Part Time work?

MissSarah1972

hi there

I am recently unemployed after many years at my last company (made redundant)

I have not worked now for 2 mths and applied for lots of jobs including a part time job - 3 days a week. Now I only see this (if I got it) as a stop gap.

I have been invited for an interview but one question that they sent me on an email is as follows:

'we notice you have held long term full time permanent positions for many years so were wondering why you have applied for a part time role?'

What do I say? I don't want to work part time for ever and like I say I'd only see it as a stop gap while I continue to look for a full time job. Obviously I can't tell them that - any ideas?

Emmzi

I'd go for i'd like some extra time for an OU course which would be flexible enough to allow me to support your business if you needed extra hours from time to time but would let me have some extra time to study.

then be enthusiastic about hoe the job matches your field of study if you can.

MissSarah1972

Emmzi wrote: »

I'd go for i'd like some extra time for an OU course which would be flexible enough to allow me to support your business if you needed extra hours from time to time but would let me have some extra time to study.

then be enthusiastic about hoe the job matches your field of study if you can.

Thanks - I don't want to study to be honest and don't want to lie either. I just found it an odd question to ask me since they are the ones advertising a part time job.

I will have a think what to reply to them.

Emmzi

They are asking because they want to weed out people who it is a stopgap for.

As that is exactly your position I think a white lie is your best chance.

Vejovis

depends what sort of job it is. you could be relatively honest and say that whilst you would prefer a full time job, you believe you are perfectly suited to the role and you hope that given time a full time position may become available within the company.

MissSarah1972

Vejovis wrote: »

depends what sort of job it is. you could be relatively honest and say that whilst you would prefer a full time job, you believe you are perfectly suited to the role and you hope that given time a full time position may become available within the company.

It's an accounts role for a small company and it says in the advert only apply if you are looking for part time work.

Of course I have to lie to get the interview which is a shame.

sarahk100574

For an accounts role its easy to say that you are 'thinking' about doing some further study/cipd but that you are available for more hours etc if the role grows (as accounts positions tend to do, especially in growing businesses). In this situation it may well be that is what the employer is looking for and is trying to weed out people with other commitments which may prevent them from increasing their hours if the role 'grows'...