Karren Brady’s career advice to woman who wants part-time hours but senior role

APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions and meets an inspirational CEO.

She gives advice to career advice to a woman who wants a senior role while keeping part-time hours.

Q) I have a part-time administrator role within the public sector. I would like to progress my career but I want to keep my part-time hours.

The problem is that the majority of more senior roles I see are full-time positions.

If  I meet all of the specified criteria, should I state on my application that I’m looking for a part-time role and risk not being shortlisted for interview for otherwise perfect jobs, or should I not bring it up until I get through to the interview stage?

Wendy, via email

A) Recently, more companies have started to see the benefits of offering employees a four-day working week, believing that productivity and team morale is higher versus a five-day week, so I think this is a valid question to ask a prospective employer.

If you meet all the criteria for a job, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t apply for it if this is the only thing holding you back.

But at the next stage of the process be ready to discuss the needs of the role and whether it can be fulfilled with a part-time contract.

Be selective in the jobs you apply for – if it sounds like it is a demanding role where you are managing a large team, for example, it may be that they need you in the office five days a week, so they wouldn’t consider changing the position to a part-time one. 

You will need to explain how you can achieve your objectives in a shorter period, and provide examples of how you work smartly and successfully.

If you concentrate on showing them why they’d be missing out by not employing you, then you’ll give yourself the best chance of success. Good luck.

• Got a careers question for Karren? Email bossingit@fabulousmag.co.uk.

• Content is intended as general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice