To bring up part time working at interview…

[ShillyShallySherbet]

I saw a full time role advertised and sent an email enquiring if it could be done part time. Didn’t hear back by the deadline so I applied and then included a cover letter saying I can only work part time. I’ve been shortlisted for an interview, do I need to bring up at interview that I’m only looking for part time or best to just go for the interview, see if I’m even offered the job and then negotiate.

I think if they haven't replied to you by this point then I wouldn't mention it now. You've already asked the question so I'd now wait until you are (hopefully) offered the job and then state you'd already alerted them to the fact you want part time. You're in a better negotiating position if they've already decided they want you.

Good luck with the interview

Thank you, that’s what I was thinking.

When I apply for jobs I tend to mention it only at the point of application and the point of acceptance/contract negotiations. Usually in a big org it’s HR/talent doing that side of things. For me, the interview is my chance to convince future line manager/stakeholders that I’m the right person for the job. Same with any other contract factors (salary, benefits, start date etc). The interview isn’t anything to do with those bits.

I’m not wildly impressed that they didn’t come back to you about the part time thing before inviting you to interview but maybe HR are just a bit disorganised. If they know you want part time and have invited you to interview though I’d be fairly reassured - if I were the relevant stakeholder and had a FT job that couldn’t be PT I’d be v pissed off at HR that they’d wasted my and your time in going through the process when you weren’t going to be an option!

So I’ve been to the interview and I didn’t mention part time working, they have now called and offered me the job and asked if I was still interested, so I explained that I was wondering whether the role could be done part time (30hrs per week) but they had no idea that I’d asked for part time working! They’ve asked me to email my request so they can go to top management and find out if that’s possible. I’ve just forwarded on the email I sent with my application stating that I wanted part time. I’m annoyed that it looks like everyone’s time has been wasted and now wondering whether I was wrong not to bring it up at the interview.

Congratulations on the job offer

No you weren't wrong. It's their fault for not reading your cover letter!

Just be careful they give this proper consideration now as to how part time will work and who will do the other part of the job. You don't want them to agree to it and then find you are doing a full time job for part time salary