[Closed] Interview Etiquette - Flexible Working

Do it during the interview, there's no point securing a role and then hitting them with a requirement like that.

Yep be up front with it but be prepared that you need to in the office more at the start to get integrated, potentially suggest you stay closer one night a week to take the edge off it.

Good advice, cheers. Commute is actually 1hr 10mins if no traffic but includes getting around the Edinburgh Bypass.

What are your thoughts about writing to them now, before the interview? Or perhaps asking for a phone conversation with the recruiting manager? Too soon?

I'd speak to the recruiting manager, as part of what I'd consider to be normal pre-interview prep and soundings.

I specifically highlight flexible working and work / life balance in the jobs I advertise, as I think it's an essential part of modern working and for attracting a diverse range of people, including those who might have caring responsibilities. My own experience is that people who work flexibly are more committed, happier and more productive than those who don't.

Personally I'd just ask at interview and agree with Mike that you might need more office to start to build some connections.  I'm not sure I'd be talking to the recruiting manager ahead of time... isn't that the whole purpose of the interview?

Depends on the company and it's size. Ideally I'd be speaking to the person carrying out the interview, on the assumption that I'd be working for them. Raise it as a query in the interview when they're either talking about the organisation or when they give you the opportunity to ask any questions.

If you ask the standard HR bod prior to interview you'll get the standard corporate answer. The team you're working for may take a different view/approach, for better or worse.

They've indicated that the role will be split, so go through the interview and let them realise that you are a strong candidate, and check you like them, and then ask how this will work and how flexible they are.

You may change your 'red lines' after seeing what the job is and get a deal that everyone can accept, or you may stick to your 'red lines' and fail to get a deal...

Even if it doesn't work out, it is still practise at interview, which you said you were out of practise at and which is worth having.

Yes, be straight about it once you've got well in to the interview. If that puts them off offering you the job, you wouldn't want it anyway.

I used to work 8 til 5 when I started in my office

Now its 5:30 til 2

I've never discussed it or in fact got it sanctioned

ITs better for travel time where I am and affects no one else

Your objective in an interview should be to get the job offer.

You could flip the question.   Ask them, should you be their preferred candidate, why you should give up your cushy local job to come work with them?  I wouldn't make it explicit, but the tone and content of their response should help clarify the situation, and you may then feel comfortable to follow up with your specific requirements.

I've done this in a couple of interviews and the interviewers were not prepared for the shift in control of the Conversation .

Your objective in an interview should be to get the job offer

It's also to make sure there isn't something that is going to make you quit in 6 months.

Back to the op as a follow up my earlier point. Its probably good to work out how they came up with the split ie is it the same each week or 2 weeks in the office straight and then travel wfh for 2 weeks.
Sitting on the hiring side of the table we don't want to make a mistake and waste time and effort on somebody who is going to leave so getting that part done up front is key. I've asked people if they are going to move if they get the job as I know the local traffic - that answer is as important as some of the technical ones.

I'd ask at the interview, but not right at the start, probably gauge how well it is going first. It will be a much easier discussion once you've got them hooked.

Absolutely do not ask the recruiter beforehand - he will (almost certainly) have no real idea what is going on in the role. all he will have what is written on his bit of paper, dont give him an opportunity exclude you before the interview.
Assume the interview will include who you will actually be working for.

Do it during the interview, there’s no point securing a role and then hitting them with a requirement like that.

This.

If I was interviewing you I’d like to understand at interview stage your issues.

You could flip the question. Ask them, should you be their preferred candidate, why you should give up your cushy local job to come work with them? I wouldn’t make it explicit, but the tone and content of their response should help clarify the situation, and you may then feel comfortable to follow up with your specific requirements.

I’ve done this in a couple of interviews and the interviewers were not prepared for the shift in control of the Conversation .

Don’t do this unless your want to sound like a w*****. Rest assured any candidate who sounded like that much of a throbber in an interview I was conducted would be wasting oxygen in the room from that point onwards.

I'm with convert. Don't do it this way - what are you trying to achieve? If it hasn't been discussed before the interview then it absolutely should be discussed then. Explain that it's quite a distance with potential disruption due to bad traffic and therefore you feel if there are flexible working arrangements that it could be beneficial to both parties, and then discuss what their position on such working is and make your mind up based on that. By all means suggest that for the first few months you'd be happy to come in every day or only do remote once or twice a month whilst you get started as a compromise. My wife works for a company who are absolute idiots about this, and if transport issues stop you getting into work they'd rather you took a day off than worked from home and that despite 1 day a week being written into her contract. It's a deal breaker for me, if it is for you then it absolutely should be sorted out before any offer is made.

Your objective in an interview should be to get the job offer.

Nope - your first objective should be to find out if it's a job/company/team/whatever you'd like to be involved in. Only if it is does it become about the offer.

From which direction are you travelling from? I used to do that commute from the Scottish Borders for 15 years and you have to be on the Edinburgh bypass pretty early to avoid being stuck there for god knows how long. I used to get in the office before 8 and head off early to avoid the repeat experience on the bypass.
Like the others have said lay it out in the interview/2nd interview .
I now work from home 3 days a week and travel/work in the office down south for the other 2 days.
It can work and I explained my situation when discussing fit etc as long as I can do the work then there are no issues and I am more productive being home based.

Ask at the interview. Flexible working is very much part of the package these days so it'll need to be outlined up front and firmly agreed as part of the process. There may be an expectation for you to be there on particular days of the week / times of the month.

Deffo discuss it with the people whom it will directly impact, i.e. during the interview.

This is really part of the final pay and conditions package - you might accept less money if you were at home more, or sufficient extra pay would make staying over a few nights in the week affordable.

You have far more power to negotiate after they've decided that you're the person they want and offered you the job. I'd have thought you should discuss it during the interview (and perhaps explain your situation) but not set out any red lines - that's for post offer negotiation.

Well I don’t agree with the above, confirm with HR and if possible any connections you have already working with the company what the company policy is on flexible working. Make it clear before interview that flexible working is key because you don’t want to waste anyone’s time, do interview don’t talk about flexible working there, that is about the role, if you get an offer discuss details of flexible working as part of the package.

No point in going into your wants if you haven’t actually landed the job

@Simon
If it was not on the table to start with that might be the case but for the OP

However, the employer has indicated the role will be split between office based, home based and travel.

In this case it's the perfect and right time to deal with it and work out how the role is delivered and what they would expect from you.

@mike - you're probably right.

I took a job on at the opposite end of the Edinburgh bypass from where I live, and it all depends very much on what direction you're going.

I travel east in the morning, and barring any problems such as breakdowns or accidents, I can usually do it in under an hour, total trip distance each way is 30 miles.

Judging by the traffic going east to West, I can see another 20 minutes added to that purely because of the amount of people heading towards the Gyle and M8. I was told of flexible working in my job and I mentioned my expectations int he interview. Had to wait 6 months from the start date but they've kept to their word, so I would say if they offer it, they should be open to discussing it.

My current job is a 150 mile round trip from home, I was upfront with them when they approached me, I didn’t want to drive that every day, and wasn't moving for the job...
They told me no problem and they were happy for me to wfh, I stared off 2 days a week wfh until I got established, now only go in one day a week usually.

Be upfront and honest with them about what would make it acceptable to you, then it’s up to them if they think you will be a good fit.
Don’t be an arse about it though, and be sure to mention that you understand sometimes you just need to be in the office, you would appreciate them being flexible with you, but realise it’s not a one way street, sometimes you will need to be in the office, that’s fine, but other you won’t.

People going for interviews often forget its for both parties to decide whether you fit the job and the job fits you.
I'd certainly want clarification at interview stage whether you'd be able to WFH 2 days a week. 3 hours commuting is quite a big chunk of your time every day. I commuted for 2 hours a day and that was enough. I certainly don't wish to be someone who sits on the train for an hour working in the morning, then at work all day and another hour working on the way home.

Thanks everyone. General consensus is a grown up discussion at interview assuage. I'll go with that approach. Either that or I'll email them a copy of this thread.

For those asking, journey would be central Borders to Livingston

An hour and a bit each way is fairly typical Thames valley. I've moved to this from a 25 minute guaranteed drive or a very pleasant hours cycle (company relocation) and on the whole its doable even with a young family if you're organised with your other half (mines a SENCO and has very little flexibility ut only does 3 days, so I cover childcare on one of those days).
1 day a week at home is typical for me as I have people responsibility, occasional 2 days - those weeks feel pretty easy so if you can do that regularly you'll adapt and won't miss out on much.

I'm surprised at the vehement response to my suggestion.  Maybe it's the way it comes across written down but interviews are for the company to sell themselves to you too.  You need to pitch it right and not all situations will be suitable.  I was successful in my last 2 interviews when I did ask it though, but these were for sideways moves to roles increasingly suited to my... er... , brusque approach.

At least at the end of the bypass you can take the M8 or the A71 and you're going the opposite way to the heavy traffic at that point. I take it you'd join the bypass at Hillend if you're coming from the borders?