Asking for part-time in an interview for a full-time position

Hello! I have a job interview on Thursday. It is a full-time position but I only want to work part-time. I'd appreciate some advice on how best to broach this- and at what point?

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Hi. Good luck with your interview!
I've heard it's best to ask about this if/when they offer you the job. They are then more likely to accommodate you rather than immediately dismiss you as a candidate.
However, I can imagine that if there is no way you want to work full time it could be reasonable to ask about in the 'do you have any questions for us?' part of the interview.

Was thinking that. Also if the question - are you available full-time - comes up.

I am surprised I even got an interview TBH so not overly confident. My industry is crowded in terms of jobseekers but small in terms of what is actually on offer.

I would avoid saying anything before being offered a position. If you get offered it, then you can negotiate. The only time I would say something earlier is if you think there is going to be a few rounds of interviews and you don't want to invest the time.

I'm going to go against the grain here and ask why are you applying for a full time position if you're only wanting to work part time?

If I was the employer and I went through the process of interviewing you, deciding on you and then offering you the position, I'd be pretty annoyed if you then came back and said you only wanted to work part time. I'd be thinking - didn't she read the ad??

There would be no reason for them to ask if you're available full time, they have advertised for a full time position, and that's what you applied for.

I wish you luck, they may have the availability to make the role part time, but I have found being upfront from the start to be best.

Many places offer flexible working arrangements after a minimum qualifying time - so depending on how bad you want the job, you may need to commit to FT work before you are in a position to negotiate.

Be honest about being interested in flexible arrangements if they ask you directly, but I wouldn't advertise it in the interview unless it comes up. But you need to think about this and be prepared, because if you're not and you're sitting there feeling conflicted, this will show up in your body language and (if they're good) they will know something isn't quite right.

I haven't had a job yet that has been advertised as part-time - but I am on my 5th part-time contract post kids. I have always been upfront and specified prior to interview. I couldn't sit there myself and not declare it - unless I was prepared to do full time and just hoping for part time - if I was not prepared to do full-time I would always declare up front.

This may be very industry dependent but I do think that while people haven't always thought about the possibility of part-time, if they would be put off by you declaring part-time in the interview or prior then they also aren't the sort of job that would be happy with you just declaring part-time when they offer you the position.

I always think what if I was them - what would I think and I really would not like part-time being sprung on me upon an offer, but I would be quite open to part-time if suggested. Having seen how job adverts are compiled at several places they don't always think that much about them - e.g. default is full-time they don't even think about whether could be part-time until a candidate they like (either from CV or interview) presents the idea to them - the exception here I think is government, council, university positions - which seem to be quite well thought out and defined.

In one interview it turned out that although they had advertised full-time, part-time actually suited them better. In the most recent one, they actually reshuffled the team because the original role had travel at a time when DH was also travelling and we were able to discuss this all in the interview (I had also outlined the position prior to interview).

So my previous company was very flexible with hours and we would adapt if we loved the candidate but it was a very responsive company generally which is why I ask regarding the standard with other companies. We would not have minded people applying for a full-time role then negotiating for a part-time one. So I don't think I have been inappropriate in applying for this one.

I would not lie if asked the question directly- of course! Just not sure how I would negotiate, that was what I was trying to ask. I think I would be more comfortable bringing it up in the interview myself.

Yes it is perfectly fine in my opinion to apply for full time if want part time, I would never have found a job if had only applied for positions advertised as part time.

I have never negotiated as such, as I always went into interview them knowing that I wanted part-time. Then in the interview I stated what I wanted in terms of days hours (and travel) and do their offer was made on a full understanding. The last role they wanted 5 days, I said ideally 3 but would do 4, they wouldn't take 3 agreed on 4 they offered 5 short days instead of 4 but I didn't want that.

I suppose I have never thought of it as a negotiation more I state what I will do and then if it works for them they accept it. 'Negotiation' of part time I see as more of a thing if in a role and want to cut down hours or coming back from maternity leave. When you are in a role is easy to negotiate because you know the job and what can be done in the part time hours you want and they know your skills so are in a strong negotiating position. When are not with that employer you have very little to negotiate with which is why I see it more as you state your position and they either work with that or not. My experience has been many companies are flexible with hours, e.g. start and finish times but far less so with wanting three days a week for example. I have not got to interview for many contracts because I don't want full-time, but often if their mindset is five days a week you can't shift it.

Do you know someone in your industry can ask? I was a bit clueless in mine at first, but now have helped a couple of people get part time in roles similar to mine, just by being able to explain what approaches to part time work.

I have read people say don't specify until offer many times but I think it probably can be industry/role dependent, certainly my area - declare (rather than negotiate) at interview or earlier works best.

Wysiwyg yes I have been thinking about why I do not want full-time and it is because I want quality time with my two little girls, especially as they are only 3 and 11 months, so for me part-time can mean 5 shorter days or 3 longer days or 4 normal days or even one day working from home.

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Wysiwyg yes I have been thinking about why I do not want full-time and it is because I want quality time with my two little girls, especially as they are only 3 and 11 months, so for me part-time can mean 5 shorter days or 3 longer days or 4 normal days or even one day working from home.

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You see I was always specific - because had to be as was using long daycare (so I had daycare organised up front for three days (five shorter days works out rubbish with daycare fees) and have no family around to help. So I would go in and say I want three days a week and even specify the days. I personally have never wanted a day working from home (unless the kids were elsewhere) because I find the whole trying to juggle between them wanting/needing me and me needing to get work done way too stressful (this probably depends on the type of work doing) so I prefer the separation - so that when I am at home I am at home for the family, when I am at work am working.

I don't know whether it is always true - but I think the fact I was always so definite about what I wanted helped - it showed I had thought it through (and with the later contracts I had actually done it too). I simply stated I could only work those days as that is when I had care for the children and had no one to look after them on the other days, I wanted to make it clear upfront then when not at work I was not at work as I have seen it go wrong a few times where part-time hours is taken to mean part-time in the office but full time hours overall.

Care wise we are in a unique position because DH isn't working at the moment so it would be Daddy Daycare for a while at least. But yeah will need to start thinking about more longer term care options.

Depending on how long you can use daddy daycare - I would be thinking about longer term care before you sort out hours - because if you have to use long time daycare for example you have to pay the set amount irrelevant of number of hours so it can work out expensive to use if you are working 5 short days, and the current capping of the rebate also makes 5 days not so great. This year I have one in school so working more than 3 days became more viable but prior to that the care costs with long day care in particular were prohibitive. Other forms of care probably work out better for shorter days. (you might already know all this, but I really was incredibly naive when I first went back to work (between DD&DS and then when DS turned one) and wish I had realized more of the implications of different jobs, different types of care etc.)

Also is the position a permanent, or fixed term permanent, temporary, contract etc.? because I think that makes a big difference as to how likely different options apart from full time will go down with employer. Contract which is what I have always done places have little to lose by taking reduced hours as are only paying you for when you are working - creating a part-time (so actual part time rather than flexible hours - so less than 38 working hours a week say) salaried position if you have approval for a full-time position in your budget is not always easy.

I assume you are actually wanting part-time as opposed to full-time with flexible working option? (as I said before, full-time flexible working (e.g. 4 long days, 5th day off, or short office hours + make up at home) from my experience is easier to obtain than part-time.

Gosh thank you so much wysiwyg for all this detail. When DD1 turned 1 we were in a different city so I simply returned to work from maternity leave, in an extremely flexible format. We had a nanny. Then we moved interstate while on mat. Leave with DD2 so I had to resign. Keen on working again though hence this application. DD1 now at 3 year old kinder one day a week, is highly social so thinking daycare for her but hate the idea of daycare for DD2 at the moment. But that's a whole other kettle of fish!

Ps it is a permanent position. It is technically public service but a servicing a niche industry- i have worked in this industry for a long time but never in public service, always private or NGO/non-profit. The ad originally said full-time but did not state a FTE. The role description does not state full-time but simply hours dictated by needs of department.

I do think full-time flexible might work for me.

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I do think full-time flexible might work for me.

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I think full-time flexible is a far easier 'sell' than part-time .

Also is often a good move to go back full-time (including full-time flexible)and then negotiate down to part-time proper if you want to once you have been there a while. As you have your DH at home at the moment this might work well (after my DD I went back full-time as my DH was doing part-time, then I negotiated down to part-time 3 days a week - which was partly because I didn't enjoy the full-time and partly because DH needed to go back to full-time and we didn't want DD in full-time care at that point).

My approach to flexible hours has always been the same as part-time - discuss at the interview (sometimes as go through agencies I do prior to interview) - generally just asking about what are normal hours and what flexibility there is around them as I need to do a pick up or drop off. Often I state if I am happy to look at things in the evening if necessary but I just have to make pick-up. I think in all cases that has been totally accepted, and often the interviewer etc has to do similar, actual hours are normally not cared about at all - "as long as the work gets done" - has been the usual response. Lots of places have offered days at home etc. if required.

Hi there,

It sounds like your work place experience is a bit different from mine, but to answer the original question, I would bring it up during the first interview, and reasonably promptly.

I would do this because as an interviewer, I'd be pretty peeved if I've spent a couple of hours of my time reviewing the person's CV and transcripts etc and doing 2-3 rounds of interviews with them, only to find out that they actually aren't interested in the job I've advertised. I would feel like they'd mucked me around, as I'd been clear about what role was on offer, and they weren't actually wanting to take it up.

If it was clear from their CV that they wouldn't be able to do full time (eg: if it says they're studying part time, etc, or volunteering with an organisation a day a week or something) then I would clarify with them early on, because for the roles I interview for, it's pretty important that I can be sure they're going to be in the office Monday to Friday during business hours - unless we're actively looking for a part time worker. If their CV impressed me enough that I would consider a more flexible arrangement, I'd want to discuss that first - and might even call and clarify on the phone before having them come in - because I wouldn't want their or my time to be wasted.

If they called me up and said, "Hey, Peanutter - I am very interested in the xyz role, but I actually would be wanting to do it on a [whatever time] basis. I believe it could work really well because [whatever - but showing me they've thought about it, or done it before, or have good time management and organisational skills]. I'm keen to come in to discuss the role with you further." then if it was feasible, I'd probably go ahead and do the interview - because they've been proactive and respectful, and are showing me they're on top of it, suggesting that they're going to take ownership of the role, and if they can do that about the interview, they should be able to do that about the role itself, ITMS.

Kind of like what it sounds like wysiwyg did, with hers.

But if the first I heard of it was at the point of making an offer (which would be after no less than two interviews - one with me, one with the Directors, and sometimes an in between one with the CEO) I'd be pretty unimpressed, and I suspect that would be pretty similar around in my industry. I suspect they wouldn't get the role, and wouldn't be considered for future roles from that company. It would come across as sneaky or disingenuous, and rather than feeling, "oh, I really liked this candidate, and I'm invested in it now, let's just go ahead" I'd more likely feel, "wow - thanks for wasting my and my colleagues' time, dodged a bullet there."

This isn't a criticism of part time or flexible work - while I was studying and working in industry, I had to negotiate working hours basically every semester, as my class schedule would change, and I'd negotiate it out with my employer(s) to make sure I could keep up with the demands of both. But that was discussed right up front - before even the first interview, because if it wasn't something which would be on the table (and with loads of places I wanted to interview at, it just wasn't, and they wouldn't interview me) I didn't want to waste time or burn bridges I might traverse later. :)

Is there someone at that workplace you could ask?

Yes on thinking about it I will definitely mention first thing. There are a few areas/definitions of the role not clear to me also so a few things to discuss.

All the very best for getting a great role - one that works for you, your family and your employer :hug:

Hope it went well LL

Interview went really well. Phoned my referees which is a good sign. It was a behavioural question format with questions at the end so I brought up idea of full time flexible at the end (after thinking about my needs vs my ideal wants and discussing with DH). They were totally supportive: "we understand that everybody has a life outside of work". Completely coincidentally one of my dear referees also brought up the importance of supporting working mothers and flexibility (bless her!). I don't have the role confirmed or otherwise and I am feeling a bit sick at the thought of being away from my babies most of the day for 5 days but conversely a reason I was even looking for work was because I was starting to think I would be a better mother if I was working again as I've been a bit of a grumpy bum!

Thanks ladies for your fantastic feedback and honesty.

Good luck and hope everything works out for the best. I know the feeling of being a complete grumpy bum...

Phoning your referees is a very good sign! Fingers crossed.

Thank you again everybody for your honest opinions and advice. I was offered the job and I decided to take it. It is in a field I am excited about, in an incredible organisation I never really thought I'd get to work in. Decided to embrace full time or at least see how it goes. On paper it all looks great so fingers crossed. Now to get my head around not being 'there' for my girls.

Hey - congrats on getting offered the job!

And we're all "there" for our children in different ways :) And different ways in different seasons. There are loads of different ways to demonstrate love :heartbeat: