I wouldn't want a job that is so strict on the hours (um, my job is like that but I am looking for a new one! I mean I wouldn't take a NEW job unless I was desperate). I'm sorry - I pay a ton to live close in and my commute is still easily 45 minutes. It is hard to find aftercare or daycare that goes past 6:30 and if you leave at 6 and have pick up....that is tough. These strict hours would be a deal breaker for many parents, and not just parents of young kids.

I have to work 8:30 to 5:30 and even though my husband has super flexible hours, we opted to get a nanny once our oldest started school since we couldn't figure out how to do two pick up/drop offs. We are lucky we can afford a nanny, I know not everyone can. If all goes well, I will start a job that lets me leave at 5 most nights starting after the holidays, since I can't even keep this schedule up for much longer (at some point in the next two years we want to do full time daycare with preschool for our youngest).

OP, my advice would be to negotiate schedule after the offer, and I do agree you probably shouldn't have said anything, but if that is the culture and there are no exceptions (like my office or at least my department, you can either leave at 5:30 or 6 basically and have to start 9 hours before either way), do you really want to work there? Since I've been looking for a new job I've found a lot of great places where people work hard but they are not so super strict with hours.

Immediate PP here:
I Think I found something similar to it
http://www.hbs.edu/faculty/conferences/2013-w50-research-symposium/Documents/correll.pdf

Could PP list the HBS research cited. I am looking for it and while I am finding some excellent reading material,,, I am not finding the part about mentioning children during job interviews.

Not to hijack OP but I am looking and because of my work, my boss has broadcasted that I am on maternity leave right now so to stay in my field, it will be known that I hve a newborn.

I need to practice phrases.

OP: Practice Phrases! For example, PP suggested "I am used to 8-5 but I could make 9-6 work" or something like that.

I am practicing why I am interested in leaving my member-based org b/c again, if I stay in my field, that will be the first question. The real answer is my boss is suffering from (mild) dementia and covering it up is wearing me down.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are never going to admit that you didn't get the job offer b/c of your (honest) answer so they are probably going to try and avoid you.

Why would they need to avoid someone who they rejected ? All they need to say is " We found a candidate who was a better fit for the position." They really do not need to get into specifics ( nor should they) as to why they offered the position to someone else.

I've been rejected for several jobs recently. In all three cases, I called the person doing the hiring and asked why they selected another candidate. In each case, they gave me feedback and an answer. Whether they gave a truthful answer I can't know for certain, but I felt they were honest, or at least as honest as they could be. I'm over 50, so I'm pretty sure the main reason is my age, but the answers they gave told me that between the lines.

I think it's extraordinarily unprofessional, not to mention just plain impolite, of the director of the department to hang up on you, OP! Wow. You really DO NOT want to work for this person.

OP, don't worry about it. Many times, the job/interview that you think is just the absolute perfect fit for you turns out to be the precursor to the absolute perfect fit for you.

I have been turned down for jobs for various reasons that had me so bummed out because I wanted them so bad. Only to apply and get an offer for a far more superior position at the next go.

Hang in there, something bigger is around the corner.

Anonymous wrote:At the risk of going against most of the answers on this thread and the Harvard Business Review, I think that once you get far enough in the process, you need to mention the kids so that the employer knows what they are getting. I agree with the poster who says you need to be upfront about it and offer solutions as to how you would deal with childcare issues etc.

I personally found that if you have enough to offer and negotiate from a position of power, the employer will accommodate you (and will appreciate your honesty). If they are not wiling to do it, then yes, you dodged a bullet.

Do men mention kids at all during the hiring process? Just curious...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: You negotiate hours from a position of power after you get the offer, not during the interview!!!

It's not always possible to negotiate. I work for the company where the business hours are 9 to 6. Even if you come at 7 a.m. and eat lunch at your desk, you still must stay there till 6 p.m. If such schedule doesn't work for OP, then that job wasn't an option anyway.

What line of work?

At the risk of going against most of the answers on this thread and the Harvard Business Review, I think that once you get far enough in the process, you need to mention the kids so that the employer knows what they are getting. I agree with the poster who says you need to be upfront about it and offer solutions as to how you would deal with childcare issues etc.

I personally found that if you have enough to offer and negotiate from a position of power, the employer will accommodate you (and will appreciate your honesty). If they are not wiling to do it, then yes, you dodged a bullet.