Flexible options for those with a background in marketing/comms/media?

[mumsinmarketing]

Posted in employment issues too as wasn't sure where the best place was!

Hi - I work for a big blue chip. I have a young DC and am looking at more flexible options as my company protest to be family friendly but are anything but! I don't want to give up my career but I don't want to be a 'weekend only' mum.

Just wondering if anyone with the same background is looking for the same thing or found something and could share their pearls of wisdom?

Thanks in advance!

I've a similar background to you. I'm about to dip a toe into the world of freelancing for the reasons you describe - but as I'm only just starting, afraid I don't have any pearls of wisdom yet.

I have spent a while looking for flexible jobs, but they don't appear to exist. I think your best bet is to try and negotiate with your current employer for flexible working, if that's what you want, before considering anything more radical.

Hi cakeaddict. I have managed to finally negotiate some flexible working where i am but the trade off is a really dull low grade role :(

I am debating whether to stick with the guaranteed salary but doing something i don't enjoy or try and do something i do enjoy freelancing, but accept i won't always know where my next £££ are coming from! Tricky isn't it?

I hope your freelancing goes well though!

I'm trying my hand at starting my own marketing / PR / comms company - but with the security of a paid role as well (which is pretty flexible tbh) I work 2-3 days for them and 2-3 days for me.

Yes, it pays the mortgage and gives me some security. But in a way it's not done me any favours as I've not pushed as hard for me. I'll try and explain - the trade off is that because they know I deliver, I get dragged into all sorts of projects I wouldn't do if I was at a lower grade. Which means I don't have time to develop my own company and freelance opportunities (to be fair, I should probably be much much more organised and ringfence my time and say no!) so my new years resolution is to focus more on my company and try to get that off the ground.

I'd also really like to get some writing work as my blog is going really well, plus I'm enjoying it so much it's a joy to do, refreshing after years as a corporate drone

PM me if you want to chat more, happy to share what I do know but not sure it would count as wisdom!

Have run my own marketing insight business for a couple of years now. I really enjoy it, good/interesting project work via old contacts; with breaks when required. Work around 3 days a week on my own term on live projects. Helped that I am ex-agency background, so my network/contacts know me as a project manager who can turn my hand to a variety of things. You need a good hook, something you are known to do well and can be trusted to deliver as a one-person-band.