Job interview whilst on mat leave?

[Jobinterview2019]

I’m on mat leave and having a look at other jobs. Nothing especially wrong with my current job except quite a long commute, and keen to find something at a higher band. I’d planned on returning part time or with flexible working to avoid committing every day. An equivalent job’s just come up but it’s just ten minutes from my home. I’m in the NHS so anticipate standard questions that won’t ask why I’m looking to leave, but when should I tell them I’m on mat leave? And is it likely a new employer would offer flexible working and be accommodating? Xx

Impossible to say. If they want a full timer between particular hours then they won’t agree to part time/flexible working.

Will you be able to start when they are looking for someone? They won’t ask about mat leave and you shouldn’t mention it in your application or interview.

Is this another NHS job or outside of the NHS?

I would wait until you receive an offer and therefore are discussing terms before discussing mat leave - I know people who will disagree with me on that though! However, an employer is not supposed to reject you because of mat leave or insist you start earlier (ie during your intended mat leave). Realistically some employers will be expecting you to be able to start relatively soon, depending on average notice periods etc in your type of role. So if you’re planning on taking more mat leave, which would be longer than an average notice period in your role, then have that discussion once you’ve received the offer; I’m a bit of a cynic and wouldn’t be surprised if somewhere were not to offer you a role because of mat leave, but wouldn’t call it that and would cite other reasons, if they were to know earlier in the selection process.

Also, are you getting enhanced maternity pay from your trust? If this is a job outside of the NHS, then bearing in mind whatever the policy is regarding minimum return to work period to qualify for keeping the enhanced pay. Obviously it all depends on who the new employer would be and NHS/trust policy (I’m not overly familiar with it, I know they often require something like a minimum 12 month return but I don’t know how it works if you return to a role elsewhere in the NHS, a different trust etc).

Thank you. They haven’t posted the hours they’re looking for or a start date (though usually with referencing takes a few months and I’ll be ready to begin at that time). Also that it is full time but requires unsocial hours. I was imagining they might permit a longer day pattern (day+evening) for example rather than five full days.

Also the likelihood of offering flexible working or part time to new starters is industry and organisation dependent. I am in the public sector and in our neck of the sector, it is very common to offer part time and flexible terms - however this is stated on all of our adverts and is the default position for recruitment. If a role explicitly stated full time then it would mean it really is a full time only job. The job advert and a chat with the contact on the advert should be able to help with understanding how they approach flexible and part time working requests for new appointments.

Thank you livinglongerwithcalgon, it’s another NHS job, different trust. Had heard that if I stay within the NHS, will not need to pay back my mat pay/OMP as I will remain employed by the NHS.

You need to remain employed by the NHS for 3 months to retain all of your OMP.

Oops apologies for the cross post. Do you reckon it’s worth asking the contact on the post about flexible working if I’ve already been offered an interview? I made a somewhat rash decision to apply over the weekend as it was closing, so didn’t have a chance to contact anyone (or even expect I would be offered an interview!)

Does the advert not make mention of it? If not, they may not be able to accommodate it. I would go to the interview and see what happens.

There’s usually an opportunity at the end of an interview to ask questions, it might be worth asking how the hours/shift patterns work and perhaps whether they have any flexible working patterns in place or what their approach to or policy is on flexible working. You can be fairly non-committal about it and sound out how they currently work and what they’re looking for/need to give you an idea, if you don’t want to go full on into “Could I have xyz pattern” before being given an offer.

And good luck!

Thank you both. Moreslidingdoors, no specific mention but the standard ‘flexible working can be considered’ I see on all job adverts.

Livinglongerwithcalgon, Thank you, will have a think about asking at the end.

That’s a specific mention then! They remove that if it’s genuinely not possible.
Good luck!

Gosh I thought it was standard! Thank you