To think that there are no well paid family friendly careers?

[Careerhelppp]

I’m currently a SAHM to young children. Whilst my children are still young, I’d like to start preparing to return to the workplace in a few years time.

I previously worked in PR in London and have now moved over 300 miles away! The majority of PR is in London so it’s not really feasible for me to return to this. The area I was in was also the opposite of family friendly so it just wouldn’t have worked anyway.

DH is a high earner and there is no need for me to return to work. However I’ve started feeling like I’m just letting all of my potential and independence fade away and that I need to have a plan about getting a career back. The difficult part is that DH’s career completely dominates everything. He works away a lot and at short notice so I’d have to work around this. This is non-negotiable - DH couldn’t not do this and if he moved to a different role, we’d be taking a huge pay cut (probably over double what I’d ever realistically earn).

I’ve thought about law (love the academic side but I don’t think the hours would be flexible enough), teaching (not well paid enough to make it worthwhile for us), accounting, being a financial advisor, even being a therapist.

Ideally I’d like a job that is fairly flexible (eg. Allows me to finish earlier and pick back up in the evening), includes some WFH and is has a salary of over £50,000 if full time. Perhaps something where you could become self employed?

Any ideas?! Totally prepared to do another degree if needed and the cost of retraining isn’t an issue.

Hi OP,
the industry has moved on a lot, I think you would be able to work in PR, from home. I'd set up yourself and start working for a few small companies that you like.

Ensure you charge yourself at a proper hourly or daily rate.
Perhaps a different category to what you know, but I am sure you can carve yourself out a lovely role working for people and brands you like, from home, and have the flexibility of hours you like.

I currently employ somebody on a monthly retainer who works just like this.

I should add she is VAT registered so invoicing over £90k a year.

So many variables in your question- many people here saying “ yes of you stay at it whilst your children are small” to me doesn’t equal family friendly; also well paid needs to be defined. I’d love to hear from anyone who is earning say £80k plus; doesn’t need a nanny, was at home till their children started school and can do some scho pick ups/ never miss a school show ( not saying those jobs aren’t out there - but if so pls share for upcoming generations!!! )

No, what people are saying is that you can't walk into a brand new career at a high level without experience or relevant qualifications.

There are well paid family friendly careers, just not at entry level! That's not surprising or new.

You could sign up to an agency immediately and choose which days you're able to work around DH's job. When doing this you see so many different places and it's a good foot in the door to seek permanent employment which the company will already be aware of and somewhere you enjoy. Xx

I can’t imagine this flexibility would exist in any organisation sadly. You could do bank work in care or shop work but this would be minimum wage . Welcome to the world of working Mums!

This was me, but I did it by switching to consultancy during those years which I could do because I had an established career. Early career was long hours and little control.

I think OPs best option would be to find a way to use her existing skills and experience rather than starting from scratch, eg freelancing. It's obviously harder to guarantee a particular income but can be great for flexibility.

AI has slashed the number of training contracts available as a lot of docs and research tasks can be pulled together much more quickly now by qualified lawyers. If your kids were older you would know that there is such huge pressure now on the graduate job market such that many very qualified young people who can give their all can’t get a position, Oxbridge etc graduates included. Someone who trained 15-20 years ago did it in a radically different environment. I would not go into law now unless you really can be prepared to work full time and log on again after your kids are in bed etc a number of years.

Single mum, I work as a writer for a charity (mostly funding applications but other writing work too). FTE is £50k, I’m 0.6. Fully home based, I do school drop off and pick up every day and can make every show, sports day etc. Block out calendar for personal stuff as needed. Occasionally log in after the kids go to bed but not expected. Role would be around £40k FTE for a new starter but I’ve been there 10 years and benefited from pay increases.

I think it's that everyone has a different definition of what family friendly means

Many posters define it as never having to use any childcare which isn't my definition

I define it as - can do a school pick up at 3 once a week as an adjustment to my hours, can between DH and I make every school event, 6 weeks annual leave. I'm not fussed about using wraparound/some school holiday clubs

Doesn't it take 7 years ?

What is your degree in? You can do too ups for certain subjects?

Have you considered training to be a florist?

If you can secure contracts with local hotels, for weddings, communal spaces, and pre order bouquets for rooms you can secure a good income with flexible working, and in time you could expand your business.

That’s not relevant to my post ( nor necessarily the original one ) what I was asking is WHICH careers ( if any at all ) offer that flexibility once established. Nowhere was a referring to magically having children and stepping into those careers. I’d simply like to know if they exist at all !! ( in my experience even some extremely well paid, well qualified careers are not in fact, family friendly if you step away for a few years)

Could you set up your own PR agency? Working from home, seek out one or two companies to work with, with the view to increase clients and expand as your children get older and you get more spare time. If income isn't crucial, tglhat is perfect to start to build up your clientele and income, without being desperate for high income from day 1.

I am a financial advisor, self employed, complete flexibility, it is hard at first but sounds like you are not desperate for the money like most of us starting out so time is on your side.

I have worked exceptionally hard for five years and finally now can breathe and am usually doing 10-3 most days and picking which clients I want to work with and ,are sure they align with my values.

the exams are not cheap though and there are six to complete.

DM me if you want to chat further about things s I don’t revisit posts or my replies often.

good luck whatever you do though.

I earn £60k plus bonus as a lawyer - I could, I guess, theoretically move to a larger for far more money, but I’m in a pretty small firm with a ton of flexibility and that is genuinely family friendly, rather than just paying lip service for the brochure. Don’t rule law out, you just have to pick the firm right!

How long would OP have to wait before earning that kind of money? I know of deputy heads with years of teaching experience and only earning just over £60k

The answer is obvious to me- set up your own business.

I set up mine when pregnant. Turnover £200k pa since 2021 and have one employee who I also allow flex working for her own kids.

IMO it literally is the only way to manage you own time, your own life is to be your own boss

you sound determined enough

What's even more sad is that alot of these women end up at the bottom of the ladder again trying to find a different career with less stress but have to take a massive paycut.

I work in PR for a family-friendly employer that has regional offices. Since having my children, i work hybrid part-time (I’m still well paid) and flexibly, except for crisis situations/the odd trip away based on my patch. I just wanted to let you know that it might be possible if you explore other areas of PR or comms for a decent in house employer. Feel free to message me directly :)

I think it’s more to do with the company than the role sometimes. I’ve done the same role for 2 companies one of which offered almost no flexibility whereas in my current job I have complete flexibility for hours (as long as the work gets done obviously), WFH all the time and get around £70K. I have a paramedic husband so one of us needs to be flexible.
I will say though it’s probably a lot of people’s dream on paper but I preferred the rigid more stressful environment of the other company as I thrive under pressure and when I find the work challenging so once the kids are older I’ll definitely have a re-think

Apologies that I haven’t read the whole thread, but I worked in the charity sector for a long time. It can start on low pay, but many of the roles increase to quite high salaries, eg management and fundraising. It can be pressured work, but many charities have quite progressive HR policies that enable flexibility and WFH.

I know lots with good degrees from top universities struggling to get jobs.

Therapists aren't particularly well paid. Teaching is over 50k (just) for top of the pay scale unpromoted. It's not massively family friendly but holidays are good and you can be home early.