Heeeeeeeelllllllllpppppp!

[OMGOMGOMGHELP]

I've just been invited to a Skype interview. Applied for a job at 20% (even though it was written out at 80, they said they'd consider job-sharing and part time applicants).
It was over a month ago.
I am absolutely not prepared.
I'm shit at interviews. The only job I ever got was word of mouth no interview.
Did I mention it was over Skype? Never done that either.
I really want this job....I am going crazy being a sahm.....for the last 12 years (except 18 months @ 50% which nearly killed me!). I have a child with Sn who can't go to after-school club etc.
dH doesn't know I've applied.
OMG. Panic. What do I need to think about?

Ideally you want to turn a weakness into a positive. So presentation skills, but welcome opportunity to develop and gain confidence.

Write down why you want to work for them in particular

Why your experience is well matched to the job description

What questions do you have for them?

How does the team work?
What would they be looking for you to deliver in the first 6 months?

Scour their socials / website etc... ask about their projects in so far as they will relate to you in the role.

Be friendly
Smile
Don't go on about things that are irrelevant to the interview (your husband / boyf for example)

Have a cuppa next to you.
Breathe deeply & remember it's just a chat. About something you might do.

Listen to their questions carefully & take your time to give full & thoughtful answers.

Good luck op!!! 🤞🤞🤞

Explain your situation and how you plan to fit it in to your life / manage things. Reassure them you have thought through the logistics

They need to understand why you want the job & be reassured that you will stay.

Turn that into a positive. Tell them you could probably provide 40% but in order to be absolutely certain of being able to give your best efforts you applied for 20%. And potentially that means you could do extra work to help out sometimes.

No need to go into specifics as to why.

Well that was a short interview 😫
The boss was adamant that it's an 80% role, that it must be a misunderstanding from HR that it was written out as part time because HR wouldn't accept anyone less than 50% because it's too much paperwork. I told him it was in the fine print at the bottom of the job ad!

The second guy present pointed out I'd written on my cover letter (in bold) what percentage I could do.... Boss asked me why I'd applied, why I'd accepted the interview and why I can only do part time. Thanked me and said he didn't see any point continuing.

They will keep my details in case any part time solution is workable within the team.

So basically, he didn't read my cover letter nor the actual job ad that was advertised

Bad luck. Never mind, you've done a video interview now. Hope you find something suitable.

Urgh. Thanks. DH is going to be so pissed off when I tell him. If I tell him the reason. He said this morning I should agree to take the full time job if offered, even if he wouldn't be willing to help out with the DC. And said yesterday 40 would only just be manageable. I know that even if he says he will help out, he will not. He has form.

Debating to tell him it went ok, then tomorrow or Monday afternoon say they said no. Is that crazy?

Say it went well but you didn’t get it, and they’ll contact you if anything suitable comes up. Then say you’re going to keep on looking and applying . It’s not far from the truth.

Wow. You have bigger issues than a bad interview here.

Are you afraid of your husband?

He does not sound very supportive. Just say it became apparent during the discussion that this role was not suitable for you but they may get back in touch.

I don’t understand why your DH is going to be pissed off? That’s not normal.

He does not sound very supportive.
He likes the idea of me working but not the reality. e.g. we would agree I'd go into the office, he'd drop the DC to school and then he'd bugger off to the office at 6am leaving me to get the DC to school and having to call in to say I'd be later than I'd agreed. Or vice versa and call me at 4 pm saying he wasn't going to pick up today and I'd have to ask to leave - had to leave by 415 to get them.

He's in utter denial about DC's SN also and seems to think it won't affect the DC if I get a job. I would love a job, but I have to know I can manage the DC etc without any help from him. That's why I'm only applying part time.