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Main site > Forums > Work & Benefits > Employment, Jobseeking & Training > Advice needed regarding job interview
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      caringa
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    • By caringa 15th Jan 20, 7:34 PM
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    Advice needed regarding job interview
    • #1
    • 15th Jan 20, 7:34 PM
    Advice needed regarding job interview 15th Jan 20 at 7:34 PM
    Im trying to help my daughter who is job hunting. She has had a job interview and been asked back for a second one.

    When she applied for the job, no mention was made of working hours. However this was discussed at the interview and is 40 hours per week.

    The problem is that the working hours are really too much for her as she has only ever worked 30 to 35 hours a week due to a long standing health problem.

    Should she decline the 2nd interview, saying that the hours are too long or should she go for the 2nd interview and ask, if they offer her the job, whether she could work less hours, ie 35 instead of 40.

    Many thanks in advance!!

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      pramsay13
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    • By pramsay13 15th Jan 20, 7:46 PM
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    • #2
    • 15th Jan 20, 7:46 PM
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    • 15th Jan 20, 7:46 PM
    It's a tricky one.

    I assume advert said full time hours.

    If she has a health condition that means she can't work 40 hours she should really have checked beforehand because full-time can mean anything up to 40 hours and beyond.

    I would have said 30 hours wasn't full-time.

    The company might need it to be 40 hours in which case they will be a bit annoyed at being mucked about.

    Alternatively they may not care about actual number of hours and be fine with a 35 hour week.

    I would say continue with interview and if offered the post give it a try at 40 hours. After a month or so she would be in a better position to say I have tried it but it is difficult for this reason, can we look at it.

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      ohreally
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    • By ohreally 15th Jan 20, 8:05 PM
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    • #3
    • 15th Jan 20, 8:05 PM
    • #3
    • 15th Jan 20, 8:05 PM
    “
    i assume advert said full time hours.
    Originally posted by pramsay13 ”
    “
    when she applied for the job, no mention was made of working hours.
    Originally posted by caringa ”
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      theoretica
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    • By theoretica 15th Jan 20, 8:34 PM
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    • #4
    • 15th Jan 20, 8:34 PM
    • #4
    • 15th Jan 20, 8:34 PM
    Does the 40 hours include lunch breaks or not? If, for instance, this includes an hour of lunch it would be the same as 35 hours without counting lunch breaks.

    Another thing to think about is how she uses her holiday. If she, and her employer are happy, she could use her holidays all as half days to give her 4 hours off and most working weeks of 36 hours.
    I think best to wait until she is offered the job and then ask for the details and see how best to work around them. It may after all turn out to be an easier paced job than her previous role.
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      yksi
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    • By yksi 17th Jan 20, 11:50 PM
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    • #5
    • 17th Jan 20, 11:50 PM
    • #5
    • 17th Jan 20, 11:50 PM
    You don't have to give a reason for only wanting a 30h week, at this stage, if you don't wish to. For my last two jobs, once I knew that I was about to be offered the job, I made it quite clear that I was looking for a contract of at least X hours. In my case I stated that it would allow me to feel comfortable giving notice on my previous job. In your daughter's case I don't see any reason at all that she can't simply state that she is ideally looking for a 30h contract as it fits in with her personal circumstances or her employment needs.

    They might ask why. You're not obligated to disclose a disability. However at the point where they are offering her the position, there are certain things you probably should disclose. For health-related issues they might be legally obligated to conduct a risk assessment from the point that they know about it, and to understand any adjustments she might require for the position.

    On that note, if it's a condition that you expect will impact her work, you probably don't want to work with someone who won't make allowances. But she should protect herself, because disclosing this too early might mean she doesn't get the offer. It's a tough line to walk. But definitely go to the interview - it's a valuable experience for ANYONE, and they might say yes. And ask for feedback if she is not successful.
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    • By charlie792 18th Jan 20, 7:49 AM
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    • #6
    • 18th Jan 20, 7:49 AM
    • #6
    • 18th Jan 20, 7:49 AM
    I would be tempted to assume that it's actually 35 working hours - I think this is what she needs to establish

    My hours are 9-5 which is 40 a week but a 1hr lunch break means I'm only working 35 hours of that.
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    • By TELLIT01 18th Jan 20, 9:07 AM
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    • #7
    • 18th Jan 20, 9:07 AM
    • #7
    • 18th Jan 20, 9:07 AM
    An alternative approach, even it if is 40 hours per week, would be to take on the job and see how it goes. Not all jobs are equal in the amount of pressure people are under and she may find she copes OK. It would be a shame to discount a job purely on hours.

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