When do you mention you want the job part time?

BoBoDobie

I'm looking for part time hours - ideally 2 or 3 days a week. I've applied for a job (local government) which is advertised as 37 hrs but states it is suitable for job share/part time/flexi time. I went for a similar job this summer for the same place (different department) that stated the same terms, full time but suitable for job share/part time but when I got through to an interview (I'd put on the application I wanted part time) the first thing they said was they were interviewing for a full time post and when I asked about job share/part time they said they would have to also have interviewed someone wanting job share to fill up the full time hours. This seemed pretty unlikely to me and made me wonder if describing the job as suitable for part time/job share was just a tick box exercise for them to make them seem inclusive or something. I didn't get the job but got great feedback and I do wonder if I had wanted the post full time I'd have got it.

Anyhow, onto this job, when do you mention you want it part time. Do I say something at interview? Or wait and see if they offer me the job then say you want part time if you get it. There is nothing on the application form to indicate if you want full time or part time?

Blatchford

BoBoDobie wrote: »

I'm looking for part time hours - ideally 2 or 3 days a week. I've applied for a job (local government) which is advertised as 37 hrs but states it is suitable for job share/part time/flexi time. I went for a similar job this summer for the same place (different department) that stated the same terms, full time but suitable for job share/part time but when I got through to an interview (I'd put on the application I wanted part time) the first thing they said was they were interviewing for a full time post and when I asked about job share/part time they said they would have to also have interviewed someone wanting job share to fill up the full time hours. This seemed pretty unlikely to me and made me wonder if describing the job as suitable for part time/job share was just a tick box exercise for them to make them seem inclusive or something. I didn't get the job but got great feedback and I do wonder if I had wanted the post full time I'd have got it.

Anyhow, onto this job, when do you mention you want it part time. Do I say something at interview? Or wait and see if they offer me the job then say you want part time if you get it. There is nothing on the application form to indicate if you want full time or part time?

In almost every circumstance, yes, it's a tick box exercise. They advertise the hours they are offering and many mangers won't negotiate unless, as you were told, two candidates match up. The fact is that they are advertising a full time post because that is what they need. By appointing someone for fewer hours they don't get the capacity they need and they will struggle to get someone to work the extra hours left over. So it's pretty irrelevant when you tell them, as they probably won't entertain it, so I suppose it depends on whether you want to waste your time going to interviews if they'll turn it down. If you only want interviews for the hours you want, put it on the form under additional information. If you think you can smash the interview and persuade them they want you at all costs, say it at the interview.

Being honest, I've considered and agreed 5 days down to four for an exceptional candidate, but if I want a full time employee, nothing on earth would persuade me to accept 2 or 3 days a week. So unless the job share came to me as a package, you wouldn't be considered suitable, and I'd be pretty annoyed at wasting an interview on someone who didn't want the job on offer! That said, some departments might find it easier to accommodate - mine wouldn't as it would put pressure on existing employees to pick up the slack for someone who didn't want the hours we advertised.

pickledonionspaceraider

I would say on the cover letter or application form.

I always think they are a tick box exercise and if you are clear from the outset, saves wasted time

BoBoDobie

Thank you both. On my last application I specifically said I wanted part time hours so was really deflated to hear the first thing out of their mouths was they wanted a full time person. It took a lot of time to fill out the application form not to mention time off my job to have the interview. Hence once bitten twice shy!

Whats the thoughts on if they don't ask at interview I don't mention it? If I got the job then I could say I wanted part time as per on their advert?

System

That just wastes everyone's time, so to me, it's far more considerate to contact them before the interview and state it outright, and ask if this is going to be feasible if you are successful. Any employer worth working for will not have a problem with you picking up the phone to chat about the vacancy, and it shows you are genuinely interested.

You really should just be searching for jobs advertised as part-time. It will save you a lot of time and bother.

BoBoDobie

Atypi_Gal wrote: »

You really should just be searching for jobs advertised as part-time. It will save you a lot of time and bother.

You can't narrow down the search criteria by part time/full time unfortunately so I sift through them all for this employer and look at the ones that specify they are suitable for part time hours. I wish they wouldn't specify it if they don't mean it! I can't imagine its a legal requirement.

74jax

BoBoDobie wrote: »

Whats the thoughts on if they don't ask at interview I don't mention it? If I got the job then I could say I wanted part time as per on their advert?

Why wouldn't you mention it? It would be one of the main things I would ask, what are the hours as you are interested only in Part Time. Then when they say I would be asking what is expected of overtime, are you expected to work to cover holidays, etc.


An interview is you interviewing the company too. You might decide you don't want to work for them. It's not one way.

Blatchford

BoBoDobie wrote: »

Thank you both. On my last application I specifically said I wanted part time hours so was really deflated to hear the first thing out of their mouths was they wanted a full time person. It took a lot of time to fill out the application form not to mention time off my job to have the interview. Hence once bitten twice shy!

Whats the thoughts on if they don't ask at interview I don't mention it? If I got the job then I could say I wanted part time as per on their advert?

Honestly? You'd be told to take a hike. Politely and with all the correct turns of phrase. But "hike" it would be. You need to be realistic - nice policies written by HR don't deliver services. I understand that you want to work two days a week. I want someone who works five! Seriously, whose "want" do you think wins out every time? We advertise roles that we want to fill, not ones that people make up to suit themselves. Otherwise the advert would say "no fixed hours, work what you want". And we do have some that say that. They are called zero hour contracts.

As said elsewhere, you could ask the advertising manager before applying. But don't be surprised if they say no. It's possible that in some large departments with lots of staff on the same or similar levels that they might be ok about it - call centres, for example, are often more flexible because they just care that there are enough people to pick up the phone and answer queries, and most of the local authorities near me have to take on agency staff because they can't recruit enough people. But broadly speaking, if I have a part-time job, that is what I advertise, and if I don't I won't appoint on any terms other than those in the advert. I appreciate that you spent a long time filling in the application and going to the interview. I spent a long time creating recruitment process and paperwork and I don't appreciate my time being wasted either. I have just recruited a post for my team. It has taken many hours of work and several weeks just to get to interview, then several hours at interviewing, and there's then feedback to deal with. I'd be just as annoyed if the successful candidate turned around and said they'd only work a fraction of the days I need. And they'd be the successful candidate for only 30 seconds after they said it.

BoBoDobie

Blatchford wrote: »

Honestly? You'd be told to take a hike. Politely and with all the correct turns of phrase. But "hike" it would be. You need to be realistic - nice policies written by HR don't deliver services. I understand that you want to work two days a week. I want someone who works five! Seriously, whose "want" do you think wins out every time? We advertise roles that we want to fill, not ones that people make up to suit themselves. Otherwise the advert would say "no fixed hours, work what you want". And we do have some that say that. They are called zero hour contracts.

As said elsewhere, you could ask the advertising manager before applying. But don't be surprised if they say no. It's possible that in some large departments with lots of staff on the same or similar levels that they might be ok about it - call centres, for example, are often more flexible because they just care that there are enough people to pick up the phone and answer queries, and most of the local authorities near me have to take on agency staff because they can't recruit enough people. But broadly speaking, if I have a part-time job, that is what I advertise, and if I don't I won't appoint on any terms other than those in the advert. I appreciate that you spent a long time filling in the application and going to the interview. I spent a long time creating recruitment process and paperwork and I don't appreciate my time being wasted either. I have just recruited a post for my team. It has taken many hours of work and several weeks just to get to interview, then several hours at interviewing, and there's then feedback to deal with. I'd be just as annoyed if the successful candidate turned around and said they'd only work a fraction of the days I need. And they'd be the successful candidate for only 30 seconds after they said it.

Then why advertise the job stating it's suitable for part time or job sharers and be surprised that you get applicants wanting to do part time hours?

Blatchford

BoBoDobie wrote: »

Then why advertise the job stating it's suitable for part time or job sharers and be surprised that you get applicants wanting to do part time hours?

I think I've answered that. HR aren't delivering the service. If they want to do it they can. Up to them. The rest of us have to deliver the service. And saying it's suitable isn't saying anything - it isn't saying you can have it part-time. HR are also good at mealy mouthed platitudes that make all the right sounds, but are meaningless in practice. It's common sense surely. If I need someone to do a full-time job, then I have a full time number of hours to fill. Not some part-time hours and some left over. I have to justify every single job I recruit to, and every single hour and penny I spend on it, as a critical business need. If I can't do that then I can't recruit. So why would I spend hours proving that I need someone 37 hours a week when I actually only need them 15 hours?

theoretica

I have heard of two people applying together for a job share - no idea if that was a one off or common.