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I've been a stay at home mom for 3 years now and I'm ready to join the ''real world'' and get a job. The thing is, I'd really rather only work part time so I could still spend some time with my little one. After looking through craigslist and the papers I'm starting to get the sense this doesn't actually exist. Do any of you work part time? How did you convince your employer to let you work only part time? Do any of you work where there is a job available that is only 20 to 30 hours a week? Thanks! Ready to work
It was great at first, because being ''back in the game'' is all I wanted. After a while though, I became increasingly frustrated because I was working with uneducated/unprofessional types and got increasingly mired in petty crap. After factoring in all the issues (including poor pay) I resigned. Gone are my old days of working with educated, goal-oriented co-workers. Gone are my raises, profit sharing and end of year bonuses.....
Several girlfriends have had similar experiences. If you don't have a full-time professional position, you won't get paid well, you won't have benefits, and you won't have evaluations/promotions and raises. I wish I could help you, but I'm in the same boat. How does an educated, professional get back into the game on a part-time basis without dumbing down? ios ------------------------------------------- from your post: ''ready to join the ''real world'' and get a job.'' WAIT, you have a real job raising your child, managing your home! I am a man, a single (divorced) father of teens. Take some time to appreciate your role, your job, your life. Being a full time mom is as real as it gets! My ex-wife accused me of wanting to 'keep her home', taking care of the kids... I always told her i appreciated it so much and gave her time off for personal pursuits. That was what she wanted and i worked my butt off for 17 years to be able to do that. Please consider how important your current job is and show this post to your partner. Ironically there is another post this week where a woman is missing her baby while working. Count your blessings. Work is important and good work gives us satisfaction in many ways. So, my advice (you asked), think about what you want to do for ''other'' work in addition to the ''job'' you already have. Acknowledge that a ''real job'' provides satisfaction in other ways: intellectual challenge, camaraderie, monetary gain... and so does your current job as a mom. Then, attempt to integrate all this into your life. Start your own business, seek job sharing in a progressive company.... ~ former corporate geek enjoying life as a carpenter ------------------------------------------- Yes! Nursing has worked great for me. I have a LVN licence and work 20 hours per week. If you have any interest in health care it is a great way to go. And in high demand. Mary ------------------------------------------- Have you thought about substitute teaching? I know many people are scared to do it because of their own childhood memories involving abusing subs. I did it for 3 years, and I found it to be the easiest, most flexible, and least stressful job I've ever done. You only take jobs when you feel like it, and since it's now all done through an automated phone system, you don't even need to talk to a person when you select jobs. You only accept the jobs you want on the days you want. If you market yourself successfully, you become the regular sub for some sweet and easy classrooms. Give it a try - You don't even need to ''quit'' if you don't like it, you simply stop accepting jobs. anon ------------------------------------------- I have worked in Human Resources and recruiting for years. I would apply for any jobs that seem interesting to you, even if they are advertised as full time. If they are impressed with you, they might hire you for hours that suit you., or might allow you to work part time from home. Another thought...Craigs list has part time listings, contractual listings, occasional listings etc. which might help you ease back into work slowly. There are lots of firms that hire people for market research work and you usually have a choice of dates and times in which to work. Don't limit yourself....go for what looks good even if if seems that part time might not be an option. Companies will flex for the right candidate... Recruitment specialist ------------------------------------------- I work part time (about 20 hrs/wk) in biotech/clinical research. Really, the way this came about was I spent some years as full-time and then when my daughter was born I requested to come back to work part-time and this request was granted. You are right that good part-time work is hard to find (depending on your line of work). Do you have any contacts from previous jobs? If so, I would definitely start there.
Also, some lines of work lend themselves more easily to part time. My sister is an RN and has absolutely no problems. So you might take some time to think about how you want life to look down the road and, if you can, get some additional education or training. I'm in the midst of this right now. Best of luck! worker bee ------------------------------------------- You don't say what kind of work you did or want to do, which might help folks give you more specific advice. But, as in finding most jobs, it seems, networking is probably the best way to go. I found my part time ( 9-5, four days a week, or about 25-28 hours a week) professional job through an friendly acquaintance--she mentioned that a neighbor of her did the same type of work I did. So when I was sick of working in SF, I called up my friendly acquaintance and asked if maybe I could talk with her neighbor informally about how the market in our field was in the East Bay. We had an informal lunch where I discussed w the neighbor what sort of thing I was looking for etc, and in a couple weeks I had a new job. So when I say networking, I don't mean anything super fancy, just letting everyone you know that I you are interested in going back to work part time in your field. It also helps to be ''resume ready''-- both literally and figuratively. Start thinking about your strong suits, what you loved about your work, what skills or interests you have to bring to a new employer, what you would like to make etc. People like hiring people who they know or who know people they know. And they like to hire positive, confident people. Don't worry about being out of the job market, as long as you can show that you have current interest and skills. Even when you are in mama mode out and about, dress neatly and look as if you are office ready (or whatever is appropriate to your field)--you never know when you will stumble across a potential lead. Also, if there are any professional associations in your field, start attending their meetings or luncheons. It is a great way of finding out who is doing what where. Good luck! Happy part timer. ------------------------------------------- I am currently working for a physician in Berkeley as a patient coordinator and it has been the best job for me to transition back from being a stay at home mom. I am leaving in June to pursue graduate school and I know they are looking right now to fill my position, ideally with another mom whose looking to work part-time. The job has been just wonderful for me, I took it as a way to get some exposure to the medical field because I was considering nursing school and it fit very well into my schedule. I was able to attend classes on the days I was not working, not to mention all the mentoring and support I got from the physician I worked for, the job really helped me focus my career goals. It has been the most ideal job for me these last couple of years and I am really sad to be moving on. Good luck with your search. amber ------------------------------------------- Have you picked up the latest issue of Bay Area Parents? http://bayareaparent.parenthood.com/ The cover story has some very useful suggestions and solutions on achieving the work/life balance - in particular, how to find flexible/part-time work.
I would also agree with/reinterate the advice: a) apply to jobs you like and then try and negotiate hours b) network, get the word out to everyone and their neighbor that you're looking c) be creative in your skills - you might have to make a sideways move, or a temporary step back in order to get your foot in somewhere.
My own abbreviated experience in the graphic design field: When my 2nd child arrived, I negotiated an 80% week from a 100%. Unfortunately, it was an environment where they really wanted 120%, so I was let go after about a year of 80%. Since then, it's been a variety of short-term 100% and freelance at home (as low as 40%). I am now on a annual contract at 80% time. The position was advertised as full-time, and they ended up hiring a full-time person - plus me at part-time. And I'm already working on the next stage of employment.
It's true that most of the really good part-time jobs are never advertised - you have to dig them up and make them happen yourself with a bit of negotiation, ingenuity and luck. I wish you well! More flexibility for all (not just moms) needs to happen in the workforce! If we all keep pushing, it's gotta happen, right? Mom of Two ------------------------------------------- I am an employer who welcomes part time staff. I used to try to hire people as full time employees in my small private plastic surgery office. I initially worked with only one support staff person and it was VERY difficult to find someone who could handle all aspects of the job. Also, I found that the people who were looking for full time medical office positions did not have the customer service skills that are key to this office. By chance, I found two people who were interested in part time positions and this has worked fabulously. Not only does this allow each employee part time work, but they can split up tasks so each can do more of what they prefer as often one likes to do something the other does not enjoy as much. Obviously, the responsibilities also overlap, but my experience has been that they work really well together as a team, communicating with each other so that the communication with the patients is seamless. They have also worked cooperatively covering each other for vacations so that no one has to plan vacation around my vacation schedule.
In my opinion,SAHMs ready to return to work part time make fabulous employees. They can multitask, deal with issues, be kind to patients, problem solve and run the show here independently. Mothers have a skill set that any employer should value greatly and you should feel proud to bring this managerial experience to the workplace. I am not sure that all employers recognize this yet, but they should. I wonder if you have another friend with the same needs as you? You might present yourself as a team ready to split a full time position. I would certainly have been open to that when I was looking to fill the full time job.
It is great that this question was posted now because one of my fabulous ex-stay at home mom is moving on to graduate school and we have a 24 hour a week position coming available in my office. So if you are interested, call us. We might meet both of our needs at the same time. 510 704-2170 Elizabeth ------------------------------------------- There's already been good advice given, but I wanted to share one more story because this was hard for me and now is going well. I worked with my career coach, Toni Littlestone, who helped me get a very good full time job that we figured might have the potential for going part time. Toni coached me to look for clues, such as noticing whether anyone worked part time when I went for interviews, and whether the type of organization could only support full time workers or whether part time might work. I landed a job that fit the profile we worked out, then really proved myself in the job and built good relationships with my boss and co-workers. Toni and I roleplayed my request to my boss for a reduced schedule about six months into the job. I was nervous about it, but during the roleplay practice, Toni played the part of my boss and brought up so many objections that I ended up being mega-prepared. I also came to see through the practice sessions what my boss might be worried about, so I was able to show how I could go on being a great team member and loyal contributor. First I went down to 80% then a few months later I went down to three days a week plus a half day of working from home. I am thrilled with my situation, and it's working great for the organization, too. The secret in my case was getting the job I really wanted and then building enough trust to transition to fewer hours. good luck
Does anyone have advice/recommendations for resources for approaching my manager to go back to work part-time instead of full-time when my maternity leave ends?
When I left, I thought I would definitely want to go back full- time, but as the date to go back approaches, I've found myself wanting very much to stay home with my daughter.
What is the best way to bring up the subject? What are my options? Do I have obligations to go back full-time for any length of time? How can I present my ''case'' well that I will be able to do my the responsbilities of my job (or the majority thereof)in 25-30 hours of week?
There have been some major reorganizations since I left and there are more people on my team now, and some of my previous role has been moved to cross-functional folks outside of my group, so I actually do think it's reasonable that I can still do the main responsibilities of my job in less time.
Any thoughts/recos would be greatly appreciated. anon
Does anyone have any suggestions or contacts or leads for a part time job for a SAHM that will actually allow me to earn more than just enough to cover day care? My daughter is almost 2 now, and I need to try to find something that allows me to contribute to our family's income. However, taking care of my daughter is so important to me, so I am hoping to find something that is part time rather than full time. I've searched craigslist and others, and most part time jobs are listed for about $10-$15 an hour. That's just going to cover day care and costs for me working (transportation, etc.). There must be some moms out there who have found a way to make this work. Do you know of any? I'd love to talk to them and hear what they do. Thanks for any help. Jenny
I am at SAHM. My youngest child will be in 1st grade next year. As I find myself with more time without my children I am thinking of going back to work part time next year. My problem is that I would like to work part time without compromising my priority of being at home when school lets out. I have looked at various jobs and the hourly rate is low, the work often less than intellectually challenging. What are others in my position doing? Is this the price we pay for working part time? and should I just suck it up and deal with the pay. I would love to know how others have dealt with this. anon
Does anyone know of a resource for identifying jobs with flexible / part time hours, job sharing or consulting opptys. I recently had my second child and have taken a year leave of absence from my 50 hour a week job. I think it is so important to be at home more to parent my kids. I however, do need to bring in income. My speciality is Marketing. I am looking to find a resource i.e. headhunter, web site, job posting etc. that can help me identify opportunities. Any assistance is much appreciated.
I would like some advice from UC staff who have reduced their schedules from working full to part-time. My spouse has recently gotten a new job which is not only very demanding, but requires frequent travel out of town. We have two young children in school/day care full-time. I would like to approach my supervisor about going down to 50% time. I have read the "Balancing Work and Family" publication put out by the university and have worked through the proposal check list, but would like some words of wisdom from fellow staffers. I work in student services and have been in my position less than a year.
How did you first approach this? Did you have a meeting with your supervisor first, write a proposal, meet with your MSO/personnel manager? What kinds of obstacles did you encounter and were you able to work them out? How do you approach a supervisor who may not be particularly empathetic to your situation i.e. not married/no children. I am trying to get an idea of the best way to approach this. Any feedback would be helpful; thank you.
For example: At 50% you will still get full benefits - will your boss need to hire an additional 50% person, train them, and pay them full benefits too? This is not going to be very desirable from your boss's point of view. Can you convince your boss that there are some good reasons for reducing your hours, or for doing some of your work at home? Can you identify which pieces of your job can be done more efficiently, or by another person, or offline? Are there slow times when you could be away from work in exchange for being there during the busy times? Are there ways you could do some work at home? do you have a computer or is there one at work you could take home? would your department consider leasing one for you to use at home? (BTW see a recent report about the advantages of leasing at http://campus.chance.berkeley.edu/asscs/title.html At around $100/mo it could be cheaper than reducing your hours, for you *and* your boss! )
If you go to your boss with a reasonable proposal, your chances are much better than if you just cross your fingers and pop the question. It sounds like you have already done some homework on this so that's a good step. It is important to consider your boss's needs too when you make your request. Also - I personally believe that unless you are sure your boss is sympathetic, it's to your advantage not to cast your request as a family crisis if there is some alternative. A lot depends on your own situation, but I have usually found it better to say "I'll be working at home today" than "My child is sick so I can't come in." Of course a lot depends on your job - if you have a support position that requires you do be in the office during certain hours, then there is less flexibility. But if you are creative, there are ways to build in some flexibility even for jobs that require a high degree of face-to-face interaction.
I have worked part-time in many different jobs in order to have family time at home. Sometimes it has meant that I must be twice as efficient, because I still must get 40 hrs/wk worth of work done in half the time. So, I think you do have to demonstrate that you are someone who can be counted on to get the job done. But all my bosses have allowed me flexibility once I showed them I could do a good job, except for one who insisted I needed to clock in and clock out regardless of what happened in between clocks. She was not very creative and could not envision doing something in a different way from the way it had "always" been done. She had a hard time holding on to good employees, not surprisingly. I think that bosses who give their employees some control over workload and work hours are rewarded with loyal staff who work harder than employees who "can't be trusted" to get it done themselves. (I should say that for the last 3 years I have had an excellent boss, CS Prof. Robert Wilensky, and it is a joy to work for him. He's smart, supportive, inventive, flexible, funny, and not on this mailing list so I can say whatever I like about him!)
I work full-time as a programmer in EECS but I work from home 1-3 days a week. When I do come in to the office I leave by 3 so I can get home when the kids do. Working from home lets me do laundry, arrange doctor & school appts., meet repair persons, start supper and all that stuff that has to get done at home even when your kids are big and gone to school all day. It's important to me to have this flexibility and I appreciate that I have it. But it's not really because I'm "lucky" - it is because I can (and do) work outside of the usual 9-5 schedule. I may be up at 6am on Saturday morning finishing up a programming job on my computer at home; I often work at night after dinner and usually part of the weekend. To my 9-5 friends it seems like I work all the time - when I'm not at the office I seem to be on the computer at home. But actually what I'm doing is working when it's convenient for me to work, and not working when it's not.
I also manage 4 other computer programmers: two work half-time (one is a new parent, the other has a second job), a third is FT and works at home in Sacramento 3 days a week, and the fourth has recently returned to FT after a stint at 75% to take a class. All of us work from home at least 1 day a week, usually more. Nobody really has a "regular" schedule although we are all at work on Mondays for meetings and we are all dependable about coming in if there is an emergency or a deadline. Everybody is very productive and energetic. Almost all our work is computer work so other than meetings and impromptu collaborative sessions there isn't any reason why work can't be done at home. We are on a research grant - which is more risky and unpredictable but also more flexible in terms of hours and workload. We all have computers at home that have been at least partly provided by our research funding, and we hope to soon fund high-speed internet connections for home use too. I have heard of other non-research units on campus doing this as well as it is starting to get quite affordable.
A number of my friends outside the university work at home at least part of the time too. Most of them are programmers and most of them work very hard, often more than 60 hours a week. Some of them have kids and that's why they want to be at home, some have other reasons like an ugly commute to the South Bay or a hobby that happens during the day and they want to work around it. More and more I see people negotiating for telecommuting time and equipment, not just for family reasons. If I were looking for a new job, telecommuting would be an important requirement, and I would probably not even mention that I wanted it for "family reasons".You might think this only works for computer jobs, but that isn't so true anymore. Many jobs that didn't used to seem computer-oriented are now; we communicate much more by email, a lot more of the resources we need are online, a lot of the work we do is on a computer. So there may be quite a lot you can do from home if you have a computer and maybe a modem. Equipment is also getting cheaper so if you and your boss are creative and willing to try something different, there are ways. I think telecommuting is a really terrific trend for working parents and I am always happy to see campus efforts to support it! There is a March 10 seminar on flexible time arrangements (announcement in the last digest) - I would recommend going to that. Here is the official campus policy: http://hrweb.berkeley.edu/POLICY/DDtelec.htm Ginger
Last updated: May 31, 2008
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