Requesting part-time at an interview?

BusyLizzie_3

I have an interview for a job next week, which was advertised as being full time, but I'd ideally like to work part time (4 days a week rather than 5). Should I mention this at the end of the interview or only negotiate about hours if I'm offered the job?

purplepardalis

I should think that they will need someone for 5 days if that's was they've advertised. If it was me interviewing you and you asked to do 4, not only would I say 'no' I would also not offer you the job.

I honestly think you should go for jobs that are for hours that suit you.

Good luck and all the best in your job hunt!

PP
x

mountainofdebt

I wouldn't say anything.

Snippa

Four days is an odd number for employers to cope with. If they say it's full time, that's because they need full time (or have funding for full time). If you only wanted to work 3 or 2 and a half days, applications usually specify that they're open to job share and you can say at application stage that's what you want to do. But four days is too much for that to work.

I'd mention it at the interview rather than straight after you get the job. That way it gives them the chance to mull it over. If you're the right candidate, and they can do 4 days a week, fine. If not they tell you. If you accept a full time job then turn around and say you only want to work 4 days, you risk annoying your new employer.

blckbrd

What's the job? How big's the business and would that be 4 days with condensed hours or just 1 day fewer hours per week?

wontfallforit

Some good advice here. Personally, I wouldn't mention it...I'd soldier on in the job for at least 6 months (preferably a year), until I'd established myself, and hopefully had a good rapport with management.

Then I'd consider asking for part-time. If I was 'worth it', it needn't be a massive issue to drop a day. If they can't/won't consider it, then I'd consider it no harm done, and get back to doing my normal hours.

If you really need to work part-time, and it had to be effective from the outset (for example to fit around childcare, etc.), then I'd recommend mentioning it in the interview - for the same reasons given by Snippa.

Anihilator

Sorry but you applied for a job you couldnt fulfiil. If I was the interviewer I would terminate it on the spot.

You should have enquired about this before you even applied.

DCFC79

Why would you ask to do 4 days and not the 5, do you have something on the 5th day that you cant re arrange

BusyLizzie_3

The job is as an editor in a large publishing company (500+ employees), and it's a very good match for my skills and experience. I'd ideally like to work 4 days a week for childcare reasons, but obviously I'm prepared to work 5 days a week, otherwise I wouldn't have applied for the job.

jdturk

why not ask for flexi hours instead if they offer you the job that is!

terra_ferma

Anihilator wrote: »

Sorry but you applied for a job you couldnt fulfiil. If I was the interviewer I would terminate it on the spot.

You should have enquired about this before you even applied.

You did not read her post correctly. She said 'ideally', which means that if she can't get 4 days she will do 5.

No harm in asking. If someone could not work the advertised hours I would get very pixed off if they told me only after they were offered the job because they had not been honest at the interview.
But if they were just asking, and made clear that if that was not possible they would work 5 days, It would be ok for me.