4dw permanent jobs, Is there such a thing?

[SecondTimeMom14]

Hello,

I work full-time and wish to change to 4 days per week to have an extra day with the kids, ideally with a new employer, as I feel I need more of a challenge and to grow further...

I have started looking but I do not see any roles for my job that are permanent and 4dpw, are there such jobs? and if yes, are they rare? I am a project manager, I would not mind a different kind of role as long as I am in similar salary ranges...

Hi there
Yes 4dpw jobs exist - I currently work 4dpw as a project manager - just recently sorted, 8weeks in. I actually moved jobs when my 2nd was 14months old having been 4dpw at my last employer, (but only temporary on return from 2nd mat leave) . Started at the new place on 5dpw and then put request in after 6 months to drop to 4dpw which was accepted.

However caution that although work have been really accommodating I have found it very hard to structure my work so that I don't have something happening on Fri that I need to manage. There always seems to be something occurring. And Monday morning is just awful trying to get through all of Fri emails and Mondays work. I am strongly considering doing Fri as wk from home half day, as I don't want to be the mug that checks emails whilst not getting paid for it.

I just do the same number of hours that I used to do in five days in four days under a flexible working/ altered work week agreement. For the last 18 mos I have been taking weds off, but may have to switch to Thursday from sept. At our place you can't request Friday or Monday for operational reasons.

Generally it is easier to start a job on 5 days per week and request to drop down to 4 days once you have been there for a bit... usually after passing your probationary period.

That said... loads of jobs advertised as 'full time' would definitely consider 4 days from the off. They just don't mention it in the ad so it's absolutely worth an ask. It's only a day a week, after all, and if you are the strongest candidate and the job could be completed over 4 days then the question is why wouldn't they hire you? ... you'll be costing the company less for a start.

Obvs don't start your application with flexible working demands. And - to echo lucyannieamy - make sure that your day off really is a day off, not an unpaid working from home day.

Madwoman - I like the idea of an altered work week arrangement. Neat.

Best of luck!

I work 30 hrs over 5 days so I'm home after school every day. I negotiated this from a full time job but I think there's every chance that if you were offered a 5 day job you could ask to reorganize.

Public Sector jobs are often very flexible like this - look at big "Qango" organisation - Environment Agency, Highways England, Welsh and Scottish governments, unitary Local Authorities; also Water/Utility Companies, which seem to generally work more flexibly than private organisations. The organisations I listed all employ PMs - assuming you are PRINCE2 qualified you should have no problem working for one of them if a job is advertised externally. I work for one of those bodies and our jobs are only advertised externally if there is no internal interest after 2-6 weeks. Often posts are only until the end of the current or next tax year due to the way we are now funded.

I recently started a job which was advertised as full time and work 4days. I phoned prior to applying, explained my situation and was it worth applying for.

I was told yes and I got the job.

Employers would rather have the right person for the job doing hours that suited them rather than the wrong person who can do 5 days.

I have spoken informally to other employers who would be happy to consider 4 day weeks.

Good luck