applying for job during mat leave

[lauraloo09]

hiya just looking for some advice

I am currently 1 month into my mat leave still waiting for baby to arrive and an ideal job has came up in the local council where i currently work. It is my ideal job, in finance and job share (which I would be doing when i go back to work). Would I be mad to apply for it? Also if I was lucky enough to get an interview do you think it would be best if i suggested that I end my mat leave early in case this would help me get the post?

Thanks x

Personally I would find it all a bit much having a new baby and worrying about work. You dont know how you will feel when the baby arrives. Plus dont forget you can negotiate a deal before you go back to work around you

There's nothing stopping you applying if you want to, although it may depend when they need someone to start. I don't think it would really be for you to suggest you end your mat leave early, more for you to ask when they need someone to start, and if it's before you are intending to go back, then it's for you to say whether you would be available to start when they need someone or not.

Of course if you are a wonderful candidate and depending on circumstances, they may be happy to delay your start date, you never know.

Just to comment on mumbear's last sentence 'you can negotiate a deal before you go back to work around you'. You can request flexible working, but your employer only has to consider it seriously and give reasonable business grounds for refusal. You can ask for whatever you want but should be prepared for it to be refused or for a compromise to be proposed.

I only say that because if this new job is the hours you want, it might be worth going for on that basis, as (unless you've negotiated something already) you've got no guarantees of getting the hours you want in your current job when you go back.