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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

do professional level part time jobs exist?

58 replies

bedraggledmumoftwo · 21/04/2015 14:24

I have a voluntary redundancy offer on the table, from my senior job for which I have applied to go part time. The maths on the VR are very compelling, I would have to go to work for free part time for the next two-three years just to break even on what I could get if I left, mostly due to the savings on high childcare bills..

However, I don't know if this is short sighted. I am a qualified accountant and could earn £40k for three days if I stay in my current role. Aibu to think the only way to get a decent professional, well paid part time job is to be doing it full time and put in a flexible working request or do bona fide high level jobs actually exist in their own right?

OP posts:
carrie74 · 23/04/2015 13:21

Good luck!

I am a senior accountant (FCA) who works PT. I left London when we had children, so there was a natural salary drop anyway. After a couple of years at home, I'd sent my CV to a few local recruitment consultants, and was called out of the blue (I wasn't actively looking for a job at this point) for a local job that was advertising for FT. I negotiated for PT, and as it happened, it was the best thing for them and me (they had a lower wage bill, I got to be at home 2 days a week with my kids). That was for a very small accountancy firm.

I recently moved into industry (same industry I worked in when I lived in London), but got the job through a friend of a friend. HOWEVER, the job was advertised, I just didn't see it in time (I applied after they hired someone, but that person turned out to be a bit rubbish, and then I met the Head of Finance at a party). I work 2.5 days, one of which is at home. My FTE earnings still aren't up to what I was earning in London 10 years ago, but they're relative to a FC role in my location, plus I get to be in an industry I adore.

Rockdoctor · 23/04/2015 13:29

I think it's possible, particularly in areas such as Accounting and Finance, and becoming more possible. If you have a long commute then consider what you could afford to "lose" in salary to work locally. Make sure your networks and contacts are up to date (ie. Linkedin), a couple of years will fly by and people will be happy to reconnect at that stage.

Also, check out some of the new companies/websites that are helping people find part time professional roles or get back into work after a career break - Capability Jane and iRelaunch are two that I have found useful/informative.

DrDre · 23/04/2015 13:35

I'm a computer programmer - not a profession as such but a skilled job. I'd dearly love to go part time in a few years or so. But I agree with what has been mentioned previously in that there are never part time jobs advertised - they are all full time. I suspect to do it you'd have to know the person who was hiring you previously, or work in the company full time for a substantial period of time first. Even then I think it would be frowned upon - I've never come across a part time programmer in my career to date. You'd have to make yourself indispensable to the business then say "let me go part time or I'm leaving." Hopefully it will change with time!
My sister was a city lawyer, and they let her work 3.5 days a week a few years ago. I think this coincided with the economic downturn and they were looking to cut costs, so she was pushing on an open door.

Rockdoctor · 23/04/2015 13:36

Links:

www.irelaunch.com

candidates.capabilityjane.com

Klik · 23/04/2015 13:59

Try Timewise Recruitment too...

SylvaniansAtEase · 23/04/2015 14:00

Do it.

But what now needs to happen is that your DH places his half of the previous childcare costs into e.g. a pension plan for you.

:)

hipposaurus · 23/04/2015 14:07

I'd take the redundancy too if it is generous!

FibonacciSeries · 23/04/2015 14:15

DrDre - part time tech lead here, but I negotiated it from a FT job.

Ilisten2thesoundofdrums · 23/04/2015 14:16

Yes - I work 24 hours, over 4 days so have a small amount of childcare to cover at either end of the day and school holidays - it definitely makes much more financial sense when the children are at school.

However the part time jobs advertised are often more junior or at lower rates because they are smaller companies and so don't pay as much.
Having said that due to the flexability of my company and the fact I like the people i'm working with ( I work at home 1 day a week and only 3 days in school holidays) its a comprimise i was willing to take. this job was advertised through an agency at the time, and I was overqualified for the original job spec but they have altered it all over time.

DrDre · 23/04/2015 14:18

FibonacciSeries - thanks, that's encouraging! Out of interest, how long were you in your job before you went part time?

Blinkinwinkin · 23/04/2015 14:18

This company specialises in pt jobs for skilled workers. Timewise

ragged · 23/04/2015 14:22

I've always heard that accountancy is very hard to find a position PT. Someone I know does it (4d/week) because she is in auditing. Less career prospects but other good things she likes.

FibonacciSeries · 23/04/2015 14:32

DrDre, feel free to PM me so I can give you all the info you might want/need without fear of outing myself Grin

Stickerrocks · 23/04/2015 14:34

I'd say auditing is one of the hardest roles to do part time as you're expected to be at the client's beck & call. I was an audit senior manager on an 80% contract, but found I was still dealing with the same clients & working the same hours without my old pay.

Now I work for myself (hence why I'm online now) and have a contract to work 110 days p.a. in another finance role. They have me when they are at their busiest or need me to cover holidays/sickness etc. To be honest, I found the nursery days easiest to manage as you simply book a place and go to work. School is trickier, as you have to manage before & after school, holidays and random inset days. Start looking into flexible childcare now, even if you don't need it for another 3 years!

notinagreatplace · 23/04/2015 14:34

Have you considered finding a job share partner? It's not for everyone but I think a lot of employers find it more attractive.

MumblesUk · 23/04/2015 14:36

I'm a computer programmer/IT consultant and I work 3 days a week for a consultancy. I started there in 2006 full time but since then I've had two children. Initially I went back for two days after my son was born but this didn't really work out and by mutual agreement I went up to three days with the third day's hours spread across the rest of the week at home. I didn't like that much as if DS didn't sleep during the day I had to work in the evenings.... After DD I went back for 3 definite days which was easier for everybody. I am very fortunate that they allowed flexible working but my career has stalled a bit as I get all the boring stuff to do!

Original poster
bedraggledmumoftwo · 23/04/2015 18:40

Thanks all, I am going to take the money and look for the perfect local part time job, knowing I have a good financial cushion if I don't find one.

OP posts:
museumum · 23/04/2015 18:46

Self employment can be the answer (it is for me). I sell my skills on a day rate. Work as many days as I want.

blacktreaclecat · 23/04/2015 18:51

As a dentist working part time is not unusual. Many dentists do a day or two at several different practices. Part time jobs are often advertised.
However unless you retrain for 7 years that doesn't help you really, just that Dentistry is a fairly well paid profession that can be fond pt.

ShakesBootyFlabWobbles · 23/04/2015 18:52

I work for a top 30 accountancy firm and we have lots of part time professional women in all departments. In fact, they have been far better to work for as a part timer than Big 4 was.

RaisingSteam · 23/04/2015 18:59

This is a really good question and it's what keeps me at work TBH. I work in the construction sector where there are never any part time jobs. I was once offered 30 hours over 4 days by someone very keen to recruit me, and I might have got down to 0.7 after a few months. I'd get all your contacts on Linkedin and keep in touch as much as you can in case you need them later.

DH is self employed and "choosing hours" for him seems to mean choosing whether to stay up till 2am or get up at 5am to finish a quote!

RaisingSteam · 23/04/2015 19:00

I meant to add I work 0.7 FT at the moment, but negotiated it after mat leave with a long standing employer.

ParkingFred · 23/04/2015 19:06

I also work in the construction sector and I agree - it's pretty rare. I used to work 2 days pw, but that was a job share and I had to find the sharer before my employer would consider it.

I applied for and got, a more senior post, but it's ft.

trixymalixy · 23/04/2015 19:07

I'm an actuary and I work part time, one of two in my team who work part time. I was made redundant and worked full time for a year before applying to go part time. My other colleague applied for a full time job and asked for part time hours from the start.

Plenty of the accountants in my office work part time.

Another friend who is an accountant has just got a new part time job, I believe it was advertised as part time.

Murphy29 · 23/04/2015 19:13

I think it depends if you're still working in practice vs industry. I was able to get a new job (practice) doing 4 days and had offers which were available 3 or 4, whichever I preferred. Not quite as many options in industry at a higher level from my experience.

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