Requesting part-time hours in a new job

[Wigeon]

I have an interview on Monday for a senior management position in a public sector body (essentially a quango). It was advertised as full-time, but I would want to do 3 days a week (and happy to jobshare).

I am grappling with whether to mention my wish to work part-time at the interview or not. I haven't mentioned it in my application and am rather reluctant to raise it at interview as it surely will not be a factor in my favour.

In an ideal world I would be able to have an adult conversation about it at interview which did not affect my chances. But it's not an ideal world. If I don't get the job and I hadn't mentioned being part-time, then at least I'll know it'll be on my abilities rather than working hours.

Do you think this is a feminist issue? I can't decide whether to feel all militant about hardly any public sector jobs being advertised as part-time, and thus discriminating against women (parents?) who want to be with their young children, and that this is a discrimination issue, or whether this is ridiculous and I'm getting shrill.

Some might say that part-time working is not just a female (mother?) issue - any employee could work part-time - but the reality is (I think?) that most part-time workers are women.

Any help in clarifying my thoughts on this would be most welcome.

[BlackSwan]

I agree it's a feminist issue. It's not an ideal world. Alternatively you could get the job and work ft then put in an application for flex working as soon as that's permitted. Not that you would necessarily get what you want anyway. But at least you would have your foot in the door. Best of luck whichever way you approach it.

[jollydiane]

Tricky. Could you work full-time and then after a few years (when they see how good you are) request for part-time position?

[EdithWeston]

How much do you know about this role? Because if you are sufficiently familiar with the organisation and the role that you can recast it to fit your hours (I'm assuming you can do this), then you will be an impressive candidate, in terms of knowledge of the role ability to improve it (and ability to let them save on the payroll).

What is the selection process? Being this forward (as it could so easily be seen) at a very early stage might be counterproductive. If it goes to second round interviews, then perhaps that would be a better time. Or, as you say, after offer but before they've stood down the runners up. But definitely not at the outset, and not without convincing detail on how the full role can be done in less time.

Otherwise, accept on full time, then restructure the department, presenting your reduced hours as a cost-cutting measure.

[KRITIQ]

Interesting approach Edith, but actually quite a good idea. But, of course that could take quite alot of time and if it is a role that requires full time hours, you could end up killing yourself trying to do it in 3 days!

Interviews probably aren't the best time to raise specific issues about terms and conditions though, imho. Are you able to speak with someone in the HR department before the interview to ask about the organisation's policy on flexible working, job shares, etc.? It may be that they are okay about it and it just wasn't explained in the application materials.

The alternative is, provided you're picked, to say something after the selection. They are more likely to entertain your request if they already think you are the right person for the job (and perhaps be reluctant to go through the whole recruitment process again if you turn the offer down and they don't have a good 2nd candidate in the frame.)

[EdithWeston]

Surely it's the only possible approach?

It would be wrong to assume, whatever wider improvements could be made to working patterns and practices in general, that this specific post at this specific time is wrongly advertised as full time. An applicant who wants to do the post part time will need to explain at least in outline how it can be done. Otherwise it may look as if you do not understand the specific role and how it needs to interact with the rest of the organisation and (if applicable) the public, and demonstrating such a lack is unlikely to help. A good outline plan of why and how, on the other hand, would be impressive.

If you want to job share it's tricky. It's essentially an expensive option from the employers pov, and thus usually sorted out for existing staff they wish to retain. You would again need to make the case on how the job could be split (each do proportion of everything? or split responsibilities, and how? Be specific!). Also you will need to show there is an adequate prospect of finding a matching half. (And in the longer term, accept the possibility of redundancy should your matching half leave and a new half not be found after a reasonable attempt). As you might guess, job share is an arrangement which only works well under fairly limited circumstances, and can be less secure. It's an option that you would need to think through very carefully, in light of the specific role and organisation; especially for the more senior posts.

[BeeBawBabbity]

I work in the public sector, in a senior specialist role, and find my organisation at least is fantastic with requests for part-time, flexible and home working (I do all three, as do many male colleagues). In general the public sector set the standard for these ways of working.

However! It's not available until a probation period in the job is completed, which is a year. And not "recommended" during the initial training period of 2-3 years.

If it as me I'd just say up front. If you really don't want the ft post then ask and see what they think. At the end of the interview? It gives them time to consider whether they could recruit two part time candidates instead of one, you might not be only person who wants that option.

[Wigeon]

Thank you ever so much for all your thoughts. I have just come out of a job share, which worked very well indeed (even when we were extremely busy and some might have thought jobshare would fall apart), and I think it brought many positive benefits to the employer. So I am a big fan of that arrangement.

I really don't want to work full time at the moment. My DD2 will only be 11 months when I return from mat leave, and DD1 starts school in September, but I want to be around for her last few months. I feel very strongly that DH and I are the best people to care for them at the moment (DH works part-time in order to share the care of the DDs). (This isn't a SAHM /WAHM discussion, or debate on the pros and cons of childcare - I am just saying what I want (and fortunately can afford!) for my family). I think I would turn down the job if they insisted I do it full time.

BeeBaw - thank you for reminding me that I wouldn't have the statutory right to request flexi working immediately anyway. Although they might be willing to consider it anyway...Agree it would be ideal if another candidate wanted the same. Impossible to know in advance of course.

Their website says "All roles will state whether they are full-time or part-time. Full time roles may be suitable for applicants applying on a job share basis." Does that mean they expect you to be applying with your prospective job share partner?

I think I could make a case for which parts of the job could be split out. I've read on here someone suggesting that this kind of thing could be a good developmental opportunity for a good reportee to act up when I wasn't there. I know from experience how I can make a job share work really well (although I don't know where I'd find one).

There is only one round of interviews (as far as they've said anyway!). It'd be a promotion, and of course they may well not offer me the job. But if they don't, I'll always wonder if it's because I said I wanted to work part-time, and wonder if I hadn't mentioned it, maybe they'd've found a way round it after offering me the job.

I am still very unsure about whether to mention it at interview or not...

[maybenow]

if you really want to know if you could get the job without this possibly prejudicing your chances, you could always ask in a speculative way if the job was available for part-time hours, compressed hours or jobshare at the question bit at the end of hte interview without actually committing to saying at that stage that you only want to do it part-time.

[Wigeon]

Thank you maybenow - that's a good point - testing the water rather than bluntly saying I want to be part-time.