DEAR ABBY: I have been going through a very selective interview process toward getting the job of my dreams. The problem is, I have a vacation planned for three months from now. When is the correct time to inform my prospective employer of this preplanned, prepaid and non-refundable trip? (It's my husband's dream vacation, and I would hate to have to let him down.) -- MS. PROFESSIONAL IN CLEVELAND, GA.
DEAR MS. PROFESSIONAL: Inform your prospective employer immediately that you have a prepaid vacation planned. The person doing the hiring will respect you for doing so, and you should not lose out on the "job of your dreams."
I am speaking from personal experience when I say this because when I hired my personal assistant, Sherry, she let me know during the interview that she had not one but two trips planned. I respected her candor, hired her, and consider her to be one of the major blessings in my life.