If you want to work remotely, make it clear

Q. I applied to a job at my dream employer. They called to schedule a video interview! But this job is hybrid and I want to be 100% remote. I told them hybrid is fine and figured I’ll try to negotiate remotely after I get the offer. They sound really interested in me. How can I negotiate this?

A. Spoiler alert: You may not be able to. It’s in your best interest to be transparent. First, let’s back up. You connected with your dream employer — this is significant! (But, I always caution job seekers to make sure you evaluate them the same way they’re evaluating you. Many so-called “dream” employers end up not being so dreamy once you start working there. Not all, but some.)

Back to our regularly scheduled program: While I see how you want to negotiate it when you get the offer, the job is the job and it’s where it’s located. You can tell them you gave it further thought and you definitely want to be fully remote and ask if that’s a possibility. If no, then that’s part of the job the same way they require specific skills/experiences. What if you applied to a job and the job description said one thing, you got excited to work there, loved the culture and people you met with and then at the job offer stage they told you, oh wait, it’s actually different, the job responsibilities are different/a step back? You’d be deflated, right? Feel like it was a bait-and-switch situation whether intentional or not?

I would be upfront and honest. You may want to tell them you’d love to explore this opportunity further if it can be fully remote. If you’re close to the office and live within a reasonable commute, perhaps you may want to consider working there a day or two a week? What can you potentially compromise on and what’s an absolute hard no? Ask them to define hybrid and if they would be open to you working fully remotely later on once you’re assimilated. Make sure you’re both on the same page for the sake of everyone’s time and energy. Worst-case scenario, you won’t get this dream job — plenty of people have turned down a job at dream employers during the interview process because it wasn’t the right fit. (And you haven’t gotten the job yet, this is still the interview.) I’d still pursue other opportunities and similarly be clear that you want to work remotely. Good luck!

Q. I work in retail and my boss cut back my hours. I asked for more, but the store is in the tank. Instead of more hours, I got less. Can I complain to HR?

A. You can speak to HR at any point, but the question is, will this get you what you’re seeking, which is more hours? It sounds like the store is on the decline. In this case, I would leverage your skills and experiences to immediately look for a new job to replace this one.

Vicki Salemi is a career expert, former corporate recruiter, author, consultant, speaker, and career coach. Send your questions to [email protected]. For more information and to subscribe to Vicki’s newsletter, visit www.vickisalemi.com/Tribune News Service