Applying for full time job - can I ask for part time?

[normanpriceneedsanasbo]

As the title says really. I live in an area where teaching jobs don't come up very often. One recently came up but it is advertised as a full time role. I put an application in and have been shortlisted for an interview. However, I can't do a full time role (childcare costs become prohibitive and I just don't think I could manage the workload with a baby and a preschooler).

Should I go to the interview and ask if they would consider part time? Or should I just pull out as they did advertise it as full time? I am torn. I don't want to mess them around but at the same time have been thinking 'don't ask, don't get'. Would appreciate any perspectives, thanks!

[AlmostNQT]

I'd say if thy advertise for full time that's what they need!

They would have to pay for advertising for yet another person if they did go for you and agreed part time.

If it was me I wouldn't go for the interview, schools seem quite strict on wanting what they advertise for

[Rockandrollwithit]

I'm often on the interviewing panel and I'd advise you to phone beforehand. Sometimes we could accommodate this but at other times we couldn't, depending on how staffing is across the school in general. But don't wait for the interview day, ask now.

[DakotaFanny]

Agreed- quick call saying you'd really like the job but is there flexibility time wise. Good luck

[Emphasise]

It depends how good you are and how desperate they are. Secondary maths, science or MFL.roubd here atm you'd probably be the only candidate and they'd be bending fb over to accomodate you. Nice little primary probably not.

Either way best to talk to the head before interview. (not the "hr manager" who's little more than an admin asset. I've made that mistake....)

[Cynara]

Definitely agree on a phone call beforehand - I've applied for (and been offered) two jobs that were advertised as full time but I could only do part time, and on both occasions I've been up front before interview, to avoid wasting both the employers' time and my own. It hasn't been a problem and they've been very accommodating. I think it would be really awkward to apply "under false pretences" as it were, and try to negotiate part time hours having been offered a full time job. Best of luck!

[Emphasise]

Yes, but you need to make sure you speak to the right person. I called the contact on the advert to ask and was told that yes, they'd consider pt for the right candidate but the HT clearly wasn't in the loop with that message and was most put out when after offering it to me, I tried to talk about hours.

[Kennethwasmyfriend]

Could you take the job full time for a year and then make the request to drop hours?

[normanpriceneedsanasbo]

Thank you so much for your replies! Ok, so I will give them a call tomorrow. I am going to say that having thought hard over the weekend I just don't think I will be able to do the role on a full time basis. I will see what they say.

Am I best to ask to speak to the headteacher? The email I had I citing me to interview was 'on behalf of the headteacher'.

[normanpriceneedsanasbo]

Kenneth I think that's what I thought I may do. However, in reality, I am bloody exhausted with two little ones who are running rings around me (and I'm on mater it's leave at the moment, so it's not as if I have any other commitments to speak of and I still struggle to cope). To be fair to the school I don't think I could do justice to a full time roll either.

[Emphasise]

Fwiw, when I went back to work after my second maternity leave it seemed like a rest. A lot of the exhausting stuff is done by someone else while you're not there. I wasn't a teacher though.

[normanpriceneedsanasbo]

Emphasise that is an excellent point! Some days I am slightly very jealous of my husband who gets an hour to sit on a train in peace and quiet on his commute. I think for me it boils down to the fact that a full time teaching job is a challenge when you haven't got all the extra stuff.. I am just daunted by doing that and sorting out kids/house stuff. Though I know plenty of people do, and I am fortunate to be in a position where part time is a possibility.

[Blossomdeary]

I've applied for a full time job when I wanted part time. I indicated on the application form that I could only do 4 days a week and not 5. They called me for interview and I got the job. The chair of the panel said that the most important thing was to get the right person! I think it might have been better if you had indicated that you could not do F/T on your application - but the next best thing would be to contact them and tell them.

[OneOfTheGrundys]

I've done that for the last two jobs I applied for (and got). I made sure to email the question first though-in both instances the head gave me a maybe. In both instances they liked me so shuffled things around a bit.

[OneOfTheGrundys]

If they'd emailed back with a no way I wouldn't have applied-would have wasted everyone's time.
Good luck.

[gamerwidow]

I wouldn't mention it until interview if they want you they'll be flexible.
My current job was advertised as full time but at interview I said I was only able to do 3 days a week.
I would always consider a flexible working request at interview too. I'd rather have the best person for 3 or 4 days a week then second best for 5.

[AngelicaSchuylerChurch]

At this time of year they are almost certainly looking to fill a vacancy from a resignation, so they are likely to have a full-time sized gap in the timetable.

There are certain factors which might go in your favour. Secondary is probably more likely than primary, unless there is another candidate in the same position and they offer you both a job share (fairly unlikely). If you offer a shortage subject then this will also help. If it's a full time vacancy and you can offer 0.8 then they can probably manage it, but not if you want less than that. What hours do you want? Can you be flexible on your days? Would you consider arrangements such as 0.6 over four short days?

I think you should definitely contact the school in advance. I would be quite pissed off as an interviewer if you sprung it on us late in the day.

If nothing comes of this one, it's well worth sending speculative CVs to local headteachers on Friday and on the first Monday back after half term. You are looking to land on the desk of someone who has received an unexpected resignation and is panicking about filling the vacancy...

[normanpriceneedsanasbo]

Angelica thank you for your reply and advice. I like your idea about sending my cv in, I think I will do that, take a proactive approach. I am secondary Geography so not particularly shortage but not the most popular either.

I called the school this morning and they have clarified that it is a full time post with no chance of part time so I have withdrawn my application. I am sorry to pull out but the last thing I want is to piss someone off, especially given the small world teaching can be. Back to the drawing board!

[Alphvet]

Was there not a tick box for job share?

[Alphvet]

Sometimes it's easier to start somewhere full time, give it a year or so and request to go part

[Lowdoorinthewal1]

I have also done this with my last two applications. Put in my covering letter at I needed PT and requested only to be considered for shortlisting if they could accommodate this. Got the job both times.

I wouldn't go to the interview and only negotiate at the point of offer- I think that would really piss them off.

[C0RAL]

I see you are worried about coping with everything when you go back to work.

Perhaps your husband could take some parental leave, work flexibly or go part time? After all you have taken your share of family leave, he needs to step up too.

Whatever way, He needs to do more in the house and with the kids.

Too many fathers get used to their partner doing everything when she's on Mat leave and think it will continue when she goes back to work.

You need to have A Talk . Not about him helping you. About him doing his share.

[normanpriceneedsanasbo]

Coral I see where you're coming from. I think he is really good at doing his share, I would definitely say we are 50/50 on the household stuff, in fact sometimes I think he is better at getting stuff done than I am! His job is the sort where you go in, do your work and then come home again. He has one day a week where he can work from home and he can be flexible the rest of the time if need be.

When compared to a full time teaching post it seems to make more sense for him to work full time and for me to be the one that either steps back for a few years or works part time, knowing all the extra input that would be required.

It is so frustrating, and some sort of irony about teaching being the least family friendly job! When I had my old teaching post and did 3 days a week that seemed manageable.. lots of teachers I know felt that teaching was only manageable in a part time basis.

[MidniteScribbler]

OP, what language did you use when you called them?

"I am wondering if there is a possibility of part time as I don't think I could cope with full time?" would get a very different reaction to someone who is choosing to be part time whilst their children are young. The circumstances may be the same, but the language you use can make a big difference. You should never suggest that you wouldn't be able 'to cope' with a full time job, as a lot of people would see that as a negative just because of the words used.