Completely OT: A question for our recruiters

I know we have a few recruitment experts here, and I would really appreciate your advice if you don't mind please.

My baby starts school next year, and I want to work again on a part time basis. As a single mummy I've figured I would really like to work in a school, as the hours are much more compatible with my lifestyle and enabling me to still be at home with the girls after school etc, and staying part time enables me to keep helping in my daughters classes and stay involved.

I've been browsing all the local school's websites lately and I have found a job that I would LOVE LOVE LOVE (library assistant - I used to work in a library years ago and loved it!)... the only catch is... its a full time position (school hours), but I really don't want to work full time.

So, my question is...

Do I even bother to apply seeing as I am not prepared to work full time? Or do I apply and state in my letter that I only wish to work part time (state something like "my preference is to work part time, however I may be flexible on this"?), or do I apply and not mention anything at all unless I'm shortlisted or interviewed etc?

I feel guilty not advising them upfront as I feel like I'm wasting their time if they aren't prepared to even consider a part timer, but then again, perhaps there are others out there wanting part time work, so I need to tell them that in case they decide to jobshare the position...

Its been such a very long time since I worked (6.5yrs), let alone actually applied for a position (8yrs+), and I'm feeling rather overwhelmed. The job market for a person only wanting to work part time in school hours is very limited which adds to my anxiety about searching for a job!

Thank you so much to anyone who has any words of advice for me.

15 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

If you do apply, you need to let them know upfront you only want PT (or prefer it, and are flexible). Let them decide if it is worth their time to interview you despite that. There is nothing worse than essentially lying to them from the get-go; if they do like you and then you pull out the rug under them when they offer you a job, they will rightfully mistrust you, and that's not the right way you want to start a position with anyone.

I think given the job market and the narrowness of your search, you need to apply to any and all positions that fall within your scope. But understand that ones like this, where you want something that is not in the job description, are long shots; don't put all your hopes into getting it, it's just one of many different lines you are dropping into the water as you fish.

Good luck!

Theresa

Kristen thank you SO much! I absolutely felt like I would be being deceptive if I wasn't honest upfront, and you have just reassured me. (I've had a few acquaintances telling me not to put anything like it on the applications but it just felt so wrong and I know when I was hiring in the past I wouldn't have been impressed).

At this stage, I'm only half-heartedly looking for work (G doesn't start school til end Jan 2011), but I think its still worth applying and telling them my desire to work part time, purely for experience writing application letters, responding to selection criteria etc... and getting my name out there.

Kristen you really have set my mind at ease tonight - thank you!!

Kristine

I agree Theresa, just be honest and see what happens. They might be relieved to hire someone part time to save on the salary. Or have you thought about volunteering there to get experience?

Debora

I was going to suggest what Kristine just said about volunteering there if the part time job doesn't work out. It would get your foot in the door, let them get to know you, and show that you are serious about working there if a part-time position does arise in the future. For what it's worth, I volunteered in the school library when my son was in grade school and LOVED it! Good luck and I keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Sihaya

Teresa - let them know up front. And start volunteering now so that it's harder and harder for them to turn you down even if you're part time. Good luck.

Thank you all so much for your words of wisdom - I really appreciate it!

I rang a friend who used to go to this school, and who's mum still works there, and it turns out this job is actually her mum's position! Its a 12 month contract and every year she has to re-apply for her position - and she is intending on reapplying. (I only knew her mum worked their, I didn't know what she did!).

So, I've decided not to apply for this one, but I am going to still send them my resume and ask to be kept in mind for PT positions. (No way could I apply for a job where I *know* the incumbent - I've been in positions of having to reapply for my own job and hated every second of it).

And in the meantime, I'm going to talk to my daughters school about volunteering in their library and then try other schools if they don't want me!

Thanks again so much, and don't be surprised if next year when I start looking seriously, if I bombard you with lots of recruitment questions!

Marley

Way to go for working on this now, rather than waiting until you absolutely HAVE to get a job! I'm impressed.

Louise

A word of encouragement for volunteering, work as if you were a paid employee especially if you want a job at the place you are volunteering at. We have had several student teaching assistants and several have been given paid jobs. It was the ones who have thrown themseleves right in and got on with the job as if they were paid and literally made themselves indespensible x

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