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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Working at HMRC

40 replies

Fuzzywig · 02/12/2018 10:48

AIBU to attend an interview at HMRC knowing i can’t work the late shifts? The advert states not to apply if you can’t work until 10pm. It also says that part time would be considered.

I am a single parent with nobody who can help look after the kids.

Does anyone work there who can advise?

OP posts:
Lintu · 02/12/2018 11:50

Also, ignore the posters saying to withdraw. I'm not sure they've read the bit about the job centre pushing you to attend. Why annoy the job centre by withdrawing from an interview you want to attend to satisfy the whim of random internet posters?

There have been some good suggestions on the thread for how you could make a ten o'clock finish work. Wait and see how the interview goes and what the actual hours are (especially when done part time).

Original poster
Fuzzywig · 02/12/2018 11:53

Ok. I have decided to go.

To the PP who said I am taking someone else’s interview spot I’m not. Everyone who gets through the sift process is offered an interview.

I have previously been interviewed for a civil service job which I passed the interview, I completed all the forms afterwards and one of the questions asked was the times you were available to work. This was for an early evening shift so I put the advertised hours. I had to withdraw as I then split from my husband and had nobody to look after the kids. I asked for days but couldn’t transfer as I hadn’t applied for days.

So this is what I will do. If I pass the interview I will express the hours I want to work then I will be on a waiting list for 6 months or until a job fits.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fuzzywig · 02/12/2018 11:55

Thank you everyone for your advice given it has made me think of ways I can make this work.

OP posts:
BeeFarseer · 02/12/2018 11:55

Is it a contact centre? It's been years since I worked in a HMRC contact centre, but I was required to do one late shift until 8pm once a week, with one Saturday every month. My line of business didn't have Sunday opening hours, or it would have been one weekend every month.

The opening hours are different now, so the shifts are likely to have altered too, but hopefully it'll give you an idea. I was able to alter my shifts to fit my husband's working pattern as they initially had me scheduled for all the evenings and weekends when he was working, but I still had to do the same amount, I just moved the dates so everything aligned.

If you require a reasonable adjustment to your hours because of your disability, you should request this.

I would go to the interview. It's good practice and you have nothing to lose by asking if they can make a reasonable adjustment because of your disability, if that is also a reason why you'd struggle with the late shifts.

Original poster
Fuzzywig · 02/12/2018 12:39

Hi BeeFarseer it’s the site in Bootle i’m not sure if it’s a contact centre.

My disability shouldn’t really affect my work to be honest other than a hospital appointment every three months which I should be able to work around. The issue is child care.

Thank you for your advice it really is useful as you have worked there.

OP posts:
DianaPrincessOfThemyscira · 02/12/2018 12:48

You wouldn’t have got through the sift process if you’d said though would you Confused

I think you need to be upfront and ask them how often the late shifts occur if you think you can arrange occasional babysitting.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 02/12/2018 12:52

I wish you good luck at the interview OP, but if/when you get the job and can't do the hours won't that mean that some other sod will have to do those shifts instead of you?

BeeFarseer · 02/12/2018 12:56

Oooh, you're local to me. Grin Although I left before everyone moved to Bootle. I worked there when it was in the city centre.

Good luck!

BaconFart · 02/12/2018 12:56

HMRC employee here. Go to the interview.

Lots of people don’t accept job offers and lots don’t stick it out. You have nothing to lose

greendale17 · 02/12/2018 12:58

You should withdraw your application and stop wasting everyone’s time

Iltavilli · 02/12/2018 13:00

A quick note to say that if it is the location you are particularly keen on, HMRC is moving to regional centres. The Bootle site is due to close in just over a year and you’ll likely be moved to Liverpool city centre. Just in case that might make things additionally problematic for you!

Original poster
Fuzzywig · 02/12/2018 13:20

Chardonnay I am hoping I can do a jobshare with someone who would prefer to work those hours someone at Uni for instance.

Thanks BaconFart

Lol Greendale I don’t think I am. They are interviewing for 75 posts so probably 100+ interviewees. Lots won’t be offered/won’t be able to accept a job for a variety of reasons.

Iltavilla the location is ok - I worked next door for 10 years lol. Interesting that they are moving to the city centre any idea where?

OP posts:
Pinkprincess1978 · 02/12/2018 13:37

In my experience people put things like this in an advert because it's an essential requirement to the role.

I've had people apply and we are clear about a certain aspect of the role, they say no problem then after a few weeks we discover it is a problem.

Total waste of everyone's time.

flowery · 02/12/2018 15:01

Presumably if they didn’t mind receiving applications from people who can’t do that shift, they wouldn’t have put “don’t apply if you can’t work that shift” on the ad....

I think if you don’t pass the interview it may be because they are doubtful about your comprehension skills tbh.

Original poster
Fuzzywig · 02/12/2018 15:25

What do you mean Flowrey?

OP posts:
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