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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

When to bring up PT work?

21 replies

CampervanQueen · 08/12/2021 09:32

Apologies for AIBU but I have an interview at 11am and I could do with a quick response.

I currently work 0.6 FTE and would like to take that forward into any future role. I have an interview this morning. Whilst the role was advertised as FT, it does say in the advert that they are open to flexible working patterns. But I don't think this means PT; I assume this is more working outside the core 9 - 5 model.

There was nowhere in the application form to state preference for PT work. Would you bring this up during the interview (so that they can take it into account when making decisions about who to appoint) or wait until an offer is made, IF an offer is made?

YABU = bring it up in interview
YANBU = wait until (if) an offer is made

OP posts:

Forestdweller11 · 08/12/2021 09:39

I'd wait.

If I was the employer I'd be cross on the day if you suggested part time. I'd still be cross afterwards if I offered you the job if you said you wanted part time, but the edge would be taken off a bit I think.

You could ask what their expectation is with regards to flexible working.

ClitorisAllsorts · 08/12/2021 09:43

Why would you be cross because someone wants to work part time? Weird.

That said I would wait until they make an offer and then discuss working pattern etc then.

ChangeChingyChange · 08/12/2021 09:45

Wait til offered definitely

ChangeChingyChange · 08/12/2021 09:46

I.e "thank you for the offer, in the original ad you mentioned being open to flexible work- this is how my pattern looks at the moment due to xyz reasons - can we discuss how that could reflect in the new role?"

Nogoodusername · 08/12/2021 09:47

Wait till offered. Generally, most employers in my sector are happy to negotiate down to 0.8FTE. 0.6 is usually seen as a reduction too far if we advertised a FT role. At 0.6 I would be only considering a job share to cover the role demands

simpledeer · 08/12/2021 09:48

Definitely wait until offered.

You say you can only work PT. Would you be able to work more hours if some were WFH, or were evenings/weekends?

Make it look like you are willing to work as flexibly as possible. Good luck.

Asiama · 08/12/2021 09:48

Do they know you are currently working part time? The topic might come up naturally in the interview. You could also ask them in the interview for clarification of what they offer in terms of flexible working.

Original poster

CampervanQueen · 08/12/2021 09:50

@Nogoodusername

This is my thinking as well. I would go to 0.8 if they are willing to negotiate. This is a sector where PT is generally accepted so I'm hoping they will been open to consider it.

OP posts:

Timeforwinterclothes · 08/12/2021 09:50

It's a full time job, but you want to work part time. 0.6 is quite a big difference. It really depends on the job. If it's teaching and your subjects are really needed, they might consider you, but I can't see many employers being impressed that you want to do almost half the hours advertised.

I think you should raise the question of what they mean by flexible hours at the interview so it's clear. You don't want to waste your and their time by offering you the post and then being told you only want to work part time.

Original poster

CampervanQueen · 08/12/2021 09:51

@Asiama

No they don't. There was nowhere in the application to indicate this, otherwise I would have brought it up. If if comes up naturally in interview I will obviously chat about it.

OP posts:

MintLampShade · 08/12/2021 09:55

Going against the (so far) majority here, I would certainly discuss it at the earliest opportunity. If it turns out they can't accommodate your working pattern and hours, the whole interview process will be a waste of everyone's time, especially if it goes to final stage. I'd not be impressed if this came out once offer had been made as mutual understanding of the working hours / patters is one of the fundamentals here IMO.

thatstheloveiwantiwantlove · 08/12/2021 10:01

I'd discuss it early

I'd be really pissed off if I took time and effort to interview someone for a job advertised as full time and after the offer was made they pipe up and say they only want it part time - working flexibly does NOT mean part time - it generally means hours and place of work

CSmidlands · 08/12/2021 10:08

I have mentioned it on an application form twice (once I had to put it in an any other comments section). I just said I was interested in flexible working (from memory) . Both times I have been offered the job and then been able to (successfully) negotiate reduction in hours. It very much depends on the employer and their approach though. I was aware when I applied that both employers tended to be open to this type of thing.
They didn’t ask me about it at interview by the way, only when they offered me the job.

GrowBabyGrow · 08/12/2021 10:08

I agree definitely better to discuss at the interview. Better for them to know before an offer (we had someone recently who said post offer and we accomodated as are a very pro flexible working company but would have been nice to have a heads up)

It's a good guage for you to see how they react. If they are dismissive of flexible working / fobb you off with a 'we will discuss this after an offer' it is a good indicator that they are not as open to flexible working as they maybe want to seem and I always think of that as a good check on the culture of the company!

FrazzledY9Parent · 08/12/2021 10:09

Hi OP, I often recruit people and I would say definitely wait until you are offered the job.

GrowBabyGrow · 08/12/2021 10:12

Meant to also say good luck with the interview!

MrsFin · 08/12/2021 10:28

Why would you be cross because someone wants to work part time? Weird.

Well presumably because the other half of the job has to be readvertised, with more interviews etc, leading to more expense and more time taken up.

MintLampShade · 08/12/2021 10:42

@ClitorisAllsorts

Why would you be cross because someone wants to work part time? Weird.

That said I would wait until they make an offer and then discuss working pattern etc then.

I don't think it's meant to be cross because someone wants to work part time, but more because someone has applied for a full time job, knowing they don't meet the requirement and are unable to work the hours advertised. It's all hypothetical of course, this employer may as well be able to accommodate. But it requires discussion early on so that nobody's time is being wasted by pointless interviews. IMO.

Mummyexpat · 08/12/2021 10:53

I’d wait and really sell yourself first, prove you’re the best person to fulfil the job description before bringing up something that could be seen as a negative…make them feel positive about you first!! If they bring it up, obviously talk about it but in a positive, “this-can-work”, confident way, IYSWIM? Good luck!!!!! Xx

Thegreencup · 08/12/2021 10:58

I'd wait personally.

I've had it come up in interviews. I've always moved around in the same organisation and through word of mouth (ie gossip) people have found out that I was part time.

First time it happened I didn't mind because I was part time and wanting to go full time. I was honest and got the job.

The second time I was pissed off. Because I had been working full time for two years by that point. But the dinosaurs manager obviously assumed because I had a vagina I'd be off having more kids again. I got that job too. My manager is still a dinosaur. I'm still full time and no more kids.

Original poster

CampervanQueen · 08/12/2021 12:05

Thanks for your responses. As I suspected, fairly evenly spread.

I opted to bring it up in the interview. On balance, I agree with those of you who felt it would be unfair not to let this be part of their considerations. I also wanted to gauge their reaction as it can be quite telling about how they would be as an employer.

I'm glad I did, as they revealed they would be open to considering part-time/job share/compressed hours. Given the sector (3rd) I was expecting some degree of flexibility so to have that confirmed was reassuring.

OP posts:

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