Full-Time vs Part-Time Employment Interview Questions

Full-Time vs Part-Time Employment Interview QuestionsFull-Time vs Part-Time Employment Interview QuestionsInterviewing for a part-time job? One of the trickiestinterview questionsto answer will be, Would you prefer full-time employment topart-timeif a job were available? On the one hand, if you are hoping that the job will turn into a full-time position, you want your prospective employer to consider you first should the opportunity arise. On the other hand, you dont want to raise the doubt that should a full-time position present itself, you would walk out of your part-time job. Be cautious when you respond and keep your answer general, so youre elend committing to one type of employment or the other. Sample Answers for Interview Questions About Full-Time vs Part-Time Employment Right now, my education/family/children prevent me from considering full-time employment, but I wouldnt rule it out at some point in the future.What is important to me is that I enjoy the work and the pe ople Im working with. I have many interests, and a part-time job allows me the time to pursue them.I am interested in this position at your company because (give the aspects of the job that interest you most). Im available to work part-time but Im interested in exploring opportunities at your company. Emphasize your flexibility. You can discuss your availability for different shifts, hours, days of the week, and so on. This is especially valuable if youre able to offer to cover shifts that other workers might try to avoid, like holidays, nights, or weekends. Stressing your ability to work these shifts can show the interviewer how you could be a good fit for their needs. If You Would Prefer to Work Full-Time and the Job Is Part-Time Sometimes, employers post jobs as part-time so that they can assess whether new employees would make a good full-time addition to the team. Do a little research to landsee whether this is the tactic used by the company. One good way to find this out i s to speak with currentemployeesabout their experience getting started at the company. If youre coming in viareferral, for example, you may be able to ask your contact for the inside scoop. If youre applying online or off the street, and dont know anyone at the organization,LinkedIn should be your first stop. You can reach out to employees through connections or simply scan their job experience to see if their title/job descriptions evolved over time. (Note its still best to talk directly to current or former employees, if you can. Many people are happy to share their experience, even with a stranger. After all, youre offering them a chance to talk about themselves and share their expertise from the position of a company veteran. Dont be afraid to reach out) However you can get this key bit of information, it will help you craft your answer better. Your goal is to show that you fit their immediate needs and that youll be a good member of the team over time. If you discover that the company rarely promotes part-time staff to full-time, you should focus on why you are interested in working for the company in the offered position. You dont want to raise a red flag that you are looking to move on to a full-time position elsewhere. How to Respond If the Job Might Become Full-Time I am available for part-time work now and I am interested in working for your company. In the coming months, I will be available to work more hours. (You can give a reason if you have one, such as family schedule, education schedule, etc.)My primary concern is the work itself. While I would be open to full-time hours should they become available, Im happy with part-time because Im excited to work on this project with this team. How to Respond If You Only Can Take Part-Time Hours Do as much research as possible before the interview as to the hours, shifts, and days of the week that the job requires. See if you are a good match considering your availability based on child care, educ ation schedule, commuting logistics, etc. You can use this as the basis for your answer. Im interested in working in the position for your company because (give reasons) and I am available (give the hours/days/shifts).My background in this area makes me an ideal candidate to hit the ground running. In addition, my schauplatz means that Id be readily available for last-minute shifts, if you find yourself unexpectedly short-handed.While I only have part-time hours available, my last boss joked that hiring me part-time was basically like getting a full-timer for a fraction of the cost. My experience in this industry has made me efficient and good at juggling multiple tasks. Id love to put these skills to work for your company.