Stay in flexible part-time role or look for a better-paid job?

[dressshoesskirt]

Until around three years ago I was in a stressful corporate full-time role. It was quite well paid but I hated it and it was having a negative impact on my mental and physical health.

I quit and got a more local part-time job which is lower paid. I’m overqualified but that’s worked ok for the last few years as my children were very young and I didn’t want the stress of a full on job alongside that.

Things have changed recently though. I’ve got a new manager who’s inexperienced and quite patronising, which isn’t fun. My children are now both at primary school (age 6 and 10) so parenting is still full-on but a bit more manageable. Also whilst we’re coping ok financially, like everyone we’re being hit by the cost of living crisis and it would be nice to have more money for day trips, savings and holidays.

However I am always a bit guilty of “grass is always greener” thinking and wondering if I may be taking for granted all the good things about my job. It’s not massively fulfilling but it’s rarely stressful, it’s extremely flexible around the children and whilst the pay is not great it’s reasonable for what the job is.

I keep looking at jobs and then talking myself out of it and can’t decide whether I’m better with sticking where I am for a few more years. Any advice or similar experiences?

There is no harm in looking / seeing what is out there and having some options.

Doesn't mean you need to go any further at this stage.

Who knows maybe you'll see your dream job and it will all fall into place?

Is your DH the type who is willing and able to step up and provide childcare during office hours from time to time if required (eg child off sick or desperate for a parent to be there to watch the school play)? Or does he see that as entirely your domain?

Personally, going from part time to full time is hard. So I would look about for better part time job

Having flexibility is brilliant around your family and worth a lot. Maybe look around don't rush into anything. Have you tried any side hustles to bring in any extra money?

Actually yes - I do have a couple and they are working quite well (and I enjoy them) but I think I would still earn more in a “proper” full time job. But of course I’d then be more committed time wise.

He’s not bad - he would step up more than a lot of men I think. But it would be a huge adjustment for both of us and we both acknowledge that I’ve taken on most of the mental load for the past few years and that might be tricky to share now.

As a PP said, I think it's worth keeping an eye on what's out there in case a "perfect" role crops up. However, I wouldn't be in a tearing hurry to move, as flexibility is so valuable if you have young DC and both parents work. (I'm assuming there aren't nearby grandparents who are able and willing to step up as childcare back-up? That would obviously allow more flexibility. ) Do your DC currently attend breakfast/after school club on the days that you work? If your work currently fits within normal school hours and your DC aren't used to a longer school day on certain days, it could be quite a challenging change for them if they suddenly go from no time in paid childcare to lots of hours in paid childcare.

Is your 10-year-old currently in Year 6? It's worth bearing in mind that paid childcare tends to be for primary school age children. Once your older DC starts secondary, it's probably more a case of thinking about what hours he/she will be out of the house on a school day and how many hours you think it would be OK for him/her to be home alone. Think in particular about how things would work during school holidays. Again, the type of activity days that are often available for primary school age children don't tend to exist at secondary school age. This might be much less of an issue if you can find a job that allows a significant amount of working from home.

Take your time, I wouldn't rush back to a full time corporate job in your position especially after your past experience. The ideal would be another part time job but better paid! Is there a chance something like that will come along? As PP have suggested, the early secondary years can actually require more parental commitment/ presence than late primary. If your kids do extra curricular stuff after school that can also be hard to juggle with both parents working full time.

Ultimately it's always a trade off of time/ money/ job satisfaction/ family wellbeing, and what that looks like will be different for everyone. But don't underestimate the demands of parenting older children!