To apply for a full time job knowing I only can work part time?

[Dinoswearunderpants]

I'm curious to hear your opinions. I work in finance and working four full days per week with a Monday off work.

I'm considering looking for a new role however all are advertised as full time.

It's a candidates market right now and I wondered whether to simply apply for roles that are FT then after the interview, explain I need PT.

I feel a lot of roles could be done over 4 days instead of 5 but it's just easier for companies to advertise FT.

I could speak to some recruiters and explain I'm looking for PT. I'm just wondering whether to be upfront from the start or go through interviews with a hope of being successful then explain I'd like four days.

WWYD?

I did exactly this. I applied for a full time job knowing I wanted to do it four days a week. And got what I wanted!

I struggled to know when to raise it though. Initially I thought I’d wait until I got a job offer and then ask, but I ended up having a second interview that was quite informal and chatty so I raised it then. This is in a charity type organisation.

I think it’s fine doing this if you want 4 days, as that’s nearly full time. As an interviewer I would be a bit annoyed though if someone applied for f/t then when it was offered asked if they could work 2 or 3 days.

Employers are having a hard enough time at the moment filling positions without people doing this. That being said be upfront and state you can work part time you may find they can make it work but don’t blindside them by doing if after you are employed

I'd do it. They are not obligated to say yes. And even if they offer, you're not obligated to accept.

I'd phrase it more 'would you consider a 4 day week's though rather than 'I'll only do a 4 day week is that ok?' A lot of companies will take a reduction in hours to get the right fit, even if theyd prefer a full time employee. You can always consider starting and finishing half an hour later on other days, or having every other monday off (if you dont have childcare commitments) as a compromise

I think it’s something like 20% of jobs are actually advertised PT. I apply for FT jobs and ask if they consider PT applicants. There is a shortage of people in my sector so I’ve found that most are happy to recruit a PT person with experience rather than a FT newly qualified who can manage less and needs more supervision. Experience is on your side.

Just overseen recruitment for Finance business partner. Very much a full time role in a National company, managing a geographically spread team of people and travel as needed (hybrid role). At a push a 9 day fortnight could be accommodated.

One didn’t want to travel at all and wanted perm working from home (we don’t offer this). Didn’t tell us until he was offered the job.

One didn’t want to work more than 3.5 days a week. Didn’t tell us until offered. Didn’t want the 9 day fortnight.

One said they wouldn’t do more than 4 days a week at telephone screening stage. Wasn’t progressed.

Appointed candidate will work full time and travel, and negotiated a higher salary as a result.

Apply but be totally 100% upfront- I'm an ex internal recruiter and would appreciate someone being upfront - in many cases they won't have an issue if everything else is right about you

The job I currently have was advertised full time, when I was offered the job I asked whether they would consider part time. I work 30 hours, 6 per day. Years ago I went on a course in preparation for job hunting as I was due to be made redundant. They advised not to discuss days or hours that you would like at interview as in doing so you could effectively talk yourself out of the job especially if you announce ‘I don’t want to work —days’
If they offer you the job, they want you so that is the time to negotiate. Even if you’re going to work full time but would like an earlier or later start time. It’s always worked out for me.

Also they’ve scored the interviews so if they don’t consider you once you have asked then they can just call the next candidate.

I appreciate this is expert advice and some people may well be impressed with this approach but personally as a hiring manager I would immediately write off someone who did this as a bit of a twat

@OnlyFannys I agree, no one interviewing for a job could know the ins and outs of the role so well to be able to declare it could be done in four days. It would come across as arrogance and/or stupidity. Also it sounds like you’re being mean to the current job holder!

I recently had a preinterview meeting where my experience was "perfect" according to hiring manager. I then told her I'd only be able to work 30 hours and she was positively rude to me.
I was glad as it saved me the time of applying, doing a presentation etc. She would have been a dragon to work for so I see it as a lucky escape.

I work in the public sector, and our roles are almost always advertised as full time because that's what work there is - however as we're signed up to be a family friendly/flexible employer, all of the jobs have to be considered for part time unless there is a specific reason that they can't. In practice this means all posts are open to a 0.5 role as they can hire and readvertise for a job share. It depends on the post and the applicants as to whether they'll consider requests for 0.8 or similar.

As others have said though, be upfront at the application stage otherwise you're likely to irritate hiring managers and that's never a good thing when job hunting.

Recruiter here in what you're right in saying is a candidates market. I'd be impressed if you asked in advance and fucking furious if you bleated it afterwards. It takes longer than just an interview to recruit.

Do it! I work in HR and have done exactly this myself. I applied for full time roles and mentioned wanting to work 4 days a week when I was sure they wanted me - this was before it was such a candidate's market.
Sure, not every company I interviewed with could offer 4 days, but I have been offered a role 3 times by taking this approach. Just be confident and know your worth.
Good luck!

I applied for a 5 day a week job and when offered it simply said i'd only do 4 days. They agreed straight away and were completely fine about my working pattern. Its 100% a candidates market in finance.

Oh and i always tell the recruiter up front i want 4 days and trust them to not suggest roles that really won't consider less than 5.

I know lots of people who gave done this. Think it's pretty common in public sector.

My friend applied and got a full time job but said she could only do 3 days, they still accepted her. It is possible if you leave a really good impression on them.

Wait until you're offered the job. Done this several times and never an issue. I imagine it does depend on the sector though and maybe some flexibility as to the day/s off on the part of the candidate.

Yeah worth asking ahead. Where I work they'd probably be fine with it. I think the interview stage is the latest to ask this though and before applying is better still!