I've just received a job offer for what was advertised as a full-time role, but I was hoping to negotiate it to 4 days. The hiring manager seemed keen on me. Has anyone successfully negotiated part-time at this stage? How did you approach it?
Yes! I did exactly this last year. I asked for a call to discuss the offer and said I was very excited about the role and wanted to explore whether there was flexibility on hours. I proposed a 4-day week and offered a 3-month review. They agreed.
The key is to frame it as 'how can we make this work' rather than 'I need this or I won't take the job'. Come with a proposal — which day you'd not work, how work would be covered, how you'd stay across things. Show them it works for them too.
If they say no, you can always ask if they'd be open to a trial or a review after 6 months. Getting in the door and proving your value often opens doors that are closed at the offer stage.