How did you get your PART TIME job?

[Unemployable]

I´m on a database with an major company as available for work. Just getting on the list took many rounds of tests etc. so I ws pleased to be finally accepted. I´ve had many offers of work so far but as soon as I say I´m only available part time the phone goes down on me... What can I do? I´d LOVE to go back to work and am highly qualified. How can I persuade THEM of this`?

[Unemployable]

Thanks Pamina3, I realy wish I had realised how neandertal the job market is, before I gave up a brilliant full time job.. : ( Only now do I know how completely clueless I was.

But you have given me a good piece of advice; taking a full time job could well be my way back in to where I want to be! My DD is still a BIT too little but I can see myself doing this in 6 months or so. THANK YOU! I have some HOPE!

[PiccadillyCircus]

I too managed to go part time from a full time job which I'd had for a while. Have also moved departments now which has made things easier after coming back for the second time.

I had a while of thinking about other jobs, but as soon as I mentioned the part time issue, I immediately seemed to become invisible...

[ProfessorGrammaticus]

By relying on contacts I had made while i was F/T. Someone rated me highly enough to employ me P/T even though that wasn't really what they wanted.

Then I KEPT the job by taking responsibility for my work whther it was my day or not (work 3 days, change them occasionaly if necessary) and by being prepared to deal with urgent situations on my days off.

Oh and I have seen my income slide over the years, not keeping up with F/T equivalent.

[Bugsy2]

It is tougher than you (well not you, but one) thinks to get decent part-time positions. There are lots of part-time jobs at the less qualified end of the spectrum, but if you want to use the skills that you spent years developing - it is a really tough slog.
I work in Financial PR & it has taken me 6 years of moving, negotiating, being self-employed to finally find a part-time position where I use some of my skills & have hours that are genuinely part-time.
Good luck unemployable. Look far & wide everywhere you can think of & tell everybody you know - hopefully you'll get something before too long.

[KTeepee]

I agree with Pamina that it is easier to go part-time with a company you are already with (who hopefully value you and are willing to be flexible to hang on to you) - harder to find a part-time job from scratch

[Steppy1]

I set up my own business as a way to earn money and still fit it in around the children.....I tried to find part time work but response was "you're over qualified and too experienced" (I was a senior manager and most companies couldn't seem to get their head around the fact that I would be happy to work part time doing a reasonable job just as a way to earn some part time cash !!) There is a website www.mumandworking.co.uk that talks about just this issue and comes up with some good suggestions. Unfortunately the reality in the UK is that the majority of companies are really not geared up for working practices that fit around family life.....(my opinion !!)

[Tasa]

are there really no agencies which specialise in finding part-time employment for Mothers?

[Unemployable]

Oh, how lovely to see all your mails!!! I´m based abroad (and have changed countries again since DD was born) so this complicates life even more perhaps than average... and I don´t have the professional contacts have that I have in the last place I lived. Nevertheless, Batters, I would like to know more about this agency in London.. I speak 5 languages and think (?) this may be a sought after skill in London. Anyone know for sure?

[gemmum]

I set up my own business too (www.usborne4u.co.uk) i find this works well for me. i can also recommend www.mumandworking.co.uk loads of information....goodluck, gemma

[Wordsmith]

I agree. And it's amazing how many places think that 4 days a week is very part time and a big concession. I have (fingers crossed) got myself in line for a part time job at a PR co that employs several part time mums - and guess what, the boss is a woman with kids. I've only got this by searching them out and pursuing them, to be honest. I think it's only when the hirer has kids themselves that they are responsible for looking after (ie not a bloke with a full time wife/mother at home so they don't have the problem) that anyone begins to see that -hey - she can do the job part time just as well as X could do it full time, and she's probably more conscientious too!

[KTeepee]

Wordsmith, a friend of mine recently retrained in a different field and has managed to get a job for 3 days a week term-time only - guess what, her boss is a mother too!

Also so much of the stuff out there which might have hours to suit involves selling stuff - not my cup of tea.

[CarolinaMao]

god this thread is depressing .

I left my job as a lawyer to look after ds because the "part time" option was working from home on a Friday .

I don't particularly want a job yet, but I'd like to think when my kids are at school there'd be something I could do part time, in a family-friendly way.

I can't do selling either - the thought of hosting stuff like that brings me out in a cold sweat.

[Unemployable]

Gemma, I quite like the look of Usborne. Can you tell me more about your general experience? Maybe I could do bookfairs in the evening/weekends and so not need childcare... Is it really possible to enough enough to make it worthwhile?

[FrayedKnot]

I got my job through an employment agency - it was advertised as part-time, and they knew I only wanted part time work.

It took me quite a long time to find something and I am over qualified for teh job but it meant a foot in teh door of quite a large company with prospects for me to hopefully build back something of my career and get paid a bot more once I have found me feet.

If not, I alwasy think easier to find work once you are in it, iyswim.

No one is more unemployable than an unemployed person!

[gemmum]

Hi unemployable, I have 2 little ones (12m and 25m) so am very limited for time but i certainly hope to build my business up and to not have to get a 'proper' job when they start school. I can take my books to playgroups during the day and i also run bookfairs in nurserys and schools (just dropping off leaflets and books - doable with kids in tow) Then in an evening (dh babysitting) i can host parties in peoples homes and also catch up any ordering/admin. I've also started doing soft play area's and am hoping to attend autumn and xmas fairs - there are so many options! Any more questions, just ask, gemma

[Wordsmith]

Pamina. My DH has a new job working 4 days a week with Mondays off. His colleague (a woman) has Fridays off. It means that if/when I get this job, I can aim to work Mon, Thurs and Fri - DS2 is already in nursery Thurs and Fri. I think DH was expecting me to put him in on Mon too so he could 'have a day off!'

[gemmum]

Unemployable -Meant to add that i don't have any childcare
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