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Career v Job

7 replies

HattieBistro · 20/08/2011 14:32

Would just like a bit of feedback on my dilemma.

Briefly, I was made redundant when I was pg with my last dd. I decided to wait until she was at least 9 months old before I started to look for another position.

I'm having real difficulty finding work (as is everone and his dog) doing what I am qualified to do. If I did manage to get a role it would probably pay between £25 to £30k. Out of this I would have to pay over £1k per month on childcare (on some 5 week months it would be nearer £1.3k). By the time I've taken out petrol I would be left with a couple of hundred quid. Now no doubt I would need to have the children out of the house by 7.30am. I wouldn't be back until 6pm and the job itself would be pretty stressful.

Instead I'm considering a pt role, close to home for 4 hours a day (5-9pm). This would involve no childcare costs, very little travel, much less stress, I would get to see my children and I would probably end up bringing home about £650 per month.

However, if I went for the pt role though I think I would have to kiss goodbye to my career as I've had a couple of years as a SAHM already (before I got the last job I was made redundant from).

I'm really undecided what to do. DH isn't keen on my working evenings but it does seem financially better for us, plus I get to spend time with the children. However, I feel like I'm throwing all my qualifications and experience away by taking a low paid, p/t job.

Has anyone else done this? How did it work out?

OP posts:

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LaCiccolina · 24/08/2011 17:36

I haven't done this yet but am also considering it....

That said when did a job vec

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LaCiccolina · 24/08/2011 17:43

Sorry mispressed! When did a job become a career? Who said this? Seriously, I'm not kidding, I find this pressure now to have not a job but a career seriously weird. Is it the same people that told us this was right that also told us we could have it all? If so then I think I'd like to shoot them, starting with thighs first for max pain.

I went to uni, I work in the city but I'm coming to the conclusion that careers are now what vocations used to be (army, police, nurse, priest). I never had a burning desire to do my job, it's just what I've ended up doing. It's ok but well if I won the lottery I'd do something else!

Typing fast as dd waking, hoping something making sense as impossible to read on iPhone!

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Buzzybritches · 25/08/2011 10:22

I did just this and it has worked out perfectly. I used to manage a hair salon in my previous life! When my daughter was 9 months old, i went to work 25 hours wk, evenings for a large DIY chain. I love it!
She is now about to start school, i've worked my way up the pay levels, am going onto day shifts (yippee)increasing to 30 hours and am happy!
Dont get me wrong, working every evening is tough BUT there is light at the end of the tunnel now!
I dont regret it for a second, i've been able to be a SAHM plus earn £700+ a month and not pay out childcare.
Good luck with your decision, just wanted to give you a success story!

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LemonSlice · 25/08/2011 16:22

Buzzybritches....do you work term time? I have heard that B&Q offers term time contracts but I've yet to see a post advertised.

HattieBistro - I think it's a great idea. You'll still be working and earning money - and it's only until 9pm - seems perfect to me! I worked similar hours before my children started school and it was ideal. It was only when they started doing after school clubs and getting homework that things got tricky and so I switched to daytime. Go for it!

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Buzzybritches · 25/08/2011 17:37

Hi Lemonslice. I don't know of anyone in our store that works termtime only but thats not to say they wouldnt. I was interviewed, asked what hours i could do and went from there. I do have one colleague who reverts to working evenings in the hols and daytime in termtime. Another used to do a split shift to do school pick up, it probably depends on the management within each store.

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LemonSlice · 26/08/2011 07:33

Thanks Buzzybritches

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HattieBistro · 26/08/2011 15:36

Thanks for the feedback.

Unfortunately the p/t position has been filled. Will have to keep my eyes peeled for others offering those sort of hours.

I think practically this is the only option as I don't want to a stressful 9-5 job that only pays me two hundred pounds a month....it's not worth it.

Any ideas on which other companies offer those sort of hours? Or where else to look?