How To Answer The Job Interview Question “How Soon Are You Available?”

There is no better phrase that encourages humans to grasp at any available opportunities like the phrase ‘Opportunity knocks but once’ which loosely implies that  one risks losing them forever if one does not act quickly and seize them immediately.

This can be used as a solid and legit excuse in some scenarios but to others, it may seem like a sickening desperation attempt. Take an example of trader A who keeps lowering his prices ( even way beyond the market price ) inorder to make a sale and trader B who may slightly allow negotiations to lower his prices but not past a certain limit causing him to lose customers.

In this two scenarios, one of them is selling himself short. Do you know who that might be?

If you answered trader A, then you should immediately skip business school and open up your own business school. Lol!

Same principle is applied when responding to the job interview question, ‘How soon are you available?’

While it may seem normal to assume that if you delay, the position might be given to another applicant, also replying that you are available in the next 10 minutes after your interview isn’t the way to go either. This is why.

According to contracts binding an employer and employee, there are particular clauses that outline the terms on which an employee can serve notice to an employer regarding exiting the company and vice versa.

Nonetheless, this can vary according to the employees’ status in the company.

For example, an employee on probation may be legally allowed 7 days to serve a resignation notice to the employer whereas an employee who has been confirmed on either contract or permanent terms may be allowed 30 days to serve notice.

Therefore, any response to the above question should focus around the available contracts held with the employer.

For the unemployed, your response should not be perceived as being desperate or lacking any social activities besides job hunting.

So which is the proper way to answer this question?

SAMPLE RESPONSE

For those already in employment:

Since my contractual terms with my current employer states that i should serve a 30 day notice period of termination, i feel that it is only fair and ethical to abide by it and also provide a smooth transition for my replacement.

For those currently not in employment:

I can be available within 2-3 days since i am currently a volunteer at Hope children’s home and my immediate absense may jeopardize previously planned activities.