What are my chances of getting a new 4 days a week job?

[ApuskiDusky]

Hi all,

I'm currently on maternity leave, but am about to be made redundant, and have started job hunting. I'm leaving a well-paid professional role, I have good experience and there are a fair few roles out there that seem to match my background, so the job market isn't too bad for me.

However, I really want to work 4 days a week - I did so after my first maternity leave and it worked well. Obviously no jobs are advertised as 4 days a week, so I am looking at ones that are advertised as full-time.

I am unsure how to handle the 4 days a week request, and ultimately how realistic it is. It would feel like to big a risk to start a role fulltime hoping to drop a day when I am known and established, in case it is then refused.

I have an interview with a recruitment agency tomorrow, and i think I'm going to have to say that 4 days is my preference. Maybe I also have to say that I wouldn't rule out a fulltime position?

Aaargh, anyone got any advice or suggestions on how to handle this?

I am in a very similar boat to you. FWIW I think it would be best to be upfront with the recruitment agency about the fact you want 4 days a week. And if you would totally rule out 5 days, you may as well say so. As they are the ones who know their clients and are doing the negiotiating on your behalf, I wouldn't personally say that I would even consider full time. As you say, once a company have hired you I imagine it would be risky to bank on being able to drop a day once you are established there.

Hi - in general recruitment agengies are not the best about part time working - friend of mine rang quite a few agencies recently and they assured her that no one worked part time - however when she approached employers directly quite a few where prepared to accept this - I would bring it up when you have an interview personally. Also another friend of mine was talking to a HR manager of a major company and she said that lots of companies don't really regard 4 days as part time these days and with all the other flexiable work patterns is not a major isssue - what is more difficult is lower than 4 days

Many thanks for your thoughts. I think I will need to be honest about my preferences tomorrow, as this agency is spot on for my field and location and I don't want to piss them off. I am heartened by the thought that maybe 4 days are not really seen as part time, it would definitely be unrealistic for me to ask for 3 days I think.

It's hard to completely rule out 5 days - if the choice is between no job and a full-time one, I'd have to go full-time. But I guess I'm prepared to wait a while trying for 4 days before deciding I have no choice.

Thank you, you've helped me get my thoughts straight!