Can't move to next level as a part-timer - advice please

[nickEcave]

I've been ranting on AIBU, but I thought I'd come here to look for considered opinions about what I should do to move forward.

I work part-time for University in an administrative role and I am at the top of my pay scale. I've been waiting several years for a part-time job at the next level to come up. Every time a full-time job comes up I contact the Manager for that job and ask if I can apply but do the job part-time/flexibly and each time they say something along the lines of "this post needs to be full-time because we are a busy department etc etc.".

Last week I had an interview for a part-time job at the next level. I didn't get the job but the feedback from the recruiting manager was that I gave an excellent interview but that the field was outstanding. He then went on to express his surprise at the quality of the field and admitted that he hadn't want to create a part-time role because he couldn't be sure of the quality of the applicants.

This has led me to consider applying for full-time jobs and only saying at interview (or even when they offer the job?) that I can only work part-time. I am prepared to work 28 hours a week which is 80% of a full-time job. I haven't done this up until now because I thought it would just piss-off the recruiting managers but I'd love to hear from anyone who has applied for a full-time job but been accepted part-time or who has recruited to a full-time post but accepted someone part time because they were the best candidate.

As a recruiting manager, i would think go ahead and apply for a fulltime role and state in a cover letter that you can do 28 hours, so everyone is clear. You could chance saying it in a first interview, but I wouldn't be sure of the reactions, and definitely definitely not any later than that - if i went to offer on a full time job with someone who only then said they could ony work 28 hours, I would withdraw the offer

Thanks for your feedback. I think managers in my university are very vary about offering a full-time role as less than full-time because the unspent money would be clawed back and the role would become permanently part-time.

"vary" should have been "wary"

Fascinating to hear the field was so strong. Inevitable really as so many women (usually women anyway) work below their potential to get family friendly hours. I can't wait for workplaces to cotton on to this potential, I think it is coming & something I advocate in my workplace. Some are getting there.

Anyway, I work PT in a huge organisation where, despite hundreds of jobs being advertised at any one time and the company having all the right policies in place, there is never a single role advertised as PT. my strategy is to apply for FT positions, I can't wait for a PT one to come up. I mention in 1st interview. I select roles carefully that I think could be done PT and stress my flexibility. It's worked for me so far and as a hiring manager, I would always consider flexible working requests as favourably as I possibly can.

If i was interviewing I'd be hacked off if the role was full time and you mentioned at the interview you could only work part time. I think you'd be better off mentioning it beforehand, after they've invited you for interview for example, to avoid wasting both yours and their time.

Whilst there are enough good people willing to work full time, employers will never have the incentive to offer part time roles. And unless you're in a role with a shortage of skilled candidates, there are usually enough people desperate for a job that employers can get what they want unfortunately.

I do share your pain. I've been working below my potential in a work from home role for the past five years, with excellent work life balance, and have recently decided to progress my career. I've accepted that that will probably mean going to work in an office again.. .but I'm trading that for career progression, as I doubt I can have both so I've had to choose.

I have applied for FT jobs but said on the application I can only work PT. I have got jobs this way so it is always worth trying.

I have also had pissed off interviewers who either didn't read the application properly or assumed I would take a FT post if that was all they would offer.

I still do it. There aren't many skilled PT jobs about so it is always worth a try. Alternatively, find someone with similar skills to job share with?