I've got a job offer, but should I be honest?

[kardashianklone]

After a year and a half of (being in a miserable job with the constant threat of redundancy) looking for a new job, I have been offered one. Which is great. The problem is before I was offered it I applied to do a Masters (in something I'm really passionate about but has nothing to do with my career). Even better is I have been awarded a scholarship to do (which I can't defer, it's use it this year or use it ). I can't really afford to do the degree without the scholarship. It would be one working day a week for an academic year. So...do I tell the new job upfront before I sign the contract and hope they will negotiate that I work 4 days a week for 3 terms, or do I sign and then spring it on them after I've started. Term starts in Sept. Job would be due to start in a month.

Ask them?

What would you do if you 'spring it on them' and they say no?

Tell them.

If you spring it on them and they say no they can get rid of your for no reason.

Could you cope financially without a job?

If you spring it on them, they could say you've revoked the terms of your employment and fire you. Why would you risk that and go into a job with that lack of honesty?

Be upfront.
Less likely to make them cross. They might even be impressed.

You have to be upfront Im afraid. You'll be in trouble if you got the job and then they said no. Has flexible working been mentioned at all? The fact you could do 5 days until September might help. But bear in mind how much work you'll need to do outside that one day for a masters, it's a lot.

what do you mean spring it on them? Obviously they could just say no, they're not obliged to agree to reduce your hours.

Gosh, you must be upfront. If you 'spring it on them' then you risk dismissal. You have few employment rights until you've been there 2 years as I'm sure you know.

As an internal recruiter I would really urge you to tell them. We have things like this come up all the time and as long as hiring managers know in advance it's usually not a problem.

Springing it on them will not start you off in good stead.

You need a part time job. It's not fair on your new employer who thinks they're getting a full time employee.

I don't understand what you mean by "spring it on them". You have no entitlement to reduce your hours on a whim, they can decline.

You can't 'spring it on them', they will just tell you that you accepted the job with x days and that's the days you work

I've been in a similar position and actually discussed it at interview - jokingly saying that I knew I could be talking myself out of the post. The recruiting manager says she valued my honesty and bringing it up so early told her I'd always be straight with her however difficult the conversation.

I'd say give the re suiting manager a call and explain the situation and what doing the masters will bring to the role (even if the topic is unrelated, academic study at an advanced level gives you all kinds of skills). Good luck.

You have been offered the job and haven't yet accepted? You are now in the strongest position you possibly can be in relation to your employer: they want you, you've not decided yet. Use that to negotiate now. Once you accept the job you lose all your power (just ask Nick Clegg).

This is the sort of thing you should negotiate after you're offered the job but before you accept.

You must be upfront. Will your current company allow you to work 4 days? Can you do what some else suggested up thread 4 x longer days.

I asked for advice on MN when I had similar problem 2.5 yrs ago. I was advised to apply for jobs & then negotiate terms (such as temporary 4 days a week) after they make an offer.

What I actually did was ask beforehand thru informal channels if they would consider me for 4 days a week temporarily. They were very short of applicants so they were willing to talk to me & talk later about terms. Win win. (and I got the job I wanted, so all good).