Should I work full time?

[MrsSnape]

After months of intense job searching I have finally got a job interview bad news is that its a full time job, I only meant to apply for part time.

But really there is nothing stopping me working full time, I'm a single parent but I could put the kids in the school's kids club and will get help to pay for it...only reason I wanted part time is because I havn't worked for 7 years so might find it difficult to go straight into full time....plus there's the problem of holidays too but as I'm finding it impossible to find work should I take this opportunity?

I assume we'd be much better off finatially if I worked full time than part time?

So should I grab the opportunity and just work full time (hoping of course that I actually get the job)?

Or should I let it go and hope I find something part time to start off with?

Go for it first and see if you get it! will boost your confidence if you do and then you can work out the logistics of childcare.

Definitely go for it.

Go for it - you could always say no when they offer?

You could suggest a job share?

You might not actually be better of working full time. As silly as it sounds it normally works out that you are better off doing 16 hours.

Do you get housing benefit etc at the moment ?

mrs snape

i stopped work completely and took a couple of years out when left with kids - didnt do anything. then started very casual part time stuff so only did short days when kids in school and always off in the hols. is only since kids have become teenagers that ive worked full time. would never use childminders or school clubs - but thats just a personal choice thing.

the thing is, its a real life change being out all day every day and running round at the weekend trying to catch up. plenty of us do it, just make sure everything is available to make it work - depends how old your kids are of course, mine are fairly self sufficient these days - i now prefer working thru the holidays and just having the odd day off. thats very different from when they were young tho and i felt like i was constantly running round after them.

anyway - go for the interview, will be great experience and i dare say exciting. and if youre on benefits theres always the 'run on' thingy. so if it doesnt work you can go back to looking for part time stuff. and whatever you do, youll be loads better off than getting by on IS etc.

Working Tax Credit kicks in at 16 hrs and an aditional premium at 30 hrs. Get your Jobcentre to do an in-work benefit calculation for you on the hours and wages you have been offered. You will get 80% of your childcare costs paid via Tax Credits, so all this needs to be factored into the final amounts. Good luck.

if I could work full time I think I would, at the minute though my ds is only 5 years old and I want to be there for him when he finishes school so I only work part time, it's proving abit of a struggle at the moment but I'm seeing ds and thats all that matters I will struggle through.
I think you should go full time if u can.