How to ask if a (senior) role can be part time

[MissDunstable]

NC for this.

I'm currently part-time, in a moderately senior role. I'm ready to move on, but it's very rare for jobs at this level to be advertised as part time.

I could handle 4 days a week but due to various factors full time would be too much right now.

I've had a recruiter reach out to me to ask if I'm interested in a role. It's advertised as full time but otherwise looks great.

Any wise advice about if/how to broach the issue of part time?

I was thinking something along the lines of: 'I can see your company advertises its family friendly and flexible working practices. I'm currently part-time, what flexibility could you offer in this role on hours and working patterns?'

I've found that a straight-up 'could this role be part time' tends to be met with a bit of an embarrassed silence!

I work in the charity sector (at a senior level) and flexible working is becoming more and more common at senior level.

In my network there are job sharing CEOs, 3 and 4 day week CEOs and Exec Directors. I myself wfh.

Other sectors are lagging but there are also some great examples in the private sector.

You can but try and your suggested approach sounds fine to me.

Thanks very much. I hope that culture change does start to become more common in all sections.
Can't hurt to ask anyway!

"Would you be open to this role being done 4 days a week?" has worked well for me before. "Part time" sounds too, well, part-time. They may be envisaging 2 days. Be specific.

I work 4 days a week in a senior role. When I got this job I asked during the interview whether I could do 4 days and they said yes. I also did this in another interview at another company and they also agreed and I was offered both jobs. However if they had said no I probably would have taken the full time role so it wouldn’t have been a waste of time going to the interview.

I agree with this. I work 4 days a week with Fridays off. Nothing happens on a Friday, so I never miss any meetings or office time. I don't particularly feel like a part timer and I don't think my manager or the rest of the team view me as one either.

Agree with others, ‘part-time’ tends to be seen as 3 days or less. 4 days a week is a bit different, especially if you can compress hours into those 4 days.

I’d ask if flexibility would be considered for this role and let them know that you are looking to work a 4 day week. If this is a dealbreaker for you it’s best to know upfront. There’s no point progressing otherwise.

Thanks, I think being specific about 4 days is a good plan.