to think finding a part-time job is really hard!

[mendipgirl]

I'm lucky I already work 4 days a week, decent paid job, they let me reduce to 4 days after DD was born. My DH also wants to work 3-4 days. He earns a lot less than me so wouldn't cover nursery care and we have free childcare sorted 3-4 days a week GPs 2-3 days and me 1 day, so need DH to look after DH 1-2 days a week. His original job said yes to 4 days then a month later after I had returned to work after maternity leave changed their minds, which was annoying. So DH round another job 3 days a week and all was fine. They have now made him redundant and he has been looking for a new PT job for a couple of months. There have been a couple of full time ones which have been ideal but they won't even consider 4 days. A lot of retail work want you to be flexible on shifts etc, which doesn't work with childcare. There is another one today that is full time and he would probably get if he applied, but they said he needn't apply unless he can do fulltime.

Really not sure what to do, do we give up on our ideal of DD having her Daddy-Day (which she and DH love)and put her in nursery for that day, (even though the day's work wouldn't cover the cost)and he goes back to a full-time role or do we keep hoping/trying for the "right" thing to turn up, does it even exist? Has anyone else had any luck finding a part time job?

I am expecting DC2 in the new year, so after that maternity leave we will have double the childcare to sort out.

I sympathise. I'm looking for part time work too as I'm going to be made redundant next year and it's so hard!

The only part time work out there seems to be cleaners, care assistants or work from home stuff, none of which will earn me enough to cover DS's nursery fees.

It's a nightmare! I'm just lucky I have a bit of time to find something...

Difficult to balance work and home life but best to lok at it in the long run - couldn't he take a job albeit full time and then whilst working activetly look for a part time job ?

the longer he is out of the job market the harder it will become to get a job will it not ?

I think by the news reports today that we may be hitting a double dip recession then he may be best taking what is offered.

i know exactly how u feel, my dh works full time and we hav no help with childcare so have to pay for 3 full days in nursery that barely leaves me any wages, my part-time job was only a 6 month contract as it was the only job i could find and thats due to run out in october :( ive been searching and seaching the jobs pages but there seem to be no decent well paid jobs that are part time, its so frustrating

That's exactly what I am worried about Avantia. I am worried if he waits too long for the right thing he will have a huge hole in his CV. I'll be on maternity leave from next Feb so after that him working full-time won't be a problem until my maternity leave finishes and maybe by then he can either find something else or be so liked by his employers they will let him reduce?!

It just seems that twice we have got to a position ehere everything is sorted only for the rug to be pulled out from under us. It's such a shame!

I have applied for and been offered 3 jobs, which were advertised as full-time, on a part-time basis. I am sure it's not always as easy as this, but often larger organisations have a few spare hours going due to existing staff dropping down to part-time. I've always reasoned that you've nothing to lose by asking.

YANBU

i retruned part time after dd was born, that was 4 years a go and I really would like to move jobs to broaden my experience (teaching) and my headteacher has basically refused to move me classes unless i come back full time. There just arent any part time jobs in schools that I can get to easily.

soooo i am stuck in the same job as I really dont want to go back to full time working. But, I know I am really really lucky to have a permanent part time post.

could he work full time hours over 4 days?

flora can i just ask, did u send your c.v off to positions that were advertised as full time and then at interview negotiate for part time hours?

good question jbells, we have been wondering at what point you bring it up, twice he has done it at the application stage and he has heard nothing back and those were jobs I think he would at least have got an interview for.

i know your always worried that your going to get the response y did u apply for a full time post if u want part time hours and feel like an idiot

In each case I completed the application pack, and asked about part-time or flexible working during the Q&A at the end of the interview. I was offered 3.5 days for one, 3 days for another, and jobshare for the 3rd.

Even if you say you are interested in part-time hours, you would have the option of considering ft if they said no.

thanks for that flora thats really good to know i will start applying for posts that say full time to now then :) hopefully something will come up, cant believe youve got 3 job offers thats brill, think u need to share your interview techniques with the rest of us :o

I must admit I work in a field where there's a shortage of people with my particular professional qualification - I know it's much tougher when you're in a more competitive field. Good Luck!

I have 4. It depends what you want to do :)

YANBU - it's HARD!! Have you thought about him working in the public sector - they are more bound by the rules on offering job sharing arrangements, so there are usually pt jobs going there? Admin? Not sure what he does, but might help? Good luck!