Jobs that fit around school hours

[randomsabreuse]

Really want a job as a bored SAHM but it needs to fit around school hours unless well paid. Financially me working is not essential but we can't throw money at the problem for very long. Even school hours will cost something until younger DC starts school but we can do that for a year.

Can't do evenings and weekends because DH has on call once a week (not consistent day) and every 4 weekends. We don't have local family (and even if we did in-laws are still quarantining their shopping and paranoid about Covid).

School admin would be obvious but actually the lack of flexibility for illness in term time would be problematic as DH does not have flexibility to collect/stay at home in case of child illness - his employer is pretty good policy wise but regulatory body requirements limit what they can do and there's just not enough other people to cover.

I don't like kids enough to be a childminder. I'm not a caring personality either.

Otherwise not fussy what I do so long as the hours fit. Industrial work is crying out for workers around here but rigid 8-5 and doesn't pay enough to cover wrap around x2 and balance the lifestyle implications for DC of general wrap around vs sports clubs after school.

Thanks for reading the essay/rant!

I was a city lawyer, fell out of love with that (became too socialist) and haven't found a career that fits. Also moved jurisdictions so requalifying is a massive job. I am also averse to non medical professionals working part time because you generally end up working well over your hours for a the percentage of the pay because you're kind of available on days off.

I also have no self belief whatsoever, tried for some civil service roles last year but failed the aptitude tests.

Gardening wouldn't suit, I kill plants all the time.

Highly recommend becoming a cleaner! I can pick my hours, shuffle them around for sports days/school plays, and I've even taken poorly children with me on jobs and set them up on the couch with an ipad (with clients permission). I get paid mainly in cash and get loads of gifts and freebies! Once you find a few good clients it can be a fantastic job.

Council based jobs are often short pt hours and flexible.

There are some flexible part-time admin roles in the NHS that can work around school hours. School holidays can be a bit trickier to manage but NHS annual leave allowance is quite good plus there’s the option of using parental leave if you get stuck.

I'm a housekeeper in a hotel. I work 5 hours a day, guests start to check in at 3 so I finish about ten minutes before then. There are people at my work who would prefer to only do weekends and those who would love only weekdays.
I understand its not for everyone but it's handy for me.

I'm a PA and work school hours, today I had my hair done in the morning and worked from the hairdressers 🤭

Next often have midweek contracts available. Often a small number of hours but it says you can pick up extra shifts.

If your DH works 1 weekend out of 4, that still leaves 3 weekends for you to work?

You would both be able to take time to care for dependents in an emergency.

With your legal background, I would definitely suggest school Clerk to Governors/Governance Professional roles, especially via local authority rather than directly employed by a school, if there is such a service in your area. Only saying this because via the LA I believe you can get cover if you can't make a meeting so would be ideal if a meeting clashed with your husband's evening shifts. Also you might have the option to take on more schools as time goes on.

Whilst by no means well paid, and it can vary a bit, tends to be FTE 25K which is better than cleaning and TA work. That said, as others have mentioned, being a TA can be very rewarding and with many LSAs having small children there is usually an understanding that you might have to leave suddenly if your children are ill.

I'm guessing the OH is in the NHS (surgeon maybe) so actually would get good dependence leave in an emergency. You will find once you go back to work the hmmm your not great today you can stay home becomes nah off to school you go. I've got considerably less soft on DS since lockdown as they have to much to catch up on and do you know what he's been fine at school once we have got out the door.

If it's just to get out the house have you thought about bank HCA jobs or elderly care?

What does your DH do?

I work in HE and a lot of my team of admins work part time school hours, 27.5hrs over 5 days is very popular. Not very well paid but good pension and holidays and very flexible and accommodating. My staff do not end up working full time for part time money.
I’m senior management and I do 30hrs over 4 days now but will move to 30 over 5 days when DD goes to school. We are also hybrid now so not on campus every day.

If you want to work part time, then with your qualifications and experience, you could surely find a job where you would still be financially far better off even if you are paying wraparound care - you have to look at the salary across the year.

However, with all the restrictions you are putting on yourself. then what about lunchtime shift in pub, cafe, restaurants etc?
A lot of these places can use students for evening shifts but they are less available for lunchtime shifts.

Actually, school admin job isn't such an obvious choice, unless you're talking part time. My paid hours are 8.30 - 4.30, but I'm there at 8.20 and usually still there at 5pm or later. It's just a clerical post, nothing highly paid. But the workload is huge. I think you'd need to definitely look for a part time admin role in schools. Even our TAs come in early and leave late.

You really can't expect lots of unplanned absences when working in school admin. Schools are such operational places and need bodies in the building rather than wfh

My friend became a post woman 10-2 perfect hours but has to work holidays. There’s no such thing as part time term time jobs anymore and it’s such a shame as good people could be working!

If it's about boredom I'd take a different route than getting some low paid job you don't need.

I'd start studying (I don't mean at an institution) to do something like consulting or sales which can get lots of money and be interesting or exciting. Or whatever takes your fancy, those have been stuff I've done as a SAHM.

IT?
Creative stuff?

Or just join a hobby group instead of a job?

Bar work could be fun though, after kids are in bed.

I’m an ex city lawyer too. I’m looking at volunteering in the short term (a year or two) with a view to gaining relevant experience and figuring out what I enjoy/can do that’s not law. The idea is this will help me get a new job in the medium term, once DC are a bit older. And it will get me out of the house and meeting people.

I did try going back into law but it didn’t give enough time with the DC (one has SN and really needs me around) and like you I found I’d lost interest in the corporate world. It did give me my confidence back though.

Another option that might well be flexible and use your experience: Legal publishing, ie writing and editing for LexisNexis or Practicallaw. Quite a few job ads around, if you have the right specialism.

I work for a charity and negotiated school hours and term time. It was advertised as a full time job. Sometimes there is more room for negotiation than we realise.

Try voluntary sector eg charity jobs.com
I have 10 part time staff and for some roles could easily accommodate round school hours

Honestly, if there is a job that fits such extremely stringent requirements, I hope it goes to one of the many single mum who desperately needs these types of role, not someone who is doing it for a mental exercise 'doesn't believe in part time for non medical roles' 🤨

Your ideas of work seem extremely rigid. I assume your DH is medical, but there are nurses - and even surgeons - who do occasionally have to leave for sick children, not every single one has the luxury of a sahp. Similarly, plenty of people work in good 'non medical' part time jobs where they are not on call on unpaid days, or if they are it's minimal enough to make it worth it. 2-3 days full time can actually be a lot easier to manage than.more days on school hours, where the pay per hour is far less likely to cover childcare, and you'll always be running to or from pickups. You'll also have many more jobs open, often likely to be a better fit for someone who used to be a lawyer and wants some intellectual stimulation.

I know someone who is a will and probate solicitor, has her own business (just her) and works from home around her children's needs. She only takes on as many cases as she can handle at one time so just 2 or 3 or varies it depending on the amoutn of work in the particular estate. I used her to administer an estate I was executor for and would use her again. I imagine she made quite a decent living out of it.

It's nothing like the cut and thrust of being a city lawyer, you just need the right personal qualities. Visiting the homes of old ladies and bereaved people needs a lot of compassion. Is that something that you could gain some specialist qualifications in?

I wouldn’t rule out industrial/manufacturing jobs as strict 8-5. If you look around and find somewhere you think you could hack working (factory jobs are hard graft and certainly not for everyone) walk in and speak to the manager. Every business to me locally is literally crying out for staff- a reliable mum who can only do 9:30-2 is far better than rehiring youngsters through an agency every other week, who are leaving lower paid jobs all the time recently with very little notice. Decide what you can offer and approach some businesses, it’s currently a great time to try and negotiate hours that suit you. Many many moons ago I worked packing in a food factory, quite a few of the long term staff there were women who worked a variety of daytime hours. Not glamorous work but gave them an income and stability around school hours.
Cafe work, lunchtime shift at restaurants, could also work.

One of my best friends is a self employed bookkeeper, she takes on as much as she is able and works during school hours and occasionally a few hours after they are in bed (in January mostly). She loves it