So is the first interview the time to bring up the subject of flexible working?

[Frontpaw]

Just that!

The job is at a lower level than I am used to, so should be able to do it in my sleep. The hours/location means that it will be a pain for me to go full time, or child care costs will eat up so much of the salary!

In my experience - and there are people would suggest differently on here - I would wait until offer - I am pretty certain that I have lost out on jobs by mentioning flexiable working at interview - I would try and find out - by contacts in the company ideally what their approach to flexiable working is

I am just getting so fed up with the slog of applying, hearing nothing... Giving myself excuses... 'it's the run up to christmas', 'no one moves first thing in the new year', 'wait till after the new tax year for budgets', 'here comes Easter/school holidays...'

It depends what you mean by 'bring up flexible working' really. Are you just wanting to find out whether they are likely to be amenable to a request once you're in the job and have the appropriate length of service, or are you hoping to persuade them to change the hours/other arrangements from day 1?

If you want to change from day 1, how much of a change, and how much of a dealbreaker is it?

I'm usually of the view that if your request would involve a significant impact on them, ie reducing hours to 3 days a week from 5, or recruiting a job share or similar, ask immediately whether this would be considered. How annoying for an employer to find someone they like only to discover after going through the process that the candidate only want to work 3 days a week which would involve a fairly significant change to the job or additional recruitment.

On the other hand if it either isn't a dealbreaker, or you just want to make a fairly minor change and are confident you will be able to fulfil the requirements of the job, for example working full time but compressed over 4 days, or reducing hours slightly, changing start/finish times or similar, then I'd wait until offer stage.

I'd say pretty much the same as flowery, especially as I believe that flexible working only has to be considered by the company after you have worked there a year.
On the other hand, I have spent the last year slogging away with income just about covering childcare costs in a job I am overqualified for, but hadn't worked for 10years having had DC. Have done way more than was expected of me, and was awarded a significant pay rise... Along with childcare costs going down in September as DC start school it has definitely been worth the year or so with very little actual income to see for it.

Frontpaw - are you getting interviews? if not I would suggest getting someone to review your CV

A few but my work/are is quite specialised, and sadly, once over 40 the opportunities do decrease. Agents say my CV is very good - lots of experience and qulifications, working at some prominent businesses. Sadly, the market is still flat, and there have been quite a few where jobs have been pulled before or even after interview!