Why do people work part time ? I've never understood it...

[mozhe]

I never have, but lots of colleagues in NHS did....you end up doing 3/4 of the work for 1/2 the salary, and get passed over in the promotion stakes...And have you noticed that it's nearly always women who do this ? Why ? I actively discourage junior staff from doing this but lots seem to....

LNI - i'm seriously impressed that you retrained in sth as demanding as law while at home with LOs! I retrained after ds1 (management training, far easier IMO) and did quite fancy the idea of doing a law conversion cause (having done 1 yr of p/t course aeons ago which I loved) but decided I was far too old and far too unlikely to get a training contract/decent job at the end of it? How is it working out for you then?

course indeed, christ, I need some sleep!

RTH, my daughter is doing that course at the moment (in an exam at this very minute actually) and she was talking last night about quite a few older people in the exams and people who have done the course part time.

hope it goes well for her, I@m in my mid-late 30s now though so doing it all p/t - conversion/legal practice/training contract wd take me yrs. I don't mind makingsome sacrifice if I felt it wd be worth it, but I'd be in my 40s by the time I qualified and wd want to work p/t. I don't see myself being fought over,somehow. I believe law is one of the most popular courses to do and have heard that there are actually too many people qualifying now.
I'm not fascinated by my current job role but it pays well, is part-time and may lead onto something more interesting in future.

Hi RTH

Have to confess that I didn't have little ones whilst retraining - first one due early October and I qualify end of August - not ideal timing but then again I don't think it ever is. I'm 34, so older than quite a few of my fellow trainees, but I work at a City firm (top 40 UK) and there are three of us over 30 and I didn't have too much difficulty finding a training contract. There were several mothers on my course though, including one with three children who's just started training at a top 10 firm, so it can be done. Studying can be done over two years (full time) or four years (part time) - I took three years as did two PT whilst working elsewhere and then one full time. Only difficulty might be training contract as you'd probably need to be full-time for that, but you may be able to wangle something PT after that - I'm taking a full year mat leave and will play by ear after that but hoping they'll be open to a bit of manoeuvering, they have with others here. Think firms are going to have to be longer term as more women are entering the profession than men, now, and they're going to have a massive fall-out (as does happen) if they don't try to keep them. Also think firms are much more aware of the skills older trainees can bring. And just to add to the encouragement, one of my best buddies on teh course is qualifying at the age of 44.

My tip would be take it a step at a time to see - that was my reason for starting PT, to make sure I didn't throw everything up for it. There were plenty of people who didn't carry on but still found the course interesting/useful.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

I used to work with someone at very good firm who had her babies at age 18 and 19 and when she was in her late 30s and I think they were at university she went to university etc. She was hired in her 40s. She was very good but she was childfree by then. It is certainly easily for people like my 22 year old who has just got a firm to pay her fees and keep next year which is a relief as you only have yourself to think about.

Yes, that's certainly easier - although I got fees and maintenance grant paid for my full-time course and also for the second part time year I did (when I was working, so happily the maintenance grant effectively reimbursed my first year fees and a bit more. Although it doesn't stretch that far for full time study!

Mozhe - heaps of postings - now do you have an understanding?

It's certainly easier to qualify before you have children but not impossible later. I always felt having children (I had one at 22) gave me more in common with senior colleagues and clients. Rather than what did you do last night - I was at a brilliant party I was doing what they were doing - dealing with toddlers.

It is incredibly hard to 'get' part time training in most hospital specialties in the UK. If your trainees are getting offered part time training, mozhe, good for them!! They should go for it! Part of the deal is that you have to work 2 years at 2/3 hours to count for one full year of training. We most of us know that's the deal and would take it.

I have a similar training to you, and I could have a similar career. I have no interest in doing anything, however important, that takes me away from my baby for that long.

You say you don't take your maternity leave because you feel guilt towards the NHS. You owe the NHS nothing. It leeches enough people of their hearts, minds and souls. Don't let YOUR children be amongst them.

I will go back when I can get conditions that might work for my family. Till then, I will make changes and compromises, rather than so much money.

Because it makes me happy

TBH people who have 'high up' jobs generally reach those dizzy heights by doing huge amounts of unpaid overtime. It's a dirty job and someone's got to do it but it's their decision. The country is run by people like this. Can anyone who considers themselves to have a fabulous career say they only work the hours they get paid?
There are also lots of us for whom, once kids come along, non-company time takes on new value and 9-5 (or 10-2) means just that.

So may I ask if the lady who initiated the thread has finally "got it". I think that after so many responses it is only polite to acknowledge and perhaps hint if she "gets it" or not.

Yes, sometimes callex "extreme jobs" which I liked as a phrase. Where you stay however long it takes to finish the deal, where you're on 24/7 call, where you're happy to accept that because you love it and/or the pay is massive and the adrenalin flows etc. They are good jobs to have if you love that kind of thing.

Yes I think I do understand a lot more about what makes 'part timers ' tick...but I do still think they are getting the worst deal...but it was an interesting debate,( mostly...)..so thanks to all who posted !