How to Request Flexible Work and Still Get Hired

Flexible work really matters to the millennials.

after training and development, the thing millennials want the most from their jobs is flexible work arrangements. Flexible work outranked other perks, like cash bonuses, free healthcare, and more vacation time.

nd it’s not just the millennials who like flexible work: Some estimates say that as much as 70 % of workers 

would leave their jobs for more flexibility.

And yet, despite the fact that more and more workers want flexibility, many employers still harbor some unjustified prejudices toward workers who ask for flexible arrangements. This stigma is reflected in the findings of an EY study that found that 74 percent of workers want the ability to work flexibly without suffering damage to their careers.

Typically speaking, the “negative consequences” of flexible work arrangem

ents tend to manifest as a lack of career progression opportunities and/or a bad reputation in the eyes of leaders and managers. It follows, then, that asking a potential employer about flexible work arrangements during the interview process could hurt a job seeker’s chances of landing a job.

Working flexibly and maintaining career mobility is clearly an issue today, so here are a few tips for job seekers and the currently employed on how they can seek out flexible work opportunities with damaging their careers.

1. Focus on Companies That Actively Welcome Flexible Work 
2. Timing Is Everything
3. Be Specific
4. Use Flexible Work as a Bargaining Chip