Job Offer - Advice how to approach flexible working

[Mouthwash]

After being made redundant last year after quite a tough interview process,, I have been offered a simiar role in a large company.

Great news although absolutely terrified!

The reason it has taken me so long to find a job is because it has taken me this long to accept that if i want to continue with a similar salary and role, it will always be full time. I cannot afford to stay home, and I cannot bear the thought of paying someone else to take care of my child but sadly i have to.

My last job was great, full time and reducing to 2 days per week for every school holidays...and i was paid as a 30 hours per wk pattern..

I was offered the job over the phone and they want a response by tomorrow!! I wonder if anyone out there can help as before i accept i do want to broach the subject of working/school holidays and support/opportunity...

My options to respond are:

-Confirming the holiday- I have 29 days plus can purchase 34, how supportive will they be to allow me to use this holiday to reduce the working week during school breaks (as its one thing having the holiday, but some companies can be quite unsupportive in how/when you use it especially if people want the same time off i could end up loosing out.

-Or asking how open they would be to a flexible working pattern where my days reduce to 3 (or 4) when it is a school holiday (salary/holiday pro rata accordingly) ... I just dont think they will go for this approach though.. as the role is full time/high pressured.

Do you have any words of advice? or any other ways I could approach this? salary is also a little less than my last role which i am going to try to negotiate.

I am planning to send them an email tomorrow afternoon with an outline of what I would like clarification on (and also what I am happy with!!)

This role is mainly working from home so solves some problems like the daily commute

Sorry for asking this, I just want to make sure I get this right upfront!and i have no one to talk to.

Thanks in advance xx

[stinkypjs]

I think you had a dream job previously, unlikely to ever exist again. I would accept the job, work my socks off to prove my worth, then try and ask for flexibility. I think you run the risk of looking awkward/difficult if you ask straight up. But maybe employers are more flexible than I have experienced?

[Haffdonga]

You have to have worked somewhere for 26 weeks before making a flexible working request so an 'informal chat about options' might go down better than a formal request.

[Madonnasmum]

I take the job, prove my worth, see what the culture is and then, make the request.