To go to this job interview?

[pinkletoes]

I have a job interview next week for quite a senior level role (Head of dept, reporting to Director). I have once worked at this level before for a few months in a small company of 25 people (was promoted from Manager but then moved away and left). This company is approximately 150 people so I am already scared i can't do the job!

It's in a sector I am keen to get back into (hence why I applied) which I used to work in BUT it is known for quite long working hours and being quite traditional in it's approach to flex working etc (this may have changed as it's been 10 years since I worked in the sector but probably hasn't).

When I applied for the role I was always planning to tell them I would prefer 4 days a week if at all possible or potentially 4 days and 1 of those days from home. My reasoning for this is that the commute (although not that far really) is complicated (change trains) and I have to do the school run. DH can pick up most days but realistically I have to drop off. I also feel like full time may be near on impossible with a DH that works full time and 2 childcare providers (one school, one CM) and two small children (aged 5 & 2). It possible my DH could drop a day but would need to give 6 months notice.

I had a phone interview which I passed and am now invited to stage 2 (have to do a 40 min presentation) and there are 2 other candidates. I don't know whether to mention about the P/T option now (by email to HR contact) or just not mention it and ask afterwards if I am successful?

I have been trying for over a year to find something PT, this is the most senior level job I have got an interview for, I have applied for a couple of other PT positions but been unsuccessful because there's a huge amount of competition for obvious reasons, there are also hardly any PT jobs in the area I live in in this sector. At the moment I freelance but find it lonely and the work is too few and far between, i don't make much money, this job I am interviewing for would pay approx 50k.

Am i being totally out of order going to the interview if my intention is to ask for PT / Flex working or should I just carry on with the process? Realistically my mind is made up that IF they can't offer it it's going to be too hard for us to make it work at this stage.

Of course you should ask ahead of the interview If it's a FT job then there's no point wasting your time or theirs.

As an employer I would be really pissed off to go through all the time and expense of an interview process for the successful candidate to suddenly tell me that they would like the full-time post to be changed to part-time to suit their personal circumstances. Please don't waste other people's time like this.

I agree, if they want a FT and you can't manage that you should step aside and let them give another FT candidate the chance.

Well, on the job description / advert it doesn't state full or part time, it also doesn't state how many hours per week or the working hours on the actual job description. I have just assumed it's FT and 37.5hrs. In the benefits it mentions the holiday entitlement and ability to 'buy holiday' but nothing about flexible working. I didn't have the full Job description until this second stage with these details on it, just the role overview.

I haven't asked until this point because quite frankly i didn't want to put them off. I have always been of the mindset that if the company really like you / think you can do the job they may be able to be more flexible? I guess I have feared that I need to get in front of them before I can demonstrate that but perhaps I am being more annoying by not asking?!

I take that point Edwinbear about allowing someone else the chance.

@pinkletoes Absolutely you should go to the job interview, you don't negotiate contract conditions for any other role prior to attending an interview do you?

You may find the following information useful:
www.timewisejobs.co.uk/article/how-to-ask-for-flexibility-for-a-full-time-job/?s=10

Thank you @thegentlemoose, that link is so useful! So a lot of different advice on here. Now I really don't know what to do! I had considered writing an email before the interview next week to ask them to confirm the working hours as a minimum as I have then at least broached the subject?

I would go to the interview - if you were offered the job with the option to work from home for one day a week in an FT position would you take it?

Most organisations that I know now offer working from home for one day a week for parents.

Don't say anything yet, wait until they start discussing terms.

I've gone for an interview, aced it, been offered the re then negotiated working hours. The key is that you fit the job. Of they want t you they'll accommodate your working pattern. If it does not fit the job, they won't. They cant make that decision until they've met you.

Go for it and good luck. BUT be really clear on the pattern you propose.

Thank you for the tips. Ideally I would like 4 days per week yes but would consider working 5 days (1 from home) If I could do flexible hours e.g. 10-6 or 8-4 so that I can do the drop off/pick up easily! I have no available childcare one day a week. I could consider getting a nanny / more childcare but it's also that I want to see my children...and then we would be looking at a third childcare option which just seems very complex.

I should also add that my last job at this level was done at 3 or 4 days a week, so I am used to working like that but it was for a VERY family friendly flexible company and I am now kicking myself for every having left (but we moved away...) Part time / flexible working seems pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to come by in so many sectors at a mid/senior level.

I think the thing is, at the ages your children are, childcare is always going to be complex unless one of you stays at home.

Over time, the children will move along and sometimes, will be in the same setting (making it easier), it changes again when they start going to 2ndary school, and they're still needing someone at home, but there's no after school club for them to go to.

You will all cope- it will be difficult, but you'll cope, then it will get easier for a while.

I'd go for the job, try for flexible working and if you don't get it, get a part time nanny to fill the gaps just for now. Use the extra out of the 50 grand salary to 'buy time'- outsource as much as you can of the household stuff so that all your spare time and energy is spent with the children.
Make sure your partner is on board with it, as well, and is willing and able to take his share of the responsibility without it all falling to you to sort it out.

Don't worry about giving someone else the chance. If you get picked, ask for part time and they say no it will still go to someone else.

In my sector it wouldn't be at all unusual or frowned upon to wait until you'd been offered a job to ask for four days a week or a day a week from home. Would it help to ask for a slightly later start time to facilitate drop off?

Personally I'd go and prove how good I am before I asked for flexible arrangements.

I know a few people who have successfully done this, I wouldn't ask in advance.
Good luck!

At that kind of level you set your own schedule and so should be allowed 'work from home' on Fridays. In quotation marks because in most companies for senior people that means day off but on your bb for important stuff.

Funny how a man would never consider any of this in a job interview.

Why don't you have childcare for that one day? How do you intend to work at home and look after the kids?

It's a decent salary and you should beable to make it work

@Astro55 Many men do consider flexible working when they have children - at least in my fields they do.

I think it's strange that you've done senior roles as a key timer. That is so, so rare unless you're job sharing. A head of department usually reports to that coo and while that coo may be flexible she usually wants you available as and when she wants.

UppityHumpty I think I was lucky! I worked for a small ish company (26 people) and my role was not central to the every day business, I was a standalone area of support services I guess. I reported directly to the MD for a while and then directly to the Chairman, he had 4 kids and he worked 4 days a week and supported other people to do so when needed. I worked when I needed to e.g. if an important event etc fell outside of core days and often answered calls on day off but it wasn't expected as long as I managed the work properly. I had 2 x full time reports who would call / text me if an urgent problem.

Ah ok. In that case you need to think carefully before taking a senior role in a bigger company and see if you can manage the extra responsibilities. It will be a lot more complex and time intensive.

Go for the interview - you may not get the job, but if they really want you and your the best candidate for the job, I'm sure there will be room for negotiation. Good luck!!