To think I can get an enjoyable wfh job that pays 100k without working evenings and weekends?

[2kidsnewstart]

I am currently a civil servant earning 80k pro rata'd to my 4 day a week part-time hours. Lots of benefits (pension etc) but due to the kind of role I am in I am expected to return to the office more.

That is difficult for me as last year me and the kids' dad split up (6dd and 2dd) meaning I can't afford additional £65 daily train fares to London on top of nursery fees plus all the other bills. We are 50:50 which I have realised is a very expensive way of splitting up!

Plus I leave before 7am and get home around 8pm so would have to find someone to look after the kids on my days in the office (my ex and I coparent very well but he can't always do childcare around my work all the time and we have no family nearby).

The civil service is great but I am 38 and feel like I could have a whole other career ahead of me and I wonder if there's an absolutely dreamy role that would be challenging but satisfying, well-paid, allow me to wfh and not require evenings and weekends?

AIBNU: No there's definitely that kind of role out there if you open your eyes/ retrain! (and please specify what kind of role!)

AIBU: That unicorn does not exist you should stay where you are!

I know you didn’t ask me but I also work in Cyber Security.

Recently, those who come to us with a degree in cyber security have far less knowledge than those who did their Network+ or Security+ exams. They have more specialised knowledge whereas the degree is so vague.

We have a number of engineers who have started there and progressed to a CCSM Elite level.

Feel free to PM me if you do need more advice. I can help where I can.

@QuantumPanic mix of strategic therapy area planning and then operational clinical trial management. Keeping things compliant, trouble shooting, contingency planning- and a sprinkle of picking the brains of experts in whichever medical field I’m involved in. I lead a team but don’t manage anyone. Further away from the strategy and closer to the ops you get, the closer you get to patients and hospitals. I’ve not stepped foot in a hospital for work for about 12 years- which suits me.
Busy but interesting enough

That's my experience too.

Yep but it isn’t a six-figure job like it is in the US! It’s a band 2-3 admin role, so earning barely over minimum wage

Not me, I know someone with a UK Medicinal Chemistry degree working in an environment where a PhD gets you low £40k's.

I didn’t say it was! (And it’s not 6 figure in the US either, until you get to roles like auditor etc). It’s generally band 4-5 depending on qualifications and experience, as it is actually quite a skilled role.

You need to try to get some more flexibility from your employer. For instance on the days you come into the office could you arrive a bit later and leave a bit earlier to allow you to do child drop off/pick up. Then log in again after kids have gone to bed. Also how are they applying the 60% in the office given you are 4 days a week. Could you ask your manager if it can translate to just 2 days a week in the office for you. Finally any way you can split the childcare with your ex so that he looks after kids when you are in the office and vice versa?

Would there be any chance you could broach with work to request an accommodation for less time in the office? I'd try to explore this avenue officially before packing it in, just in case.

I was in a similar position recently for work where the amount of corporate travel became untenable with small kiddos, and was able to get it accommodated officially. I did have to show how I could still effectively manage the role / build relationships though.

@Ozanj do you mean specifically in cyber security? As IME it's often the other way around, you are given a lot more responsibility much earlier in the CS than private sector in many roles.

@HelloMyNameIsElderSmurf

I think I will formally request to do fewer hours in the office (I am currently winging it, but actually will feel better if it's all above board).

@Handfreeumbrella it's a no from me - I find umbrellas a pain anyway and don't think one attached to my chin would be comfortable. I just get wet!

Same. I earn nearly 7 figures but we have our own business.

I would try and spread the 4 days over 5 to help with the childcare issue. Rather than changing job completely could you do something digitally for a few extra hours a week? Perhaps some sort of consultancy that fits with your skillset. Hard to suggest something without knowing your role.

There are loads. I know of about 11 jobs as of now as a principle consultant that are around 120,000

I think jobs like this do exist, but you can’t tell before you’re actually in it whether this is the case, or whether for the generous ts and cs they want blood and very long hours. I read some advice a while back that you have to accept that beyond a certain level, the additional responsibility and pressure that goes with it is not balanced out by enough extra money to make it worth it, and I think that is probably true. From what I’ve seen the sweet spot is about 50-60k, unless you are a very specialist techie.

And no doubt the thread has moved on, but the medical coding someone mentioned upthread is automated. I’ve no doubt the person who built the system in the first place did very nicely out of it, but they aren’t still there looking up one code at at time for 7 hours a day and raking in £100k….

Do you actually use physical books or are the codes online?

Are you worried that your job will eventually be done by AI?

Before our business we both earnt about £135,000 outside of London. It can be done

@2kidsnewstart why don't you wait until after the election? New govt likely. They may not feel the same about 60% office attendance as current MFCO x

Can you hang on until the election as if that provides a change of government this focus on getting you all back in the office will probably change anyway.

But applying with your reasons for requesting at least set out why you can't do 60%.
It's not forever either as your finances will improve once child care reduced and if your 50/50 surely your ex H has them at least two week days.

Lizzyb - your post wasn't there when I started typing 😆

No way would I leave the job security and pension that comes from being in the civil service if I was a single Mum.

Look in the mirror, give yourself a bloody good talking to and stay where you are for as long as possible.

Signed, a Mum with private sector experience who now works for an ALB.

what is big4?

I think it's worth hanging tight too, if for no other reason than many CS roles will be harder to replace by AI than private sector roles including tech, legal, accountancy etc. IMO process based things, even highly skilled ones, will go a long time before things like being a policy expert on X. I'd go for compre3ssed hours. Good luck! And sorry you have to lose your home, but hopefully you can build a wonderful new one with your kids not suggesting you take up a new trade!

Ernst & Young, PWC, KPMG, Deloitte

Just remember at some point employers might realise that some 100% wfh jobs could probably be done by someone in South Africa for a fraction of the cost! 😅