Interview negotiation advice needed please!

[PurplePuffinPicker]

I have an interview for a TA job coming up soon. Its for a role that's not attached to any one child or class, but intervention based.

The job advert stated how many hours but not which hours, but a fair guess is they correspond to the pupils' school day. However, ideally I'd like to work two hours less a week, so missing last lesson of two days, to do school pick up. I'm planning to ask a few questions in the interview to garner whether this is feasible before I ask, as it may be that their timetable is already fixed and uncompromisable.

If it is possible that they could do this, when should I ask about taking two hours off the contract? At the end of the interview or after a job offer? I'll probably take the hours offered even if they say no to the slight reduction, so I'm wary of blowing my chance by asking before they've chosen me (if they do, obviously!). But I don't want to piss them off by trying to negotiate hours after I've been offered the post. I've never been in a position to ask anything like this before, so I'm not sure which is the better option?

Anyone got any advice please?

I wouldn't as unless offered. I should think the hours will be pretty fixed and not very flexible but you never know:)

Agree. I have always attempted negotiating hours and / or salary after the job offer. You have more negotiating power at that stage . I know of others that will try it in the interview, but unless you are very confident that you will get the job that seems a risky strategy to me.

Thanks both, that was my inclination too. I'd also always wonder if I'd have got the job if I hadn't asked that. I might not even ask, as it's not a deal breaker, but will see exactly what the role entails to see if its possible first.