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!

Temping will definitely happen if I'm not sorted before my younger one starts school - because I don't want to pay extra childcare to sit waiting for the phone to ring and last minute childcare is nigh on impossible to find.

Consider in-house lawyer roles, I work for a charity and the lawyers work varying work patterns including school hours only (and I don't work over my hours, unlike private practice).

Software engineering has become the better paid version of the old MN classic 'take in ironing'. Yes it can be great Someone who isn't technical and can only learn very part time isn't going to get good any time soon. Even after that at entry level, there's a lot to learn, and realistically I can't think of any 2-3 / school hours jobs as front end developers for people who will still effectively be apprentices with everything to learn.

Not wanting to put people off who want to actively pursue development job, I think they are often great for women who want jobs with good pay, job security and flexibility - but they're not the best bored housewife option.

Come on OP. You had a “big” job so you’re obviously clever… or good at studying anyway. Stop selling yourself short. I’d do some volunteering or get yourself a career coach who can hopefully unpick the aspects of your previous jobs that you can develop going forward.

Most top professional jobs require you to start out full tine then you drop sessions. So I am a medic, started on a 10 (100% salary) PA job then dropped a session to 9PAs (90%, each PA is half a day) which worked out to 3 day a week physical sessions. Though I may pick up that session again as an evening clinic so still 3 days a week but full time salary. I provide childcare on my “days off” and split the rest with DH and paid childcare.

A friend who just had a baby is looking for part time roles but is also finding she will have to be full tine and utilise the “off day” sessions then drop sessions.

I work for local government. We are incredibly flexible on hours, offer term-time only contracts etc.

Several of my colleagues with young children work 7am - 3pm, others work annualised hours.

There are a range of jobs and skill sets - everything from basic admin upwards. I'm currently recruiting for posts at around £30k per year and woukd be open to candidates asking for term time only.

It's worth approaching bigger stores as they are the ones most likely to have flexibility.

A friend of mine works at B&Q and does 0930ish until 1400ish, they are very flexible with her. She did x3 weekdays and her job was pretty much just restocking and tidying the shop floor which needed doing every day anyway. I remember once her DD was ill on momday so she worked weds-fri that week. I guess they have a really good store manager. She's done the odd weekend shifts as over time at busy times when her DD can go to GPs.

I've heard Amazon can be quite flexible too but obviously you need to live near a warehouse.

It all depends on your CV. surely?

(N.B I don't have kids and am single.)

Try looking at roles for charities and churches, whilst they may not be term time only, I've always been able to bring my kids to work (assuming not very ill) and could use the playscheme (church) for free

If boredom rather than money is your main motivation at the moment why not volunteer as a school governor/Trustee? That can keep you reasonably busy? Volunteer at CAB?

If you have any colleges/sixth firms locally I would look for fractional teaching roles in law or associated subjects.

Did posters suggesting OP become an LSA, HCA, carer for the elderly or TA in a school for children with SEN not read the part where she describes herself as "not a caring personality?" These aren't jobs people should be doing because they're a bit bored and want something that fits around school hours.

I think most people really, really underestimate the total long term value of continuing to work despite needing to pay childcare. They get stuck disliking the cost of childcare and tend to undervalue the benefits of pension contributions, career progression opportunities etc.

Speaking realistically, a decision to restrict your self to very part time school hours work until your youngest child is 12 is rarely a temporary choice - few who do it return to something bigger later on.

And dhes a qualified lawyer ffs, what a waste of a brain and an education

OP if you really are a former city lawyer, and I’m not completely convinced you are, then in the nicest possible way, I can’t really understand why you’re looking at LSA, school admin, shop work.

surely you’ve connections and friends to network work? My former city lawyer friends are mainly doing variations on law or things Which have a connection, they’re not doing minimum wage roles. Nothing wrong with that but if you’re a qualified lawyer you have a lot of options: lecturing at law college, one has gone into HR, a couple work in local law firms 2-3 days a week or school hours, In house lawyers in council / charities, self employed or working for an Umbrella organisation where they can pick and choose freelance work, one does wills, one does comveyancing

I left law at 18 months pqe more than 10 years ago as I was not happy with the field I'd ended up in, and was disillusioned with the city in general. Ended up in a rural location where my city skills were utterly irrelevant and made a bad career choice that ruined my confidence especially in my judgement of my career choices. Imposter syndrome sucks...

Networking into a job then going off on maternity was not something I could make myself do - I struggle at networking as it is!

At the risk of outing myself I've moved to Scotland which means local work as a lawyer= 9 exams over 2 sessions and Scottish law is a whole new language!

I'd like to get into Civil Service commercial or policy but the commercial roles that have come up locally have involved compulsory foreign postings (not possible just now) or I failed at the first hurdle...

You need a career coach jump on LinkedIn find one interview with them within an inch of their life ask for references from previous clients and then get yourself back on track you do not want to be a bleeding dinner lady