How do people find interesting part-time work??

[cal79]

I'm probably going to sound very ungrateful but..... I'm currently in a part-time job (28hrs per week) with an ok salary (enough to be worth going to work and paying for some childcare) and have a fair amount of job security. However! I hate my job! I know being a SAHM isn't for me so this isn't an option but am desperately looking for something else similar and failing. Have done the usually job searches online, looking at company websites, looking in the local press but nothing. Anything with a similar salary is full-time and due to mortgage payments etc can't really reduce my salary.

Unfortunately I'm not in a specific profession which makes it difficult. I have a degree and am working towards a Masters so educated. I work in a university in a "support" role so not something I could just transfer to aother company.

Anyone else been in a similar position and have an miricale ideas?! Even ideas on different industries/jobs may help.

Thanks!

Have you tried Women Like Us? Or there are often part-time roles advertised on the Guardian job site.

I think a lot of people who have interesting / challenging / professional / stimulating PT jobs, are most likely to have been doing those jobs FT, and then requested PT hours at a stage when the employer knew their capabilities, and didn't really want to lose them. Some are then lucky enough to pick up the hours the FTer has released by going PT. Sadly it's quite rare to see great jobs advertised as PT, although it does depend on the line of work to some extent.

I bet your skills and education are more transferable than you think. When I was made redundant I saw a careers consultant who went through my CV and experience and recommended a number of industries/roles for me to approach. I'm working in an industry a million miles away from what I used to do now, 20 hrs pw term-time only

Also, my sister got a great part-time job by applying for a full-time role and persuading them that with some adjustment she could do it part-time

I'm having a similar dilemma cal79 but have a 2 year old and 1 year old so wish i had thought about it earlier! We are even starting to consider moving closer to family and reducing our mortgage by moving to a slightly cheaper area so that childcare and mortgage costs aren't such a huge factor in my decision. If we manage to do that properly then i should be able to work PT or for a lesser salary without there being a big net impact to our finances. I do wish employers would be more flexible about PT vs FT though - i have worked on 3 day week and now a 4 day week and get a huge amount done because i have to be extra efficient with my time - i do work long days, but definitely produce a 5 day week in 4 (unfortunately only get paid for the 4 though!). I realise this doesn't work for every industry but there are other ways in which employers can think about being more flexible - working from home a day or two a week, early finishes a couple of days a week, 9 day fortnight, working a couple of days in one of their offices more local to your home (so that you get more time with dc in morning and evening), option to buy more vacation or take extra (maybe unpaid?) leave at selected times during year such as school holidays. Employers need to face up to the fact that women account for almost half of the country's workforce, are critical to the success of the economy, but when they have children they need to have options that will enable them to do the job they badly want to do, and also be a mum! I know it is the same for men at times, but i am surrounded by men where i work who work incredibly long hours but whose wives are SAHMs so they don't feel quite so conflicted when they are still sitting in the office at 9pm. This isn't am option when you are a working mum and your husband is working too.

I think the important thing is do the best you can in the interview and then try to negotiate some flexibility. If they don't give at all then you might need to rethink if it is the right job/ company for you given you are now a mum and will need to have more flexibility in the future. Recruitment agents should also have a good idea would companies that are open to more flexible working. Failing that ( and the option i would love to pursue) have you considered setting up on your own?