Advice on interview etiquette please!

[thefudgeling]

I am applying for a job I really want, but have never had an interview other than with someone I already knew in a very informal environment, so I'm nervous about what the appropriate things to mention are and at what stage in the interview/job offer process they should be mentioned.

I'm writing up my PhD at the moment and the job would probably start before I'm finished writing up. Is this something I should discuss with them at interview stage or leave it for if/when I get a job offer?

Thanks oh wise mumsnetters!

How is it relevant to the job?

Is it an academic postdoc or lectureship? If so, you will be asked about it at interview, and if you're very very good indeed you might be one of the very very few who get a job before finishing, and then have to spend all their spare time writing up.

Is it a job that requires you to have a PhD in hand? If so, you are unlikely to get an interview anyway.

Is it neither of the above? If so, no point mentioning it, because you will have to finish writing up in your spare time. No-one's going to give you time off to write up.

But we need more information from you if we're going to be of any help.

In my field it's very common to get a postdoc position before you've submitted your thesis. If it's that sort of job you're applying for I imagine you'd be asked at interview how far away you are from submitting and the expectation would be you'd finish off in your own time. I did this myself and that was the norm, then and now, IME.

The crucial thing is, how central is your PhD to the job role?

Ah, sorry I was't clear. It's not an academic post, but a PhD will help my chances of getting it.

I was thinking they could put off my starting date till I'd finished. Is that an unrealistic expectation then? Just goes to show how cut off from the real world I've been for so long!

Thanks for all the advice. I guess I'd just have to finish in my spare time in the unlikely event that I'm offered the job. I haven't actually applied yet and this has made me reconsider slightly . . . .

Interviewers will usually give you a chance to ask some questions of your own. Personally I wouldn't think it was odd for a candidate to raise a question like this, then.

I've interviewed people in the past who I knew were freelancers (not the same, I know) and who already had some work lined up - we appointed one, and just negotiated a bit of unpaid leave so that she could honour her existing bookings. To me, it demonstrated integrity that she was upfront, and wanted to finish what she's started.

It might help things along if you could indicate how long you would need? For example, "I'm writing up, and expect this to take another month. If I were to be offered the post, would you be prepared to delay my start date by a month? [They answer - if no] No problem, I would be happy to write up in my own time instead."

Thanks Spring, that's given me some confidence to be open with them.