Negotiating flexible/part time working when offered a full time job?

[Offred2]

I'm being made redundant from my part-time position and so will soon be looking for a new job, in charity/higher education sectors, where from experience I know part time working is relatively common. Ideally I'd like to work 3.5 or 4 days per week. But very few jobs are advertised as p/t and obviously finding the 'right' job, with the 'right' hours in the 'right' location is quite a big ask!

My question is - would I be unreasonable to apply for positions that are advertised as full time at organisations whose websites state in general terms that they support flexible working. Then if offered the job to say something along the lines of 'I see that you offer flexible working, I'd be interested in doing this role 4 days a week, and/or with some working from home, compressed hours etc' and try to negotiate something before accepting the role?

Part of me thinks that as these organisations state they are flexible employers, and also that as a 4 day working week is not massively different from 5 days, if I'm the best candidate and so am offered the job, then I'm in a good position to negotiate?

But another part of me thinks that this could come across as cheeky - applying for what is clearly advertised as a full time position and then trying to change it into a different role? And that even if they did agree to the flexibility I'd feel as though I'd gotten things off on the wrong foot

For what it's worth it would be for an office-based, not customer or student facing role, so in that sense I know flexibility is doable in many cases.

I'd really appreciate thoughts from anyone whose been through similar, or from anyone with recruits staff/HR perspectives. Thank you!

No it's fine to do that. It will come down to business needs of course, but if they advertise flexible working they must be offering it.

Negotiate after you have been offered the job though, and be prepared to be realistic in what you can ask for - for instance if you work on the counter in a benefits office it's a lot less likely they will agree to four long days. In my old job because it was very technical we wouldn't offer home working for the first 6 months due to training needs, but would offer part time or compressed hours. After 6 months you could have the same two days at home dependent on business needs (we were customer facing so had to have office cover 9-5)

If they won't agree before you start, don't think they will miraculously change their mind six months in.

When I was negotiating terms for my current job I worked out what I could do, where I had flexibility in what I was asking for and made sure I had it agreed in writing before I started.

Forgot to add - I had applied for a full time job, I then negotiated part time hours with 2/5 days at home.

Thank you, that’s really reassuring. I’m very impressed with your negotiating skills, getting a f/t job and negotiating both p/t hours plus some working from home would be my ideal outcome I think!

That’s really good advice about getting any flexibility agreed in writing before I start as well.

I’d better make a start on filling out some (ridiculously long and detailed) application forms!