Jobs that pay £30ishK but are flexible?

[barbatoo]

Am I dreaming thinking that such a thing exists for a 30 year old male with no qualifications but has worked his whole life, is ex military and now works as a civil engineer (on the roads, not in an office)?

I have changed my work hours to do school runs and nursery runs for 3 DCs but DH doesn't do any, and I can't do it anymore as I'm missing out on pension and promotion.

He understands this and would do anything but it needs to be what he's earning now, which is £30k. It doesn't have to be that much initially but he can't afford a drop in wages.

Any ideas? Or am I barmy?

As an aside, DH has an engineering degree. He is a military officer. He gets annoyed when people who are clearly not engineers refer to themselves as such.

@Polarbearflavour apologies on behalf of my DH! He's always referred to himself as a civil engineer. I really don't want this thread to turn in to an argument about his job title. I'm really stressed out about how much falls on me and not DH and we're trying so hard to even things out.

He works in construction. Call it what it is. And I'm not saying that to be derogatory, my DP does. And has many qualifications (tickets) for all manner of things, forklifts, cherry pickers, deep drainage etc. It's a skilled job. But it's definitely not a civil engineer!

He's spoken to his current employers but because he works away and is away overnight 2/3 nights a week it just isn't possible as he can be working 100-200 miles away at times.

Surely as long as family money stays the same he could earn less personally?
Unsurprisingly there are few jobs that pay even close to that for people without qualifications and those that do require people to work long hours with little flexibility.

Yes @murasaki I've realised that. He's always called himself a civil engineer. I had no idea it wasn't that until now. Apologies again on behalf of my silly DH who has clearly been calling himself something he's not!

Did the military not offer any help with courses and resettlement?

www.veteranemployment.co.uk/

How many times does it need to be pointed out to the OP that her DH is not a Civil Engineer. Put away your hobnail boots no need to pile in.

I would think the first point of call would be to talk to his employer. Is there a way he could train to be a Civil Engineer, which wouldn’t help with your immediate issues but might help long term.

@Polarbearflavour he left years ago and can't take resettlement now. It was before we got together. He's looked in to it and has kicked himself thoroughly!

I’m right there with him @polarbearflavour.

Hi, what are your hourly rates like? Could he do what he is doing (or similar - council's can be fairly flexible employers for outdoor work) part time and you up your hours so that you can build up to promotion? Get more money between you that way?

There are plenty of careers on that kind of money that offer flexibility but all will require qualifications. Some mightn't be that long though. Can he do night or self-led qualifications of some sort?

Unfortunately Engineer is not a protected term so many people call themselves engineers, from IT staff to washing machine repairs, Chartered Engineers are the professional engineers.

He is very lucky to be on 30k with no qualifications. I think you will struggle. Most jobs with that wage are degree at least and years of experience in the field

As someone else has said - can his current employer sponsor him to go down the BTech route to be a techinician? If needed can he do some adult key skills courses at a local college?

I can’t think of any jobs paying 30k that you don’t need qualifications for.

@WhirlwindHugs I'm salaried at 31k per year but pro rata with the hours I'm doing, much less. He's tried to get part time and I'm willing to do work Monday - Friday but nobody will employ him part time.

Can I clarify that he's willing to work towards qualifications but we can't afford for him to do something full time as can't live off my wage, or he would do something that would initially be a lesser wage but would be incremental.

Could he do agency work and pick his hours? Not sure he could make 30k without doing a fair number of hours, but normally it's a 10 hour day, so if he did say 3 of those and a couple of shorter ones it might work?

Might be worth talking to agencies anyway. Or getting some hours in on a specific piece of kit and taking the exam for the ticket, then his hourly rate can go up, but could be called to specific jobs so not necessarily full time. I'll ask himself what he thinks.

Does he have a skill set he can work on? My DP is a carpenter by trade but turns his hand to most things. Is self employed and works flexible hours around dd. Doesnt earn anywhere near 30k but would pro-rata.

Look at local authority roads/highways sections. He’d need a HNC in Civil Engineering to get up to £30k, but he might be able to get in the door as an inspector on £25-27k (ish) without the qualification. The local authority may help pay for qualifications (but not guaranteed).

Thanks @murasaki - the specific bit of kit thing sounds promising. I'll suggest it.

I just feel frustrated. I spent 11 years at uni. Bachelors, MSc then PhD. Great job. Great pension. But earning shit money because I have to work (very) part time to even make it worth going to work (nursery fees). I'm trying my hardest to put my foot down and turn things around and for DH to do his bit. It's not his fault; we fell in to this routine. It worked, until I decided it didn't.

His best bet might be to retrain in a trade - plastering, plumbingcetc and work his own hours. Failing that look into whether he could do something which would be permanent early /night shifts so you drop off and he picks up. If you are in an office then school/ nursery might have breakfast club so you can be at work by 9 and then if he say worked 6-2 he can always collect. If you can increase your salary you might manage on less than 30k. Think about savings you could make or if you are eligible for any benefits.

I would love a 30k flexible job. I have a degree but no hope of earning anywhere near that figure. I have the wrong personality for jobs above 16k.

Is he any good at DIY? Could he do handyman work?

We pay a fortune for someone (ex military) to come around and put blinds up and paint things etc. He's got a long waiting list and seems to earn well and around school hours.

It's a tough business. I'm currently trying to help DP get a payrise as his hourly raise hasn't gone up in 4 years but he's doing site manager work as has the papers for that, but with no raise. I'm public sector, so have little experience of asking for raises as we are on grades with incremental points. It's a whole different world where they work.

I'll try to get some ideas for you, sounds like as a family you'd be better off with you taking more hours and him fewer but better paid.