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I think I'm ready to find a part-time job. But how? and what job?

21 replies

mckenzie · 08/08/2007 22:12

We have 2 children, 6 year old DS and 2 year old DD. DD starts pre-school in October (3 sessions per week to start with and up to 5 sessions come Easter probably).
I have decided this last week or so that i am ready to go back to the work place but I'm not sure which one. My previous career is not an option as the work hours are too long and my market qualifications have now lapsed.
I don't have a degree, only good old O levels and a BEC National certificate which i'm sure doesn't even exist anymore although I think it used to be considered the equivalent of 2 A levels.

I'm in the lucky position that I don't need to work financially although I am materialistic and so would need to be very well rewarded emotionally to work for peanuts.

I've thought about seeing a careers advisor - has anyone done that and found it useful i wonder?

I am lucky to have my mum and also MIL close by to help with childcare

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LIZS · 09/08/2007 10:53

Perhaps we should form a support group, there seems to be several of us in the same boat ! Just had job spec emailled for an 11 hour a week job and have details of 21.6(?) one too. Rare and random finds though, both basically admin.

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moonshine · 09/08/2007 11:03

I'm in the same boat too! I've been a SAHM for 6 years (dd is 6, ds 3), and in the last year have felt very middle-aged and unconfident about trying to get back into the workplace. I don't expect part-time jobs to be paid well, but most of the ones I've seen would barely cover my childcare costs (I have no family help at all) - and there are so few!

Saying that I have had a second interview for an admin job this week (although haven't heard anything so am not too hopeful + they have upped the hours from 12 to 20 which would be difficult to cover atm anyway) which I found out about through a friend, and I'm thinking that's the best way to find out about any approaching-decent jobs.

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LIZS · 09/08/2007 13:15

That is the thing. It is all very well to only work a few hours a day , maybe twice or 3 times a week but if you have to fork out childcare to cover both the hours worked plus travel time , you may well end up getting left with nothing. I want to work to be able to contribute to my kids school fees/holidays but if I can't break even in the school holidays it seems futile. One of the jobs I'm looking at is for 6 months so would only need to cover half terms and Christmas which isn't so hard.

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mckenzie · 09/08/2007 20:32

Lizs and Moonshine - have you decided what it is you would like to do though?
I think before I can go any further I really need to decide on that.
I'm toying with the idea of doing my personal trainer qualifications as I think, although it will take a while before I even earn a penny, once I qualify I can do hours etc to suit me and the children.

But then i think I fancy doing something that would require me to put on a suit, or at least a skirt and a pair of high heels and maybe go back to the City.

I don't like feeling so indecisive. DH thinks it's a sign that i don't really want to start work again and that i am just kidding myself.

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rantinghousewife · 09/08/2007 20:35

No advice but, i'm right there with you, got an interview tomorrow (which is full time but only during the school terms). If that doesn't come off, am going to have a rethink about what I really want.

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moonshine · 09/08/2007 20:44

Lizs - holidays worry me the most. I know thousands cope but my head hurts when I think about the cost and lack of local help/back-up problem.

Through the past few months I have swung between never wanting to work in an office again and retraining (and have considered some crazy things) to looking longingly at some of the office-based jobs.

Mckenzie - in a similar vein I absolutely loved dressing up for my interview. Wore a posh frock and jacket in God knows how long and wistfully thought that, if I did get the job (in events admin), it would mean having an excuse to wear heels and dresses that would definitely be unsuitable for the usual day-to-day sahm drudge. Felt lik I'd joined an alien force on the tube!

Personal trainer sounds a great option - how long does it take to get the qualification then?

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moonshine · 09/08/2007 20:46

Good luck rantinghousewife. Unless you're one of the lucky ones, even finding suitable jobs and getting an interview are gold dust.

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rantinghousewife · 09/08/2007 20:50

Thank you moonshine, yes, I agree, it is hard to get an interview and disheartening when you do get an interview but they don't bother to reply. The lady who organised this interview tells me that she will make a decision very quickly!! soo......

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mckenzie · 09/08/2007 21:16

good luck for tomorrow rantinghousewife.
Let us know how you get on.
Moonshine - the courses seem quite flexible so you can do it quickly (full time) or slowly (part time) and do modules here and there depending on your other commitments.

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rantinghousewife · 09/08/2007 21:18

Thank you Mckenzie, I'm thinking if I can't pull it off I might try to move into a more creative job, even if I have to take an unpaid placement to get the experience. We will see.

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oneplusone · 09/08/2007 21:27

Me too! I'm not thinking about going back to work just yet but I'm thinking a lot, and getting nowhere, about what job to go for.

I don't want to go back to what I did prekids, and the only thing I have every had any real passion for is design but I haven't picked up a pencil, other than to draw smiley faces for DD, in years and don't think I can do it anymore.

Whatever I do has to fit in around the kids and I just have no idea, and it has to cover the childcare costs like most of you.

It's like being 18 again and trying to decide on a career but with lots of restrictions meaning you can't just go for anything! Help!

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rantinghousewife · 09/08/2007 21:31

Yes agree with you there 1plus1, we're far from skint but, we don't have the spare cash floating around for me to finance a college course. Have had a nosey at the sites of people who provide ideas for crafts and recycling and found that traid has voluntary placements but there must be dozens of other organisations that do this sort of thing.

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mckenzie · 09/08/2007 21:37

It's been a while since I've checked out the YMCA courses but I've just found out something that might be my deciding factor.
They are now running the course that I would like to do (2 days a week) at a health club that is about 2 mins from my DM's house which means me going in the opposite direction to most of the traffic .
i thought I was going to have to spend hours getting into London to do it at the YMCA Central at Tottenham Court Road.
I'm going to call them first thing tomorrow to get some more information but I'm feeling quite excited. Perhaps this is a sign that this is what i should be doing huh?

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oneplusone · 09/08/2007 21:42

I am so undecided that after speaking to almost anyone I bump into about their job I decide that that's what I want to do and I then proceed to tell said person that I like the sound of their job and they then come over a week later with a load of books and info about their job by which time I've forgotten I'd even said something to them and what their job was in the first place!

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rantinghousewife · 09/08/2007 21:42

Ohh good luck, would be interested to know how you get on.

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rantinghousewife · 09/08/2007 21:45

Sorry 1plus1, x posted. I've been thinking vis the arts thing that it might be a good idea to volunteer to help out arts classes in our local school. Would help you get back in the swing and I don't think all arts require you to draw, just be creative. Could be something to think about.

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oneplusone · 09/08/2007 21:49

that's ok rantinghousewife, in an ideal world I would have loved to be an interior designer like Nina Campbell, or maybe an architect but there is no chance of anything like that now with 2 DC's who are still under 5 at the moment.

But something along those lines would still be great but I really doubt if I could earn enough money for my bus fare let alone child care costs!

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moonshine · 10/08/2007 11:39

OMFG - I got the job! I have been sitting here this morning shaking and panicking about childcare and whether I can actually cover the hours. Managed to gear myself into action and phoned childminders and think I have found one who is very flexible. But am now worrying about if my 'baby' will be well looked after!

I have until Monday to confirm whether I want job as it's to start asap

When's your interview today rantinghousewife? Or, if the question is too late, how did you get on?

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mckenzie · 10/08/2007 13:36

well done Moonshine - great news
Go for it!

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rantinghousewife · 10/08/2007 19:19

Congratulations Moonshine, am made up for you!!
Yes had mine today, I thought it went quite well, so am hopeful, will contact me after the weekend. So Fingers crossed. Really glad you got yours tho'

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moonshine · 13/08/2007 08:18

Thanks all - and fingers tightly crossed for you rantinghousewife. Hope you at least hear today as the waiting is horrible.

I didn't realise just how emotional this whole business would be. I just went to pieces one night wondering if I've done the right thing in disrupting everyone's lives, and adding so much complication. But after blurting out all my worries and having a good cry I know it's the right thing to do (the money alone is not great but will still make a big difference, and I was getting very bored and frustrated at home).

The weird thing is that, after agonising about what job to do, I haven't even been thinking about the actual work - it feels very insignificant atm. The logistics alone have been the most important thing, so that I can maintain some sort of life where we are all not just ships passing in the night....

Anyway, random musings over....

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