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Job Search · UK 2026

Can I take time off for a job interview in the UK?

Alex By Alex · 12-year UK recruiter · Updated April 2026

The legal default. UK employees do not have a general statutory right to paid time off for job interviews. The exception is employees under formal redundancy notice, who have a statutory right to paid time off to look for new work or arrange retraining.

What works in practice. Most interview time is managed via annual leave (half-day or full-day), flexible working hours (interviewing at 8am or 6pm to avoid working hours), or genuine illness if it happens to coincide. Some hiring managers are happy to interview at 6pm or weekends specifically because they know UK candidates can't easily take working-hour leave for interviews.

What to tell your current manager. You're not legally required to disclose that you're interviewing. 'I have a personal appointment' is sufficient for most leave requests. Most UK employees keep their job search private until they have an offer in hand.

If your manager finds out. Many UK managers are reasonable about staff interviewing — especially at growth-stage companies where churn is normalised. Some will react badly. The risk-adjusted strategy is to stay private until you have a written offer, then have the resignation conversation.

For final-round / on-site interviews. These can run 4-6 hours and are harder to hide. Consider booking the day as annual leave; mention you have 'a personal commitment' if asked. If you're genuinely close to offer stage, the day off is worth more than the salary cost.

Related questions

Should I tell my manager I'm interviewing for other jobs?

In almost every case, no. Wait until you have a signed offer with a start date in writing. Tell them then, briefly, in person.

How many jobs should I apply to per week?

8-12 carefully tailored applications per week beats 40 spray-and-pray every time. Tailored applications convert at roughly 1-in-8; generic o…

How long does the UK hiring process take?

10-14 weeks for mid-level commercial and tech roles. 4-6 months for senior roles. 6 weeks for graduate roles in healthy hiring cycles.

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