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Original poster

Applying for f/t job - want p/t hours

14 replies

HappyMumof2 · 15/09/2006 07:57

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paddingtonbear1 · 15/09/2006 09:21

This happened to me - I was offered a new job which was 37.5 hours. The job sounded good, but they wouldn't budge on the hours and I'm P/T at the moment. They knew I was P/T before the final interview. Tbh if you know you definitely don't want FT hours I would bring it up either before the interview or during, if it's that kind of interview. I wouldn't leave it until the job offer. What kind of job is it?

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HappyMumof2 · 15/09/2006 10:53

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Donbean · 15/09/2006 10:57

What about enquiring about job share happy?
The shifts should allow this and they are pretty good at accomodating.
HOW on earth have you got a job in the NHS?
There are none!

paddingtonbear1 · 15/09/2006 19:46

HappyMum no I didn't take the job in the end. At the moment I do 31/2 days with a degree of homeworking, and I would have had to do 5 days with no homeworking - I just decided it would be too much for me and for dd (who would have been in full time nusery). Job sounded good, just the wrong time really! It was through an agency as well. I probably won't look for another job until dd starts school.
I'd expect the NHS would be more flexible? In IT it seems like the bigger the company, the worse they are but this didn't apply when I worked in public sector.
I'd decide if you would actually be prepared to do the 37.5 hours. If definitely not, then broach the subject before or during the interview. Best of luck!

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HappyMumof2 · 15/09/2006 21:40

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Surfermum · 15/09/2006 21:58

I'm in the NHS and applied for a full time job but wanted part time. They said in the job description/person spec that they would consider applications from people wanting job share. I phoned them anyway and told them what hours I would be looking for just to make sure as I didn't want to go through all the form filling and interviewing if they weren't going to consider me.

I think you should phone and ask in advance. Personally I wouldn't want to go through the whole form filling/interview preparation etc if I didn't know part-time was a possibility. Also, we've just had 80 applicants for 2 healthcare asst posts and have to whittle them down to 8 for interview. It would be pretty annoying if one of the people offered an interview only told us at the end that they only wanted part-time hours, as we could have shortlisted someone else.

(Please can I add, I've had a couple of huge glass of Mount Gay and Coke so am slightly tipsy and I really want to make this post helpful and not sound stroppy .

CristinaTheAstonishing · 15/09/2006 22:14

I'd go through with the interview - you need the practice, see what questions are asked, how you perform in an interview situation etc. Then, if offerred the job, I'd ask for flexible hours or part-time work. How part-time would you want? They'd probably be OK with 4 days rather than 5, maybe not so keen on anything less, who knows? Good luck.

BadHair · 15/09/2006 22:33

I'm tempted to say to raise this if/when you're offered the job, but from personal experience it's best to bring it up beforehand, via the agency.

I went for an interview for a FT job last year, and asked about PT or Flexible Working during the interview. I didn't get the job, and the interviewers gave very negative feedback to the agency. They said that I was clearly time-wasting as I only wanted to work PT, which was not what I'd said at all, as I'd only asked about the possibility. The upshot was that the agency were pissed off as well because I hadn't asked them about PT/FW in advance.

Sometimes leaving it until interview can work, especially if you're head and shoulders above the other candidates, really want the job, and are looking to work only slightly fewer hours than FT, but I'd be very careful about trying it again.

Good luck.

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HappyMumof2 · 17/09/2006 09:35

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CristinaTheAstonishing · 17/09/2006 10:08

Good luck with finding something suitable. It IS a bit of an adjustment going back to work, but it'll work out eventually.

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HappyMumof2 · 17/09/2006 19:49

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Fiona365 · 18/09/2006 13:25

Good luck!

I applied for new jobs earlier this year, and faced the same dilemma. I got round to the 2nd stage at one, (an "informal chat") at which point I said I had been thinking about it and was still really interested etc., but wanted to work 4 days/week. They offered me a final interview, so it obviously didn't throw them that much.
In the end I took another job, so cancelled the interview, but it was good to see that some organisations are happy to think about being flexible.

hulababy · 18/09/2006 13:27

I always write it in my covering letter, when sending in the application.

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HappyMumof2 · 19/09/2006 14:16

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