If you only want to work part time is it worth applying for full time posts?

[conniedescending]

and then presumably asking for part time i you get offered it?? Anyone managed this? Jobs I'm looking at are in the public sector and all claim to be flexible and 'family friendly'.

They might consider job-share?

I would. I work in public sector and we have just appointed someone for a job which was advertised as FT but she is going to be doing 4 days a week.

And like beansprout says, if they offer you the job they might consider making it a job share, 2.5 days each or something.

how part time do you want?
if 4 days, then yes.

but if say 2 days, then i'm not so sure...

I think it's worth it - if you want 2.5 days there might be someone else who wants that too. Or 4 days is an option. I do a public sector full time job in 4 days.

I would, as you are going to be waiting a very very long time before a perfect part time job turns up. Far better to apply for a good f/t position, dazzle them at interview, then start discussing hours.

All public sector roles would have option to job share ime.
There is usually a tick-box on the form for you to indicate you want to do job share- and as employers we give you equal consideration.
As northernlurker says, there is also the option of condensing hours into 4 days, working very long days.

I've been wondering the same thing. I thought it would be worth applying for full time jobs and then asking if they would consider part time/job share, but DH recently interviewed someone who did just that and when he said yes he got into real trouble with HR. They said that it was poor equal ops - since there might have been other people who would have applied if the job was advertised part-time. So now I'm not sure.

well, I'v submitted 2 applications today for full time posts.

Made no mention of part time on either application so will have to see how that pans out. Not going to mention p/t or job share until/ if I get offered a position....just wondering if that's the best time to ask them to consider?

Good luck - could you talk to the people I have applying for a part-time job. Their first question for me is - can I work F/T hours - to which I reply umm no if I had a F/T job available I would have advertised it

I am doing just this - interview tomorrow. Have been straight up with the boss and have said that I would be looking to do the post on 4 days a week and was it worth continuing. He said yes and was glad I had raised it pre interview rather than during teh interview.

Will let you know how it goes!

In my recent experience public sector recruiters are grateful for anyone they can get! I've observed several recent appointments that have been made outside the advertised fulltime terms and conditions. If you possess scarce skills and qualifications you may find you can name your hours.

Of course, sometimes the opposite is true.

The HR team that told off millie865's DH need to get real.

good luck leo! How did it go?

I've now applied for 3 posts - one advertised as part time and 2 f/t posts. Perhaps it's best to bring it up pre-interview [hmmm] Will wait and see if I even get an interview and then decide.

Desperatly need a job so fingers crossed!

No harm in trying, I've interviewed people who apply for full time jobs and then ask about part time. Just be prepared for the fact that as it's a F/T job advertised, then that's what the employer is looking for, and if there is someone else who ticks the boxes and will work the hours required, then they will be appointed over you.

You can try but the danger is that even if you get the job, the employer will be expecting you to fit ft hours into pt hours (and pay!).

I went for an interview with a potential employer who was very keen on my CV and willing to consider pt. But on further questioning, it did not seem that they had thought out the pt thing very well at all. I did not proceed.

I don't think employers give enough thought to it - they just automatically advertise all jobs at full-time. I work 20 hours and would like a change of scene, but EVERYTHING is advertised as full-time. Or if it's part-time it fixed term for 6 months or the crappy bits of somebody else's job cobbled together to make a part-time job. Drives me mad.

Actually I can't agree with that! Employers work within a budget and aren't going to pay someone full time if a job can be done on part time hours! I work in education, where money is always a constraint. If I advertise a full time job, then it's because I need someone full time in my dept. If I want someone for two days, then I'll advertise accordingly. As i said, as a long shot there's no harm in going for a job, marketing yourself as well as you can and trying to convince the employer that you're the best person for the job - but don't be surprised if someone else pips you at the post if they can offer what the employer wants.

I dont think employers advertise full time for the sake of it either, most companies are money concious and if the job is truly part time they would advertise it as part time on a pro rata salary.

If it stated job share and you're after part time then I'd go for it, I personally wouldnt go for a FT post if only after full time as it means a wasted interview and worse, if the job is offered and then the candidate says "i only want to work x hours" you then have to go to the next candidate which just causes more paperwork. Thats assuming the job is advertised correctly and needs a full time person.

Well, alfiesbabe, I work in the NHS and I've had plenty of jobs where I've sat twiddling my thumbs.

Come and work in my school Fossil - you won't have time to sit and twiddle!

Maybe I'm just too efficient. .