To think my career is over?

[HireStarter]

NC for confidentiality.

A few years back I was made redundant whilst on maternity leave. For a variety of reasons I decided to stay home with the kids.

It's been 2-3 years and I'm now looking to re-enter my career on a part time basis but am struggling to find any opportunities in my field. There are LOADS full-time but very few part-time and those that do exist aren't near me or pay minimum wage.

I have a degree (it's general, not career specific) and was happy with where my career was before children. I'm now left wondering if I need to retrain.

AIBU to think my career is over?

Feeling lost with it all. If anyone has any good news stories that would be great!

• working full time is not an option at the moment.

What career were you in? What responsibilities do you have that make 4 days a week feasible but not 5?
The reason I ask is because many jobs especially with WFH allow flexibility for things like school drop-offs/pickups, or compressed hours.
The danger with applying for part-time is that if the workload was meant for a full-time candidate you will end up doing extra anyway for lower pay. And while everyone here talks about part-time jobs as though it's a human right the truth is that some jobs divvy up easily, and some don't.
My field is quite flexible and I've seen varying results. Sometimes it works well, other times it doesn't (through no fault of the part-timer, just that the nature of the job required close collaboration for example or one half of a job share was better than the other).
It's really hard to give a blanket answer.

I recently returned to work after a few years as a sahm. I applied for a FT job, as like you I couldn't find PT advertised for an external candidate. When they offered me the job they asked if I want FT or PT. So I'm PT.

What I'm saying is apply and see whether you can negotiate hours. Best of luck!

I agree with overthebow - I did interim work for years - and managed wanting to only work part time by taking a few months breaks between assignments.
A few years ago, prospective employers would be really pick abot "gaps" on my CV, spending tons more time on the gaps than my achievements adn experience - much less the case more recently.

Do you have any contacts from your previous role? I left a professional role when my DDs were v young and went very part time in a role which didn’t require the professional qualifications. I’ve just gone back part time into the professional role with a different firm after 8 years and a big part in getting the role was that I had contacts from years back that I’d maintained as we were genuine friends and they’re all near the top of the career ladder so can help out.

I’ve always re-entered job market without ML and yes I’ve found it far harder to get PT.

The one good thing in my sector is wfh a couple of days a week seems to be sticking. So many women leave after dc from it usually but anything that is a bit more flexible helps them stay.

You say ‘partner’. Unless you’re married or independently wealthy it’d be best to seek a full time role.

If unmarried and not v wealthy, earning power is at least as important as your responsibilities at home, for you and your DC.

Can you do your job as an independent contractor? Coving stuff that's short term, or a few days at a time on a specific project?

Also to add - no harm in applying and then asking! you have nothing to lose.
Just beware that if you do have responsibilities and your work spills over you have to manage the situation.

Depends on your area of work. After a planned career break of several months a couple of years ago, I managed to secure a temp role advertised as PT and was given free range to choose my days. Most staff were already working to a hybrid/WFH model due to reduced office space following a building move. I think because it niche area/role that I have years of experience for. They found it difficult to recruit so I had the upper hand and negotiated school hours on a permanent contact after 6 months. The public sector tends to advertise more PT roles compared to the private sector. Like others have said, go for FT and then ask to work 4 days. You don’t get if you don’t ask and flexible working it is the norm now in many sectors since lockdown/hybrid working/WFH is now accessible to people who were never allowed to previously WFH. I know it is not possible for a lot of people, but this is exactly why I returned to work after may leave with all 3 DC. It’s easier to move from FT to PT once you have experience and years behind you and your foot in the door. It can be like looking for a needle in a haystack but don’t give up. I treated my last job search like a military operation for about 3 months solid.

It’s tough out there OP! I’ve been out of the workplace for a few years, but I have freelanced, and I’m working on getting back in now. I’ve found that, perhaps due to the labour shortage, employers are being a little more open to part time. There also seems to be a bit a lot more hybrid and remote working, if that helps at all (although childcare is still needed obviously).

Instead of completely retraining, could you get some more qualifications in your field that might make you a stronger candidate? At least then you could show you’re still up to date with the latest goings on.

You could always ask.your supportive partner to work fewer hours to allow you to go back fulltime and catchup on your career?

Can your partner go PT while you go back FT?

@HireStarter

I have too any responsibilities at home to work full-time unfortunately.

I'd be willing to work long days to consolidate hours. Am open to 4 normal days a week or as few as 2. It's less about the money for me and more about regaining my sense of self and independence.

I'm going to spend the weekend researching recruiters and will reach out next week.

Eugh. It's quite heartbreaking to feel I may have to start again. And that may be in a few years time as I just can't work full time for now :(

Hmm...

I was made redundant when DS was 5 years old and was never able to find a PT job in that industry again . I had been able to work PT after having DS because I had been in my job for a few years and the wanted to keep me so made accommodations for me. It is not common to work PT in my old industry so finding a new job with PT hours proved impossible for me anyway . I could have found a job with FT hours but we moved to somewhere that even that was more difficult than it had been. The FT commute made it all seem unsurmountable with a small child .

I ended up finding a PT job in a different industry where I could work locally that paid half of what my old one did. In the 13 years since I have made my way up the career ladder again but I still earn a bit less for my 4 days a week now than I did for 3 days a week 13 years ago

It is common for a woman's career to suffer after having children. Particularly if she takes a few years out. Of course it is not inevitable and many women do just fine anyway but the majority end up worse off careerwise after children, especially if they take a few years to be SAHMs or even if like me they change to part time work. Being made redundant just adds to the difficulties

Agree about looking to your partner to share the load. Men can reduce their hours just as easily (or not easily) as women, despite what some of them would have you believe. My DH has been on a four day week for the last five years since our eldest was born, same as me.

Thanks for all your input. I appreciate the insight and positivity. I've applied for a few full-time advertised roles tonight and will keep my eye out! I hadn't considered negotiating hours AFTER an offer so will cast my net wider. I just hope I don't waste too many people's time. I definitely won't work full time, it's just not an option and even if it was, I don't want to badly enough yet (I fully intend to in a few years time).

Yes, I feel very fortunate that I'm looking at a time when home working is much more common. It does mean I can apply for more roles.

My partner can't work PT. Not only because he's senior in a sector where part time isn't really the done thing. But also our bills rely on his earnings which far outweigh anything I'd earn. Also - I'd rather be the PT person if one of us is.

For those going on about not being married, that's really none of your business to be honest and isn't something I asked for advice on. We have equal amounts of savings and equal equity in our house. If things went tits up today, I'd walk away with plenty. Yes he is more financially secure at the moment due to his job but if you knew the details you'd see why that's kind of been inevitable. And I am aware of the importance of financial independence which is one of the reasons why I'm job searching.

@MayorGoodwaysChicken

Agree about looking to your partner to share the load. Men can reduce their hours just as easily (or not easily) as women, despite what some of them would have you believe. My DH has been on a four day week for the last five years since our eldest was born, same as me.

My partner's one day a week is equivalent to half a week's work for me for the jobs im looking at. As a household, it makes sense he stays full time. Although we have discussed both working part time later on in life.

I've had this exact same issue, redundant this year during my maternity. I've literally just been offered a full time role. Unless I went Into retail or hospitality that didn't suit childcare hours anyway I wouldn't have gotten something career wise.
I'm no better off working full time than I would be part time because of childcare costs but part time jobs are impossible to get.
My plan was to work part time for a bit and then move in full time but work places don't want to consider flexibility. It's rubbish.

I re-entered the workforce after 5 years at home and found things were tough (although this was 8 years ago so hopefully things have improved). Part time was definitely not an option the recruitment firms could/would help me with and I had to accept a more junior position for less pay than the one I had left. It has all worked out amazingly though, after a year I was offered a job share which I did for 3 years and have since gone full time again. I have more than doubled the salary I initially started back on and am quite senior in the organisation due to hard work and some luck. For me, making the initial compromise to do a year full time has more than paid off.

Finding part time is best to impossible in anything above entry level work. You'll need to go full time for a couple of years, then put a request in.

After-school club or childminder, or their father does pickup (he'll bang on his job is too important. It's not.)

Does your career area and expertise allow you to do any consulting or freelance work to get back in?

I've recently switched to self employed but within my industry to get the flexibility I needed with 2 babies in early years

Also if you're willing to do four days I would suggest going for FT jobs and then asking for compressed hours, five days in four. If you're wfh due to covid it's much simpler to do (it's just the time you would have spent commuting anyway)

I agee with those saying negotiate once you get a job offer, if you are willing to do up to 4 days a week there are plenty of places who will go for that if you are a strong candidate. You would probably struggle more to get 2 days unless the want someone who will do a job share.

Also dont worry about wasting companies time. The interview process is a two way street, you are also working out if the company is right for you, you can get to the job offer stage, turn them down and its still not wasting their time, its both parties doing what fits best for them.

I work for a large, global engineering consultancy (although it much wider than traditional engineering) and we are always happy to consider part time and are very flexible. I've worked part time for over ten years and have colleagues at a senior level who work term time only. I appreciate I'm really lucky but I just wanted to give you hope that flexible, family friendly roles are out there. Feel free to message me x

In my field you just apply for the full time jobs and tell them you want part time off they offer you the job. For me, I work 80 per cent and there hasn't ever been an issue. Good luck job hunting.

I took 2 years off work after my 2nd DC. Applied for a full time post that I was well qualified for and had very relevant experience, was upfront and honest that if successful I could only do the role part time, 4 days. I got it! Also negotiated for 1 of my 4 days to be at home (8yrs ago so not as common as wfh is now). So it's not unheard of, good luck.