If offered a job, how long can you take deciding whether to take it?

[NeedSleepNow]

I had not been happy in my job for some time. I've been looking elsewhere for a while but nothing suitable had come up. I'm a single mum to three children, one with additional needs so I was wanting a better work life balance and some flexibility (lack of flexibility is a big issue with my current employer).

I put in a flexible working request recently with my current employer to reduce my hours ever so slightly (only asked to drop 2 per week) to make school pick up a little easier but it looked like it was going to be rejected. I then saw a role in another school nearby (I work in a school support staff role at the moment) that looked good, very varied and mentioned flexibility for the right candidate a few times in the advert so I applied.

I've been offered an interview but when they rang me they wanted to check that I had seen the pay being offered was less than my current salary (I am currently right at the top of what they are offering) and mentioned that they see I have children and am I aware it is a year round role (the advert said year round or the possibility of condensed term time for the right person). I was at work so couldn't really ask many questions. I said I would be looking for a salary towards the top of what they are offering and flagged that the advert mentioned term time working and asked what they are looking for. They didn't really seem to know what they wanted and mentioned working part of the school holidays but they didn't really have an idea how much of it as a minimum would need to be worked.

I have accepted an interview, working on the basis that the role would be interesting and is near my home but I'm now concerned that they don't really know how many weeks of the year they want someone to work and that they aren't actually considering appointing towards the top of the role's pay scale.

I have the interview on Monday afternoon. If I were to be offered it, will they expect an answer straight away or can I take say 24-48 hours to decide as my decision would really depend on the salary they offer and how much of the school holidays they want worked.

To add to my confusion with it, my work have now approved my flexible working request so I would be happy to stick it out there for a while longer as the pay is good and I can now do school pick up a couple of days a week.

You can definitely take 48 hours to decide. But you can also clarify at the interview exactly how many weeks in the year they’re looking for and discuss the advert mentioned term time only . Remember an interview is as much you finding out about them as them finding out about you.

If offered the job that’s when you can negotiate the point on the pay scale and say you can only accept if you start at X point.

Good luck

Thank you. My current role I accepted on the spot as it seemed like a great opportunity but I regretted it as soon as I started so I'm wary of making the same mistake again!

I may not even be offered a position so am unnecessarily worrying. I'm a bit of a people pleaser so don't really like negotiating with things like this!

Interviews are two-way - I've always been asked if I have any questions. So you might be able to get clarity on the holiday working.

In any case, there's no decision to be made until you've had an interview and been offered it. They might not offer the salary you want, the hours might turn out to be rubbish. But assuming it's all good, then I think up to 48 hours should be okay.

You can definitely take 24-48 hours. I think the worst I have had is a week and that was a pain.

Thanks all, that makes me feel a lot better that 24-48hours is ok to decide either way if I am offered the job.

I’d flip it around and work out how the role would fit you (as in put in the request for example that you can work two weeks in the summer but want the other school holidays off or whatever works for you/ compressed hours in whatever pattern) and that way they’d also be able to decide.

the last few offers i had were time limited offers. they varied from 3 days to a week.

You can definitely take the time to think about it.
But I'm curious, how was it obvious from your application that you have kids?

They can't expect a decision until they clarify salary and holiday working.

I wouldn’t bother going to the interview. They sound flaky AF already

If your flexible working request has been approved why not just cancel the interview? It sounds like a load more faff for less money.

I never accept anything or give notice to a current employer until I am sent a formal offer in writing and a copy of the contract.

I was offered a job a couple of weeks ago but when they sent the written offer there were differences from what was in the job ad and what was said at interview. When I asked them about it they refused to amend the offer so I declined.

You can't accept anything without written confirmation of the pay and school holidays work.

One of my children went to the school so they know a bit about me/my family already

It would have some benefits working there and would probably be more interesting than my current role so I don't want to cancel in case it is a really good opportunity. It did set off alarm bells for me though that they might not actually know what they are looking for in terms of holiday working, hours etc.