What are the totally flexible jobs? Do they exist?

[HolyGrailSeeker]

Since having DC1, I have not worked. But now, with DC1 at school, and DC2 starting in childcare for a couple of days a week, the luxury of being a SAHM is hitting its expiry date, and it’s time for me to start working again.

But here is the conundrum:

• No family nearby to help with childcare
• DH works extremely long hours, and often has to go away for the night/week with only a few hours notice. So I need to be entirely flexible/available to do every drop off/pick up/taking to afterschool activities.
• Hours I could work: (max 3 days a week) 9am-2pm, maybe 1-2 days a week I could do 9-5pm. But ideally a totally flexible job and I could do some extra hours when children asleep / at the weekend.
• I love love love being a Mum, and don’t want to go down the getting a nanny/au pair route. I love the time I get to spend with my children and want to protect the afterschool time with DC1 for at least 2 days a week and really don’t want DC2 in childcare for more than 3 days a week.
• Live in London so childcare is expensive so need to be earning more than spending on any additional childcare. Looking for a take home of £1000pcm as a minimum so maybe £25+ p/h.
• 2:1 from a top university - social sciences degree
• extremely low self confidence right now due to toxic environment and negative experiences at job pre-DC. Returning to that industry not an option as it was extremely un-family friendly (and I hated it).
• open to studying for a new qualification if necessary, but ideally I would be able to start earning something sooner rather than later.
• ideally WFH / very local for most of the time.

What job can I do? I’m at a total loss as to where to start looking. No idea too crazy (although keep it legal please and I have no interest in doing anything X-rated!)

I’d love to hear what flexible jobs others do that fit my criteria and how you got into it.

Thank you!

To be fair if you already have a degree then you’ve cut 3 years off the process already!

Agency care work until you are qualified?

Virtual PA sounds perfect.

£25 p/h is a bit optimistic I would say!

Nope PAYE but run my own diary.
I do mental health, neurodiverse within work mentoring/coaching.
I'm a fully qualified psychotherapist but my previous life was in HR.

Perhaps something with annualised hours? I have this and as long as I hit my hours for the year I can work when I can

I'm a sign language interpreter and charge upwards of £50 ph depending on booking. Very flexible. I choose my own work. Husband is similar to yours and works away, not too often thankfully. He earns a lot which means I can be even choosier with the work I accept.

However, it's years of training to qualify and also expensive to study.

Ah thank you

Any suggestions as to the kind of roles that have this? I’ve not heard of it before

Wow lucky you! That’s great to know. Yes, BSL is its own language isn’t it? Not just English with signs. Sounds rewarding but as you say, a huge amount of training. I can do the BSL alphabet and a few signs but that’s not much of a start!

@HolyGrailSeeker

Yes, it's a fantastic job once you're fully qualified and gets better the more experienced you become. But it's a long road to get there. Since Covid there is a huge amount of remote work available as well.

At pre-interpreter level you can get communication support work in schools but it doesn't pay well unfortunately.

@HolyGrailSeeker annualised hours can cover all sorts, Ambulance Technician, Exams Officer (school), Maintenance Operative, Service Manager, Travel rep, other NHS jobs (I think it's quite common in certain areas of the NHS). Talking of the NHS, I recently saw a job advertised for a Pharmacy tech in a hospital that had flexible hours and no weekends. Any jobs that say flexible working are worth a conversation with the employer.

Also there's a fab website www.ten2two.org that has school hours jobs on. I hope that helps 😊

I worked at a small Asda store as a student and they were very flexible.

So helpful - thank you! ☺️

I did a masters conversion course, but did a lot of learning on the job too. Not all the jobs I've had have been as flexible as the one I have now, but IT companies do tend to 'work smart' and allow hybrid working.