Your job.... are you specific about the times you are available or not?
By mommyboo
@mommyboo (13174)
United States
June 17, 2009 6:30pm CST
If you work part time or are considering a part time position, how likely are you to be VERY specific about the times you are or are not available? Are you the type to claim you are available when you actually aren't, just to up your chances of landing the job, or do you have for instance, ONLY 3 or 4 hours a day or on certain days when you could work, and that's it, and that's the entire availability you give?
I ask this question because if I ever go back to work, part time for an employer, I intend to be ABSOLUTELY specific about the times I can work, not just '20 hours a week' or whatever, but only between say... 8:30 am and 1 pm three days a week, or Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I have discovered that people who do not do this seem to get stressed out, have to change around schedules constantly, run into problems with childcare or children in general, have arguments with spouses, and never have time for themselves any more. I've had people tell me they think I expect too much from an employer when I am supposed to be working for them, or that I am mean because I am only willing to do certain things a specific way. Well... my life comes first. My daughter comes first. I think I (or anybody) is doing a disservice to themselves and their family if they try to give a part time job equal billing. It's supposed to be something extra, either fulfilling in itself or a means to an end as in extra money. It is not supposed to be prioritized above my life and my family lol. What do you think?
4 people like this
11 responses
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
18 Jun 09
Whenever I fill out an application I usually give as much availability as possible. Sometimes I say no sundays, but sometimes I haven't. Well I'm getting bored just trying to make money online now, and am really excited about going back to school if I can get the money. So, when I do start to work I will give specific hours to when I can work, and explain I take online classes and need x number of hours to do such and such. I think explaining helps a lot. I've always heard that saying "Any to Any" for days your willing to work, if not all days, gives the employer an incentive to call, or to hire you. Not sure if that's completely always true though, lol, I guess I've never asked either.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
23 Jun 09
I guess though it's better to be clear and specific as to not mar your record. Not sure just how much an employer can do to cause future employer's to not like you. Equal Opportunity Rights aside! Happy Earning!
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
22 Jun 09
If I was available ALL the time, then I'd state I was available all the time. The times in my life I have actually been available all the time are small though. There was a very very slim span of time inbetween where I had moved out on my own after high school and getting engaged lol. Before I had kids I was basically available lots because my ex husband was a GM for a restaurant, and restaurant employees, especially in management work a lot and never have any regular time off. For now, the only time I could reasonably work unless it was something I could do with my daughter is when she's in school. I do childcare too and I can do that pretty freely, but I like not doing it past 5 when my husband gets home, and I prefer not to have to start before 6 am....
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
18 Jun 09
I'm not going to be dishonest with a prospective employer that way. The very first time they try and schedule me when I'm not available or willing to work, it is just going to bite me. I'd probably end up getting fired anyway and a bad reference to boot. Not worth it.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
22 Jun 09
Well, obviously the people who do this are avoiding this discussion like the plague because they don't want to admit they do something that is incredibly stupid lol. But.. one word for them - it doesn't go unnoticed. We notice. It's not healthy for you. Stop already. lol!
@morgandrake (2136)
• United States
18 Jun 09
Just before I started attending college, I blew a job interview by stating the hours I could and could not work. And I did not care. It was a restaurant position, and I so wanted to go to college instead.
As a former manager of a restaurant, I used to like to know the hours that I could get my crew in. I prefered having a set schedule for my crew rather than I will call if I need you system. Quite often by the time the crewmember arrived, the rush would be over.
So there will be some bosses who hate this; others will not care.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
19 Jun 09
I really think that people ought not to sell themselves short - first of all - and second that employers need to remember that people have families and/or other priorities. When I did NOT have my own family etc, then it didn't matter so much, then yes, I was free to chase the almighty dollar aplenty. I had nothing but time, so why not? It just galls me when places talk about being family friendly but they aren't willing to let you have a flexible schedule or trade hours, or have you work just one day a week if that's the only availability you have. My feeling is that if a place likes you and wants you, they will hire you for one day a week, or 3 hours a day - or they won't.
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
18 Jun 09
When I went for the interview for my current job, I just specified the number of shifts I would do in a week as my basic contracted hours. I knew when I applied that those shifts could be early, late or night Monday through to Sunday. I am able to request certain days off duty & can swap with colleagues by mutual agreement. my children are grown up and no longer living at home. I enjoy the variety of working different days/hours. Although I work less than full time hours, this is not an 'extra' for me - its a means to keeping the bills paid. Consequently, I take on additional hours if I dont have anything else planned and sometimes work in another job on a casual basis at short notice but I still have time to do other things even if I have to reschedule.
I think it depends on the individual's circumstances. This suits me but wouldn't suit someone with children or other responsibilities.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
18 Jun 09
That's the thing. I worked full time before I had kids. Now that I have kids, I just can't do that tradeoff. I feel bad if I'm not there and the money I'd make doesn't even begin to make up for the time missed. If it did, it would have to be a whole lot... more than most people would even ask for lol.
@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
18 Jun 09
I have a part time job right now and every month at aroung the 15th I make a calender of my avalibility for the next month. I write the times I can work and mark any days that they can call me in if needed.
I do not see any reason why I should not be specific, I am willing to work Saturdays and I preform better in the mornings. I know this about myself and explained it to my employer during the interview. I have been where I am for 2 years now and I have NEVER had a problem with the scedual my supervisor has made for me.
@Boofybutt (316)
• United States
18 Jun 09
I would have to be because I don't have anybody to watch my children than longer for a couple of hours before and after school. I used to work in a grocery store, and I told them that I couldn't work past 8 p.m. but they continually scheduled me to work til closing, which was 11 p.m. My husband wouldn't cook and clean and get the kids ready for bed, so I had to pay a babysitter that way they'd get fed and bathed the nights I worked late.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
19 Jun 09
So that's what you did then, just got a babysitter? I could do that occasionally, but I wouldn't want to make a habit of it. I'd much rather tell the employer 'these are the only hours I am willing to work, if you schedule me outside those hours/days I can't make it' rather than say 'sure sure, I can do anything you want' because then I'm up a creek figuring out who can take care of my daughter and how many more hours I have to be away from my husband, who is ALREADY gone 12 hours a day...
@4mymak (1793)
• Malaysia
18 Jun 09
i envy that you have the choice, and the ability to do this- fix your own working time.
i think it is good that you are firm on your working hours..
and if the person/employer has accepted your pre-conditions before hiring you, they should respect the 'agreement'. i dont understand why people would say that you're mean - if they dont like your conditions, they could opt to employ someone else..
totally agree with your outlook on part-time jobs -
i think some people are just confused with 'part-time' jobs and 'non fixed time' jobs...i have friends who gave up their 'fulltime: 8to5 jobs' to work 'part-time' and because of their 'flexi-hours' work-style..finally end-up working longer hours..
and spend less time with their family..
@wiccania (3360)
• United States
18 Jun 09
I am very specific about the hours I can work. I'd rather not get the job because I'm not available enough than get fired for not being available when they need me. True, when a company calls your previous employers they can only really ask if they'd re-hire you, but are they really going to say yes when you lied on your application? Not likely. I'm only available for 6 hours a day, Monday through Friday and 1 day per weekend. That's it.
I'd rather be honest up front than have to put myself through the stress of trying to change my schedule or find childcare at the last minute because I said I was available when I wasn't.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
22 Jun 09
Thanks for your input. You have stated very clearly exactly what I feel concerning this subject. I just don't understand people who do not do this. I don't know what they are trying to accomplish or why they constantly make their lives harder for no reason.
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
27 Jun 09
Having kids in school means that I am only available to work from 10am to 2pm during the week, and not at all on weekends (unless I want to come home to find the house has fallen down around my partner's ears!).
I'd be honest about the hours I could work, because being fired for lying to your boss before you even started working does not look good on your resume!
As always, if I were working, my family would still come first. If they got sick, I'd tell my boss to go jump if he said i couldn't take time off to look after them. Family is so more important than climbing the ranks of a job, and employers should really see that as a positive quality, not a negative one.
@FinanciallySMART (41)
• Jamaica
18 Jun 09
Well to me you are being honest in the hours and the days you can work. It is up to the employers to see if you can work within their schedule yes or no. If in the event that you have been attending interviews after interviews and you see that the times and days are causing you not to be successful in your job application then my advice to you is to reassess your stance. Sometimes the things we want in life don't just happen the way we want at the first try and so we have to bend backwards a little to accomplish it.
@feiyufeiyu (16)
• China
18 Jun 09
For my job is not complex, so often from 9am to 6pm, but always will stay longer after 6pm, i don't like that situation ,so i will try my best to finish works during work time .
In our conutry, it is normall like what i said ,just like a rule ,many people don't like it ,so they have their own company to have a free time .it is my ideal.
kind regards!
