Tricky issue with job offer - reassure that I am doing the right thing please...(long, sorry)

[schneebly]

I am about to go into my 2nd year of a 4 year part-time primary teaching degree and DS2 starts school in september. As uni is only going to be one day per week for the whole of next academic year I have been looking for a part time job starting in sep that I can fit in.

I applied for a job 2 days per week in a school library - perfect for me as I love kids and books and it is term time only. Well the only problem is that I have one 2 week placement for uni which is during term time - I had planned to mention my 'prior commitment' during interview but I was so nervous and convinced that I wasn't going to get the job that I didn't.

Now I have been offered the job over the phone and been sent CRB, salary mandates etc to fill in. I have to return these as soon as possible and feel that at this stage before any contracts are signed etc I need to let them know about the 2 weeks I am unavailable in case that is an issue for them. However I am worried that they will either retract the job offer or want to know more details about why I am unavilable and if I tell them that then they will know that I only intend to stay in the job temporarily (I plan to stay for 1 year-18 months depending on timetabling for uni). DH thinks I shouldn't say anything until I am officially appointed but I don't want to start off on the wrong foot or create an awkward environment

I have drafted a letter which I am going to send in with the CRB form etc.

Am I doing the right thing? Do you think it will be a big issue? There is another person there doing the same job (at a more senior level) the other 3 days per week but she wanted to decrease hours (phasing down towards retiral) hence why this post came up.

Thank you.

shit I meant to post what the letter says! here:

Firstly I would like to thank the interview panel for making me feel welcome on the day of the interview and also for offering me the post.
Prior to my official appointment to the above role I would like to inform whoever it may concern that there are, unfortunately, 2 weeks during term-time which I have a prior engagement that I must fulfil my commitment to. I will not be able to work at all during the last week of February and the first week of March 2010. I would be more than happy to either make up the extra hours in advance or to take them as unpaid leave ? whichever suits best.
I understand that this creates an inconvenience and hope that it does not affect my job offer, though I will understand if this is the case. I considered bringing it up at the interview stage but was unsure about the exact dates at the time.
I would appreciate it if you could let me know as soon as possible where I stand and I hope that the relevant paperwork enclosed is all present and correct.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely

I thin you need flowerybeanbag!!

If I was in your shoes I think i would be upfront with them - otherwise it's going to cause you a lot of stress and anxiety choosing the right moment to tell them....it does show honesty and integrity if you explain though I can see it shows you are only doing the job short-term - but isn't that bound to come out anyway? Surely you'll mention your degree at some point?
Also if it's a job share maybe you could arrange for the other person to cover your days and you do some of hers in return at some point?

Obviously up to you what you do - there is always the possibility that they may not accept your terms when you explain so you just have to go with your gut feeling

just seen the letter and I think it's very good , but they may want to know more about the time off? It's not unreasonable to request two weeks off though with this much notice.

Your letter looks fine and I agree you need to tell them. Not telling at interview is fine, but now they are offering you the job, it's only fair to tell them about prior holiday commitments and that type of thing.

If you are the right person for the job, I expect they will be unlikely to withdraw the offer purely because of those two weeks. But if you don't tell them, start the job and then bring it up, they might well not be very impressed.

I would remove the sentence about the fact that you considered telling them at interview stage. That sounds like you think you ought to have done really, when actually offer stage is fine.

Thanks thirty. I did tell them I was doing a 'course' at the interview when asked about what days I could work but they didn't ask what it was or anything. It is not quite a job share as she is a proper librarian and will deal with the big stuff and I am there to 'keep things ticking over' on her off days but I think it would probably be possible for me to do an extra day per week for 4 weeks or something to make up the time off..hopefully. I think you are right that I have to go with my gut feeling - I don't like being dishonest or deceitful and I will lose sleep if I don't tell them and if they retract the offer tough luck for me!

Thank you flowery I am feeling ab bit better about the whole things now.