Is it appropriate to be up front with a future employer, though it may risk you not getting the job offer?

I had interviewed with a local design firm back in June. The interview went great, but I never heard back from any of my follow-ups and figured they'd hired someone else. Since then, I have been laid off from the design firm I was with, due to them going out of business. I have been laid off since the end of August and have been freelancing with a contractor since then. I received an email yesterday from the design firm I interviewed with back in June saying that when they interviewed me, they were considering a transition but decided to hold off and did not hire anyone but that they are again actively looking for a designer and he wanted to reach out to me first to see if I were still interested. There are two problems...1) I have an obligation for the month of December with the contractor I was freelancing with to manage a bathroom project that I designed. This would mean I could not start until January 2nd at any new job. and 2) upon being laid off, I decided to further my education in my field and I have classes on Saturdays....but the firm is open on Saturdays. It would be nearly impossible for me to work Saturdays.





Should I reply to his email and say that I am interested but these two things could be issues and if he would still like to meet with me after knowing those two things I would love to come in?|||Honesty is the best policy. After they know you have plunged ahead with freelance work and are continuing your education they may be even more interested in employing you. Firms want motivated people. There is a nationwide shortage of them.|||Yes I'd go ahead and respond that you're interested, but can't start until January. They'll probably go for it. If they had to start looking for someone else, it would almost surely take that long or longer to get someone hired and started.





And how long do your Saturday classes last? Tell them about that too.





What choice do you have anyway other than to let them know these things?





Good luck.|||What do you have to lose??? If they cannot accommodate your reality you cannot work there anyway.



Also it gives you practice at doing interviews which in itself is good for the future.