back to Boston leaves at 2:34! Ummm...I don't think that will work. The HR contact is off Monday; fortunately, she was kind enough to offer me her cell and there is another contact who will probably be there. But this is ridiculous. On top of that (a more minor issue, but still a concern), my train to Phila. leaves Boston at 4:30 on Wednesday, so not only will I have to get approval for getting off Thursday, but I will also have to get permission to leave an hour early Wednesday...I really wouldn't have minded taking a later train and then taking a cab to the hotel (esp. if the interview isn't supposed to start until 1 PM anyway). But I'm more concerned about the interview schedule, since there is some pretty bad HR work here.

By the way, she did tell me on the phone that my interview starts at 9 AM...so the confusion continues.

If this is a microcosm of this company, I don't think this will be a good fit.