Job Application Question

[isabel]

I have been considering a career transition and found a position that actually sounds really great. I went ahead and applied for it on a whim and they contacted me with a follow-up questionnaire. One of the questions asks when I would be able to start. I don't want to tell them I'm pregnant (at least not right now), but am also wary of giving a start date of when I will be done with maternity leave. So, here's what I said:

"I would like to give more than two weeks notice with my current company, but have flexibility to begin training while I phase out of my current role. This is absolutely something that I would be open to discussing depending on the needs of **Company Name**."

Is this ok? Do you think I need to give a specific date or time range? How would you handle this question, given my current situation?

[frenchies]

I think that's a good response. I don't think those kinds of questions are necessarily asking for a date, but more of a "how long after you accept this role would you be able to start"- especially since you have no idea how long their hiring process might take. Offering a flexible transition is a good way to start.

[mcc]

Will you need to pay back mat leave if you quit your current job? They might be looking for someone to start immediately, in which case, its best to be honest with them.

I think a telling them that you're flexible and asking if the company has a timeline for hiring is a good way to go about it.

[isabel]

Feb 16, 2015 12:53:02 GMT -5 frenchies said:

I think that's a good response. I don't think those kinds of questions are necessarily asking for a date, but more of a "how long after you accept this role would you be able to start"- especially since you have no idea how long their hiring process might take. Offering a flexible transition is a good way to start.

This is the primary reason I don't want to give a date. I have no idea how long it will take them to get through the hiring process. If they don't actually hire someone until April or something, I feel like I would be in a much better position to negotiate a later start date than, say, if they hire someone at the end of this month.

[isabel]

Feb 16, 2015 12:54:15 GMT -5 mcc said:

Will you need to pay back mat leave if you quit your current job? They might be looking for someone to start immediately, in which case, its best to be honest with them.

I think a telling them that you're flexible and asking if the company has a timeline for hiring is a good way to go about it.

There's nothing to pay back. I will be using a little bit of PTO, but it's basically all going to be unpaid, FMLA leave.

eta: Do you think I should add anything in my response regarding my interest in their hiring timeline?

[frenchies]

Feb 16, 2015 12:56:05 GMT -5 isabel said:

Feb 16, 2015 12:54:15 GMT -5 mcc said:

Will you need to pay back mat leave if you quit your current job? They might be looking for someone to start immediately, in which case, its best to be honest with them.

I think a telling them that you're flexible and asking if the company has a timeline for hiring is a good way to go about it.

There's nothing to pay back. I will be using a little bit of PTO, but it's basically all going to be unpaid, FMLA leave.

eta: Do you think I should add anything in my response regarding my interest in their hiring timeline?

Don't put it in your application. Once you have been contacted/interviewed you can certainly ask about their time line but at this stage it's a bit presumptuous and could come off as, "They are just looking for any job to start ASAP, they don't care about THIS job in particular." Hope that makes sense.

[frenchies]

Sorry, I guess you have already been contacted- but still, wait until an interview happens to ask about the timeline.