Sunday 30 November 2008

Overtime

If you were looking to employ someone, what would you say to a candidate like this:

  • highly intelligent, excellent qualifications for the job, 10 years relevant experience, hardworking, ambitious.

Sounds good, doesn't it? What if she then added:
  • has 2 children, will not work overtime, (although still hardworking during normal working hours)
Perhaps not quite as interesting?

Then if she went on to ask to work 80%?

So the reality is, how many employers turn to the next CV at this point?

Anyway it looks like I am going to be finding out. My experience as a contractor so far is not encouraging.

1 comment:

Johan Lindberg said...

Hi Emily,

... how many employers turn to the next CV at this point?

I think that situation is a lot harder for someone working as a consultant/contractor (esp these days).

Both Sofia and I work 80% and I know that she, being a consultant, worries about this as well. A lot.

Even though she's managed to get projects in organizations where the HR culture isn't completely ridiculous it's always present. A nagging feeling in the back of your head that someone (secretly) thinks you're not doing enough.

Me, OTOH, I don't have to worry. We hire consultants so we can have someone to blame when we don't deliver on time ;-)