NHS bank administrator interview

Bluepurple123

Hi I've got a zero hour contract bank administrator interview for nhs coming up. This role is a good fit for me as I have another part time ppermanent job, and am studying part time too, so it would be great for me if they give me less hours in this role if i do get it. I need the experience which is why I have applied for an admin related role. I have heard zero hour contract work is bad and have heard bad things about it. Just want to ask anyone exactly what their experiences of the zero hour contract have been? I've heard you do not have to accept work when they call you in? I'm a bit worried they may pressurise me or treat me badly if i turn down some days of work due to assignment deadlines nearer that time.

Sparhawke

I have never worked zero hours contracts but from what I have heard, minus the political spin that all us workers love those contracts the only people who benefit are the bosses who get a steady stream of boot lickers ready to pucker up for a few extra hours.

If you really want to wait by the phone for months on end with no guarantee of work then go for it, I would personally refuse point blank though.

ctbfc

ZHC are not inherently bad, thought there are bad employers who abuse them. They are the perfect fit for some people and given your circumstances it sounds like it would work for you.

Polarbeary

I did NHS admin bank work as a student which worked well...one job I was there for months 2/3 days a week as a support medical secretary doing reams of audio typing... more in the holidays until that entire department moved to another hospital Trust.

Then I went to another Trust where I got 3 months of data entry 2 days a week until the backlog was cleared. Then I couldn't get anything else as the bank office only had full time assignments. I tried for 3 months but after that I had left uni and had a full time job to go to.

TELLIT01

As with most things, it will suit some and not others. You will have the opportunity to discuss the role and likely hours at interview. As you have never worked a ZHC before it shouldn't seem unreasonable if you ask a lot of questions about how it works with them.

agrinnall

While it's true that you don't have to accept work some employers will look badly on it of you completely refuse a significant number of offers of hours, and the chances are that they will then stop offering you any more and your hours really will be zero. I'd raise it at interview using the "I know nothing" technique suggested by TELLIT.

suki1964

How it worked when I was bank staff at the NHS, was I'd ring HR and ask what they had available the following week and took the hours I wanted

You do need to be proactive in getting the hours you need

The more transferable skills you have, the more work you will be offered