Asking to work around OH hours!

madon

Would love some feedback on this matter!
Going for an interview for a temporary position with the company I work for, job will be for a year, with about a total of a month (in one/two or three day stretches) in different parts of the country where I will have to stay away from home.
My OH works a week of nights once a month and if I have to I can't go away from home over night on these weeks- I have no problem any other week. I don't know how flexible this job can be or what input I will have on when I have to stay away- so how do I ask these questions at the interview without looking like I'm not flexible?

krissovo

If you work for the company which it sounds like you do can you not find out before the interview?

madon

krissovo wrote: »

If you work for the company which it sounds like you do can you not find out before the interview?

Yeah I work for the company.
I could ask but I'm afraid they might get the impression that I'm not flexible (even though in a way I'm not:o) . I won't be able to take the job if I have no control over when I have to stay away so maybe it would look better if I stepped out of the race before the interview stage or wait and see if the time away isn't flexible? Its so hard to know what to do

doolox

While it may not be politically the best thing to do by expressing your limitations and personal needs I'd say do not say anything until asked and then say what you can do. Do not commit to anything until you get the job offer. Then tell them what you can do. you can be sure any of the disadvantages and downsides of the position will be minimised by the company.....

pow wow

doolox wrote: »

They are making putting family first a sin.

That's a little harsh. The needs of the job may (or may not) be beyond what the OP can commit to because of her family commitments - that's not their fault nor is it the OP's, it's just the way it is.

OP depending on how forward you want to play it you could email whoever your contact is re. the position and ask if there is any regularity to the time that will be spent away (i.e. is it every other week, two weeks out of four etc etc.). There are very few people who are completely flexible with their lives on the whim of their employers (most of us have lives outside of work right?) so it's not an unreasonable question to ask at this stage.

madon

Thanks pow wow, will email- I think if I'm still worrying about my family commitments when I go in to the interview it will probably reflect in my confidence.

leeroybrown

If I was the employer I'd expect to be told this up front. If I hired someone and they knowingly withheld this from me at interview I'd consider letting them go on the spot afterwards. If they told me up front I'd have no problem hiring them if it didn't cause problems for the work schedule.