How Should I Tell My Boss About Needing Time Off for Army Recruitment?

Hello everybody, I am working in an MNC (to be specific, it is a software/technology solutions organization). I have signed a service agreement bond which I will definitely serve, and I don't intend to break the bond at all.

Career Transition Plans

I have plans to join the army after I serve the complete bond period. I will need at least 5 days of leave for the SSB interview (Services Selection Board) to undergo the recruitment and selection process for the army/navy/air-force.

Concerns About Requesting Leave

I am pretty much worried about how I am going to approach my reporting manager/HR personnel/immediate superiors/boss, etc., to ask for such leave. How would they react if I say that I have such a plan to join the forces and need a week's time off for the same? (Of course, I am not migrating/switching to some "other" IT firm, and this decision of joining the forces is a noble cause as per my instinct.)

Query About Career Plan Disclosure

My query is, will there be any issue if I tell them frankly that this is my career plan (i.e., joining the forces)?

I hope this helps! Let me know if you need further assistance.

Explaining Your Career Plans to Your Boss

Please explain to your boss that you are going to serve the nation by joining the Army in the Short Service Commission. I have decided to appear before the SSB with your blessings. I need one week of leave as the interview will be from Monday to Friday in any week at Mysore or wherever the location is for which you have to proceed.

After completing a tenure of 5 years as an SSC Officer, I will come back and rejoin this organization as this is my mother organization. I request your blessings to help me get through the SSB Exams to serve the nation. After getting the leave, please do inform me. I would like to give you some tips on how to face the interview.

All the best, dear.

Explaining Your Career Plans to Your Boss

Please explain to your boss that you are going to serve the nation by joining the Army under the Short Service Commission. I have decided to appear before the SSB with your blessings. I need one week of leave as the interview will take place from Monday to Friday, in any week, at Mysore or any other location I may need to visit.

After completing a tenure of 5 years as an SSC Officer, I plan to return and rejoin this organization as it is my alma mater. I seek your blessings to successfully pass the SSB Exams and serve the nation.

Once the leave is approved, kindly inform me. I would like to share some tips with you on facing the interview. All the best, dear.

Thank you, SIR. I will definitely reach out to you when my SSB dates are near.

Many of my friends have suggested providing false reasons like injury, health issues, or condolence. However, I intend to stick to the truth and explain my intentions.

One concern I have is that, being an IT company, there might be a possibility of being neglected in terms of deployment into projects or tasks due to my career plans of joining the services. Will they perceive it as "he is going to leave soon, why invest in deploying him into projects?" I am focused on this aspect because I plan to attend SSB interviews for various entries and apply for all eligible recruitment notifications.

Regards

How to Request Leave for a Competitive Exam

Just tell them you have a competitive exam to attend, prepare for it, and request a one-week leave.

Tomorrow, when you become an army officer, you will be more successful and powerful than your manager, and you can demand a one-week leave.

Approaching Your Boss for SSB Leave

Why are you so confused? Either tell your boss straight that you need to appear for SSB or go for medical leave.

Secondly, you would only require 5 days in case you happen to clear screening.

Thirdly, top IT companies' HR is quite packed with ex-Defence officers (SSC/PC types), and there is no reason your HR head can't understand your momentary leave application and remove apprehensions and overforecastings.

Fourth, SSC generally lasts for 5 years but can take 7 years for self-leaving, and now you can serve until 14 years and can be converted to Permanent Commission type thereafter.

Don't worry; you seem to be young if you are appearing for SSB [AFSB Mysore] and seem to be worried about 5/10 years down the line, not having an officer-like quality (OLQ). Indeed, you need to become an officer.

Try working on your attitude, be carefree by nature, work on PABT (if for flying)/WAT/SRT/GTO/PI/Lecture, and believe that blank story writing plays a very important role in psychologists clearing. Don't be hyper in group tasks; be decent and explore the opportunity to hammer in a leadership style. Wear smart casuals; wearing a tie can be your choice, but do wear creased trousers only, and only for PI. Take a decent haircut and comb your hair well; you will see a mirror outside the PI (Group Captain/Air Commodore) cabin where it's written, "Are you properly dressed?" He will be watching every candidate's drill, posture, and reflexes. If ever feeling down, don't get bogged down or carried away; don't try to guide/become a leader, just try to become a good follower. Don't get dull in lectures, irrespective of the topic, nor try to act smart by becoming an excellent orator; just speak less with pauses (you will learn the army style later in your ESW subjects) and with confidence, you will get through.

Chalo, wish you success ahead.