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Original poster

Would you take this job?

26 replies

DueyCheatemAndHow · 24/06/2025 08:35

I got a surprise job offer yesterday after making inquiries about vacancies.

DH works long, unpredictable hours. Both children have ASD and our youngest is starting school and I can see that being tricky. I currently don't work.

The pros
Fits around school hours
It's PT which is what I want
Term time only.

The cons
Pay isn't great by any means
It's not going to stretch me mentally at all (I don't mean that in a boastful way, I had a professional job for 13 years before children and was good at what I did)

We don't need me to work. But I want to contribute and feel like I'll go mad at home, and jobs with these hours don't grow on trees

Thoughts very gratefully received.

OP posts:
FlamingoFloss · 24/06/2025 08:38

Why not try it for 6 months and see how it works for you and your family? You don’t have to stay if it doesn’t work for you

LadyFooFooFrankentits · 24/06/2025 08:44

Go for it. If nothing else it is a good stepping stone to further opportunities?!

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 24/06/2025 08:46

Why wouldn’t you take it? You can always leave if it’s not for you.

ExtensivelyDecorating · 24/06/2025 08:47

Yes, definitely. As you say, jobs like this are rare and just being at home all day can be immensely tedious.

MellowPinkDeer · 24/06/2025 08:51

I would, it will be good for you to have something outside of the house , some spending money for you. You will get your nI contributions and put money into a pension? I hope your husband has been doing that whilst you’ve been off?

Panicmode1 · 24/06/2025 08:51

I would - I was a SAHM for years having been a professional and we 'didn't need the money' when I took on a similar sounding role.

DH was made redundant almost a year ago and is still struggling to find work despite over 300 applications for jobs at his very healthy wage before being made redundant, as well as min wage, and everything in between - without success. It's flipping scary. However, the PT school hours job that I had, has enabled me to find a much better paid role now, so that I have landed a job back in my old profession. It's about a third of what DH used to earn, but it's enough to keep the roof over our heads and food on our table....!

Profpudding · 24/06/2025 08:52

I didn’t realise how much I missed working as part of a team until I went back into it again. It’s so good for you to be around people.

musicalchair · 24/06/2025 08:53

Part-time jobs like that are few and far between. Definitely worth giving it a go, I reckon!

Original poster
DueyCheatemAndHow · 24/06/2025 08:57

I think part of me is mourning my career, I know I can pick it up in years to come but it's not going to happen atm.

But this is all encouraging, thank you. Definitely feel that being part of a team again and being a person in my own right would be good for me.

OP posts:
musicalchair · 24/06/2025 09:02

DueyCheatemAndHow · 24/06/2025 08:57

I think part of me is mourning my career, I know I can pick it up in years to come but it's not going to happen atm.

But this is all encouraging, thank you. Definitely feel that being part of a team again and being a person in my own right would be good for me.

I understand where you are coming from. Have been through this myself with giving up “career” job, then had a few years off at home with DC, then re-entered workforce with part-time job that is in no way progressing my career. For me, it has been worth it to not have the extra stress of a high-powered role with long hours and big expectations.
I figure I can always move back towards a more intellectually stimulating role in a few years when DC are older.

Panicmode1 · 24/06/2025 09:02

DueyCheatemAndHow · 24/06/2025 08:57

I think part of me is mourning my career, I know I can pick it up in years to come but it's not going to happen atm.

But this is all encouraging, thank you. Definitely feel that being part of a team again and being a person in my own right would be good for me.

See it as a pause, not a 'death'.

I NEVER thought I would be able to go back into my profession after 10+ years of not working in it and raising 4 children, but I've landed a 'returnship' and will be upskilling and retraining on the job, whilst earning a decent salary again - yay! Many people now have portfolio careers and are working longer (despite the rampant ageism in the jobs market) so use it as an opportunity :-)

ExtensivelyDecorating · 24/06/2025 09:03

I was made redundant when my DCs were a similar age, I stayed off work for a year till my youngest started school and could have stayed off indefinitely as we could live off DH's income but I would have slowly gone mad, I was fortunate enough to find a school hours job and am so glad I took it, I get far more out of working than just the money.

Original poster
DueyCheatemAndHow · 24/06/2025 09:05

This is really encouraging.

I think it will do my self esteem to be adding to the pot

OP posts:
hby9628 · 24/06/2025 09:06

I would absolutely take this job. Sounds ideal given your current circumstances. Well done Op!

Original poster
DueyCheatemAndHow · 24/06/2025 09:18

Thanks.

I'll be going from 60k to minimum wage
But I guess really I'm going from nothing aren't i

OP posts:
Livingthedream1978 · 24/06/2025 09:35

DueyCheatemAndHow · 24/06/2025 08:57

I think part of me is mourning my career, I know I can pick it up in years to come but it's not going to happen atm.

But this is all encouraging, thank you. Definitely feel that being part of a team again and being a person in my own right would be good for me.

I totally get this and it is what I did for years as my daughter was very ill and the aftermath of dealing with that and all the appointments etc. meant that a career job just wasn’t an option for me.

Working part time in a local more flexible job did give me something else to focus on though and I made some great friendships from it too.

It also meant I had something on my CV when I was ready to start applying for better jobs again which I did over a year ago. I haven’t gone back in at the same level but I am back on the career path and can see that developing quickly.

Give it a try and see how you try on!

usedtobeaylis · 24/06/2025 09:37

Yes. You've made enquiries for a reason so consider yourself. I agree with others that it's worth trying.

GameOfJones · 24/06/2025 09:45

Absolutely go for it! These sorts of jobs that are term time only and fit around school hours are rare and an absolute godsend when you have children at school. You will get the benefit of seeing people and the social aspect of work, pension contributions and I think it's good for self esteem even if your salary isn't strictly needed and is used for fun money, holiday spending, Christmas etc.

Really you have the ultimate freedom because you don't need the money so you are choosing to take the job and it it doesn't work out for whatever reason you can leave. But I think it would be good for you.

I have a very good friend that became a SAHM after a successful career running multi million pound budgets and managing large teams and she struggled to be honest. When her DS started school she lost a lot of confidence. She ended up taking a job as a TA at the school her DS attended and it's been the making of her. She's really happy there, her confidence has increased and there's a lot you can get out of working that isn't about the salary or status.

DiscoBob · 24/06/2025 09:54

I'd take it. The worst that can happen is you end up not liking it and leave. You say it's not mentally challenging but if it's something new, in a new environment and you haven't worked for a while then surely that's a bit of a challenge in itself.

QuickPeachPoet · 24/06/2025 09:58

Do it OP! Anything is better than your current situation. I really hope you get your career back one day.

averythinline · 24/06/2025 10:54

Do it.... I did similar'ish and it felt odd for a bit earning so much less !
But it was great...meet new people..a couple of whom are really goid friends years later .widened my worldview and skills as a different environment/organisation type .
And changed my career! I'm still not earning quite what i would have earnt if i'd gone back to original type of work... Think sales & marketing to local government IT...
But it works for me.... I moved as dc got more settled in school from p/time term time over 10yrs to 4days ..
It was really good for my mental health... Although thats not too say it was completely smooth experience...

PlumpAndCircumstance · 24/06/2025 10:55

Try it and see - worst that happens is that it’s a nightmare juggling the family, and you will be no worse off for having tried.

MiddleAgedDread · 24/06/2025 10:57

I agree with the PP, if you want to work and do something to contribute, then jobs in term time and between school hours are rarer than hen's teeth so i think you've got nothing to loose by trying it. It will also look better on your CV if you return to your career than having been a a SAHM all those years, and will keep your hand in with changes in technology and software products etc.

SugarPlumpFairyCakes · 24/06/2025 11:03

Absolutely do it.

EveryDayisFriday · 24/06/2025 11:10

Echoing PP, I'd take it too. It suits your circumstances for now and you will be gaining some extra skills and experience even in a PT min wage role.