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Original poster

Does a part time job with prospects exist?!

30 replies

sameday2021 · 01/12/2020 12:31

40 yr old mum of 2, recently made redundant and will not be able to get my role in the same industry again part time. It was only through years of service for the same company that I was able to get 3 days per week after kids. Everything similar, without fail, is full time and ads are clearly targeting bright 20-somethings. I've applied for many full time positions stating I'm applying on a part-time/job share basis but getting nowhere - I'm not getting responses, not even a sniff of an interview.

I'm going to have to change industries. I have 20 years of customer service/admin experience/skills. Don't want to get to specific as its outing. I have a high standard of education and a very good degree from a red brick uni but its irrelevant now as so long ago and I don't want to go into that field.

Any ideas what I could do next? I don't mind starting at the bottom, just so long as I can move up to a better paying role over time. The only jobs I can see that are open to part time work with room for progression (albeit minor) are NHS admin and Pharmacy Assistant (training to be a qualified dispenser, and even potentially a technician after many years).

Working in a school is just not for me and I don't think they'd employ me anyway! So that's definitely been ruled out.

Friends have suggested getting a full time job for now with the hope of negotiating part time further down the line but I genuinely can't - My husband works away most of the year and I have very little family childcare to call upon. I can't do more than 3 days per week. I couldn't put my kids in after school club and holiday club every single day, I just couldn't do it. They haven't been used to that and I want to avoid at all costs.

Please, please, any ideas welcome!

OP posts:
Mutabilis · 01/12/2020 12:40

Civil service? Really flexible, most have flexitime hours and same prospects in part time as full time. The job adverts never specify part time but I'm pretty sure it is always an option for the majority of posts, just email whoever the contact is but always worth applying anyway.

cravingthelook · 01/12/2020 12:42

Consider purchasing/buyer roles

PA roles can be part time

Many local council positions are part time

Original poster
sameday2021 · 01/12/2020 12:45

Thanks for the responses. Interesting, I never see civil service roles or local council roles advertised in my area.

Purchasing/buying roles? Again, I never see these.

OP posts:

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Jobs
Requinblanc · 01/12/2020 12:55

Also try the third sector. I have worked part-time for years due to a health condition and I have always managed to find roles with various charities.

As others have already mentioned civil service and council jobs might also work out. Maybe some NHS jobs (admin) too.

KenAdams · 01/12/2020 13:40

There's a huge skills shortage in purchasing and buying! There are definitely roles there!

Whereabouts in the country do you live?

If the NHS has admin roles, why not apply there?

SandysMam · 01/12/2020 13:46

This is exactly why women are going to suffer so much in this pandemic, it will be their careers that go rather than the higher paid DH. Hope you find something OP, have you any contacts from your old job that might have something?

Original poster
sameday2021 · 01/12/2020 14:42

@SandysMam

This is exactly why women are going to suffer so much in this pandemic, it will be their careers that go rather than the higher paid DH. Hope you find something OP, have you any contacts from your old job that might have something?
You're completely right. I've exhausted all contacts via my old job. I really have tried over the last 2 months and now I'm finally posting here. My DH's career is flying.
OP posts:
Original poster
sameday2021 · 01/12/2020 14:44

@KenAdams

There's a huge skills shortage in purchasing and buying! There are definitely roles there!

Whereabouts in the country do you live?

If the NHS has admin roles, why not apply there?

North West.

I have already applied for roles within the NHS, and will continue to do so. I have heard they are quite slow to call for interview and the process can take months.

Purchasing and buying interests me. I genuinely haven't noticed any roles and I have been looking every day for months! What sorts of organisations? Why is there a skills shortage?

OP posts:
Original poster
sameday2021 · 01/12/2020 20:07

Bumping for the evening crowd! Desperate for new ideas!

OP posts:
goteam · 01/12/2020 20:09

Look on the Timewise Jobs website OP

MissingTwo2 · 01/12/2020 20:13

Are you on the civil service recruitment website? I'm CS great prospects if I want to go for them. Flexible and I'm PT 😊

Original poster
sameday2021 · 01/12/2020 20:14

@goteam

Look on the Timewise Jobs website OP
Thanks for the tip but nothing within 20 miles of my area.
OP posts:
Original poster
sameday2021 · 01/12/2020 20:22

@MissingTwo2

Are you on the civil service recruitment website? I'm CS great prospects if I want to go for them. Flexible and I'm PT 😊
I'm on there now and will have a really thorough look but I'm not seeing anything entry level / part time so far.
OP posts:
Sarjest · 01/12/2020 20:54

I’m sorry to hear you’re in this position, OP. Even before Covid part time work didn’t offer many opportunities for progression. Could you aim for a flexible industry and go full time temporarily? I’m working from home and able to nip out to school at pickup although log back on later. Banking? Pharma? It wouldn’t be ideal but it may not be for long.

Original poster
sameday2021 · 01/12/2020 21:01

@Sarjest

I’m sorry to hear you’re in this position, OP. Even before Covid part time work didn’t offer many opportunities for progression. Could you aim for a flexible industry and go full time temporarily? I’m working from home and able to nip out to school at pickup although log back on later. Banking? Pharma? It wouldn’t be ideal but it may not be for long.
Thank you. I appreciate it's always been hard, not just now. Interested in Pharma. Any idea what sort of role would be entry level? Clueless how to get the foot in the door here. No idea what to search for!
OP posts:
KenAdams · 03/12/2020 07:52

Lots of purchasing roles where you are. They'll be advertised on Civil Service Jobs but you'll need to start at a junior level and work your way up. Good training schemes exist because of the skills shortage.

Mnetter78432 · 03/12/2020 07:55

Go through a recruitment agency, I was specific about part time hours and they negotiate them for me

Original poster
sameday2021 · 03/12/2020 09:09

@KenAdams

Lots of purchasing roles where you are. They'll be advertised on Civil Service Jobs but you'll need to start at a junior level and work your way up. Good training schemes exist because of the skills shortage.
Really helpful thank you. I'll look through civil service jobs today. Don't mind starting on a junior level at all (fully expect to) but need to know there are opportunities. Sounds promising!
OP posts:
bookgirl1982 · 03/12/2020 09:32

If you're good with numbers then finance roles might suit.

Jumbojem · 03/12/2020 09:56

I was going to say procurement but looks like lots have already suggested! I'm part time (but 35 hrs now) but used to be 3 days a week. During the time I've been part time (12 years) I've been promoted 3 times and I'm now a group manager. Every time I was promoted barely no one else with the right skills applied so they had to be flexible over hours. I work for a gov agency and they are usually open to part time, the job advert for civil service jobs usually has a tick box somewhere about them being open to part time (even if advertised as full time), usually hidden at the end of the job posting. I had no procurement experience when I joined as a junior team member bit have studied to gain MCIPS qualification, funded and encouraged by my employer. Good luck!

Original poster
sameday2021 · 03/12/2020 11:47

Have looked on Civil Service Jobs and am not seeing anything entry level or similar in procurement throughout the entire country?

OP posts:
Original poster
sameday2021 · 03/12/2020 11:49

@Jumbojem

I was going to say procurement but looks like lots have already suggested! I'm part time (but 35 hrs now) but used to be 3 days a week. During the time I've been part time (12 years) I've been promoted 3 times and I'm now a group manager. Every time I was promoted barely no one else with the right skills applied so they had to be flexible over hours. I work for a gov agency and they are usually open to part time, the job advert for civil service jobs usually has a tick box somewhere about them being open to part time (even if advertised as full time), usually hidden at the end of the job posting. I had no procurement experience when I joined as a junior team member bit have studied to gain MCIPS qualification, funded and encouraged by my employer. Good luck!
This sounds perfect, thanks for all the info. However, I'm not seeing any junior team member roles anywhere in the country at present. I'll keep my out! Thanks again for sharing your experience :)
OP posts:
Original poster
sameday2021 · 03/12/2020 11:53

@KenAdams

Lots of purchasing roles where you are. They'll be advertised on Civil Service Jobs but you'll need to start at a junior level and work your way up. Good training schemes exist because of the skills shortage.
I'm not seeing any junior team member roles at present. I'll keep my eye out :)
OP posts:
Mnetter78432 · 03/12/2020 16:09

Try local government vacancies. There's normally a regional website

ethelredonagoodday · 03/12/2020 16:15

Civil service abs local govt both offer potential and in particular the civil service recruits on basis of competencies, so much more opportunity to demonstrate skills...