Are there any companies in the US that give more than 2 weeks vacation ?!! (without being there 5-10 years!).

Sure. I think 3 weeks is standard at more than a few companies. Working for the Federal government gives pretty good vacation benefits, and probably many state governments too. If you get into teaching K-12 you get most Federal holidays off plus the entire summer.

I don't know for others but my husband started out with a 3 week-vacation time in the company he's working for. Of course, having worked there for almost 10 years, he started to gain extra vacation hours. I, on the other hand, have at least 2 1/2 weeks but was told that I'll build extra hours of vacation time up to 2 months. But people at my job rarely take the months off suceedingly.

When i started my job, i'm the USC, i got 23 days a year off. Now 5 yrs later i am up to 28 days a year off. Pity though my husband only gets one week off a year until he has worked there 3 yrs, then he gets 2 weeks off.

Everything is negotiable. It might be easier to get more vacation than a bigger salary, for example.

My OH gets 25 days which I think is great! I am not sure what I am going to end up getting but... ah such is life - might have to take unpaid to keep up with my OH if we can afford it!! Who knows!?

My OH is a supervisor at A&W and just got salaried so I think the holiday was to sweeten the deal as he doesn't get paid overtime now. He's been there about three or four years I think now

I can't stess this enough. You MUST negotiate your package. If you don't ask, companies are not going to offer it. Never negotiate UNTIL they have made you an offer.

I think your ability to negotiate might depend upon your bargaining position. If you don't have a job or any other offers, you don't have much to bargain with. Often they will say FINE, I'll pick the other "guy" he would work for less anyway!

We get 3 weeks after 5 years of employment, up to 6 weeks off. And, being a Catholic Church related organization, we get lots of nice holidays and Holy Days off.

I got 30 days for years 1 - 10 and now I get 33 days

Well of course, you have to know what your position is. But once they make you an offer, they have decided you are the best fit for the position and are willing to allow room for negotiation. It doesn't hurt to ask, they worse they can say is NO, they aren't going to reneg the offer, and then it is up to you to decide if it works for you or not.

I know in some countries, you aren't really supposed to negotiate and the company is just supposed to provide the best possible offer. Well, it doesn't work like here and I just want to make sure everyone is aware that you CAN and SHOULD ask for more, whether it is money, time off, other benefits.

My husband negotiated an extra week of holiday, in lieu of a higher salary offer. It can be done!

I absolutely plan to negotiate an extra week of vacation. Although I am new here, I had decent seniority at my old company and my experience in my role is valuable I think. I am willing to take a slightly lower salary vs and extra week or 2.....2 weeks is something like 4% of your pay...can't remember the exact calc

2 weeks vacation + 1 week personal days - with option to buy 1 week extra vacation. 2 weeks is standard in the company starting out until I am here for 5 years.

I know even more companies that only give you one the first year! This country sucks with regard to vacations and holidays.

my hubby gets 10 vacation days, 3 personal days and 12 sick days a year and then he gets about 6 paid holidays...

after he has worked there for 4 years he gets 15 vacation days, which will be at the end of this year...

NO

Welcome to the US...

Consider yourself lucky if you even get two weeks. I work and was told that in my first year, I get only one week.

However, that never stopped me before...I just give quit when I want more time than they will give. And if they only give one week vacation, I only give one week notice of quiting.

Haha - yeah, Jeremy has been really lucky and taken unpaid time off - I only hope I fall into a nice job that will let me do the same so I get to see my family :/

Vacation time is one of my big concerns for the move.

How do companies feel about giving out unpaid leave? We have a regular holiday that we go on with a group of friends and the way my timeline is going it's likely I'll have only been in a job (if I'm lucky) 3 - 5 months maximum.

Do you think getting time off so early in my working career would be an issue, and is it 'cheeky' to ask for unpaid leave? Is this something that I ask at the interviewing stage, or try and obtain later on once I'm working?

Just ask about company policy on unpaid leave.

If you have bargaining power with the company, you could always negotiate that. There is a person at work who negotiate for unpaid leave when he joined but I think it was only for the 1st year as he already have his vacation plan scheduled.

I'd say mention it in advance, i.e. once you get an indication that you are being seriously considered for the job. More chance that they will be ok with your pre-planned holiday than if you ask for a leave 3 or 5 months into employment.

My USC husband started a new job last September, but told them about our plan to take a 3 week vacation this Easter. No problem. Company even offered him another 2 weeks work from offshore so we can stay longer (Europe trip). He is a software developer so it is easy to work off-site. But it certainly helped that he told them before all paperwork was signed. Hope you get a great job once you arrive AND get to enjoy your holiday