• Replies 13 replies
  • Subscribers 1 subscriber
  • Views 2501 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related

When is best to broach flexible working?

Catherine Fleming

So, I  managed to make it to round two of a selection process for a HR role. At this point I emailed the recruiter and queried whether their hours could be flexible for childcare reasons whilst in the same email confirming that I would be very keen to attend a second round.

I'm unsure if I've approached this correctly. Made me wonder when is the best time to ask about flexible working when applying for a new role?

Parents

  • I would be up front and open from as early as possible. Leaving things to the last minute just seems like getting the relationship off on the wrong foot. A decent employer wont hold it against you and if they are the sort of employer who would then they will find a way regardless of when you tell them.

    Although it does depend a little bit on how essential flexible working is, if you cant do the job without it then I think you have to be upfront, otherwise you risk wasting yours and the recruiters time

  • in reply to Keith
    Agreed Keith, honesty is the best policy and would you really want to work for an employer that decides not to pursue an application because of such a request? However, experience from the other side of the fence has taught me that sometimes applicants are filtered out for the wrong reason despite the best advice from HR professionals. It may not necessarily be that the employer is inflexible, simply that they have a quota to interview etc and the employee needs to do all they can to be seen and assessed on their merits.
Reply
  • in reply to Keith
    Agreed Keith, honesty is the best policy and would you really want to work for an employer that decides not to pursue an application because of such a request? However, experience from the other side of the fence has taught me that sometimes applicants are filtered out for the wrong reason despite the best advice from HR professionals. It may not necessarily be that the employer is inflexible, simply that they have a quota to interview etc and the employee needs to do all they can to be seen and assessed on their merits.
Children
No Data