How to Answer: How many days were you absent from work last year?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Court Clerk job interview.
9. How many days were you absent from work last year?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Part of being a diligent employee is to ensure that you are always on time and present when expected. It's great even to be 10 minutes early rather than just showing up right on the dot. Talk to the interviewer about your attendance. The interviewer wants to hear how many days you were absent last year due to calling in sick or taking off for personal reasons to determine if you will be a dependable employee if hired.
Written by Krista Wenz on March 2nd, 2022
Focus Your Answer On
Focus on the reasons why you missed work, whether it was vacation time, sick leave, or personal reasons. If you called in sick, it is best to say that you provided a doctor's note. When you can provide a note from your doctor, it shows that you were being honest about calling off work.
Written by Krista Wenz on March 2nd, 2022
What to Avoid
Avoid not providing a reason for your absences from work. If you simply say you missed a certain number of days and do not provide a reason, the interviewer will feel you have something to hide.
Written by Krista Wenz on March 2nd, 2022
Entry Level Example
"I cannot recall the exact number, but I think it was around three days total. All absences were excused and with notice."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"I had zero unexcused absences last year. I was sick just 2, and a note from my doctor accompanied those. In total, I took 12 vacation days out of my 15 allotted days. Once I was late due to a terrible snowstorm, and I notified my supervisor of my situation. I am usually punctual, and I always try to be at least 10 minutes early for my shift."
Written by Krista Wenz on March 2nd, 2022
Experienced Example
"I think I missed ten days, counting vacation time. Of those, five were for my vacation. For three days, I was excused under a doctor's note. The other two absences were pre-approved family days."
Written by Krista Wenz on March 2nd, 2022
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