Are there any part time jobs out there that pay a decent salary?

[earlycomputers]

I am thinking of returning to work after 4 years being a SAHM and would like to work part time so I can still see my kids. After a search for part time jobs out there, there only appears to be the usual bar staff, receptionist/admin, call centre, care jobs.
Is the only chance of getting professional part time work (I used to work in IT audit/management for a big 5 company) by working full time at first and negotiating a part time deal? Has anyone managed to find a well paid part time job without working full time first?
It seems that the lack of part time jobs is because more men dont work part time and so create more part time openings, because they dont drop work more often to raise kids.
It's a bit disappointing - I thought times had moved on a bit and people were keener to make more room in their lives for non-work activities. It also seems that employers are still anti-flexible working aswell.
I would rather not work full time and may decide not to work at all than not be with my kids more often. And this country wonders why there's still a huge untapped workforce (comprised mainly of women).

If you really enjoy time with your kids, how about childminding?
It could just be for a few years until your kids are older and you feel ready to go back full time

Childminding used to be 'pocket money' but these days it's big business - you are self employed therefore you decide how many hours you work and which children/of what age you look after

Relatively small outgoings and earning potential only limited by your energy

I am a teacher - good salary. I work 2 days a week but end up doing a little bit of work at home most evenings and then a good afternoons work on a weekend. I also work through my lunch hours and stay late at work. I worked full time for years first though.

I think it will be pretty tricky to walk into a part time job that is reasonably well paid....

God luck though - it is great to get the right balance IMO.

Have you actually spoken to Agencies or companies about work ? I mean it is different for me becasue I work in accounts, so there are lots of part time jobs and mine is very well paid.
But when I spoke to say Hays and Reed, esp Hays, they promised me lots of ad hoc bits here and there and all sorts of possibilities. They actually approached some companies on my behalf. In the end Hays got me my current p/t job that I love.
If you are highly skilled, as you sound, seems a shame , Maybe these opportunities are just not advertsied and need to be found, in a more roundabout way ?

I have just gone back to teaching after 6 years and am doing supply - it is working really well as I don't have the workload. I am lucky to have found a nanny share who is happy to work as and when and only work lesson 2-6 so can do the school run.

I get paid on the teacher main pay scale too.

I agree about teacher being a good one plus you're home at the holidays too.

Public sector? The bigger departments usually have in-house audit functions (and are hugely IT dependent), small and local government tend to outsource. I know mostly public sector auditors, but I also did some of my training with a woman who worked part time for Bentley Jennison, so if you wanted to go back into your old field of work that kind of thing might be an option.

earlycomputers, I understand your frustration.

For professional women, part time jobs seem to be handed out as a privilege for employees who have already proven themselves, rather than advertised as such. Unless you happen to be one of those fields which is inherently friendly to part time working.

Can you approach your old company and see if there is goodwill there?

Can your job (IT audit/management) be realistically done as a part time option or if not, as a job share? If not, can you move laterally into a different area, utilising all or some of your skills so the pay cut is not as great eg I moved from front office/fee-earning to middle office/support to get a flexible role.

Alternatively, can you work for a smaller company who would be grateful enough for your expertise to offer you a flex role?

Part time work really does seem thin on the ground in professional areas. I used to work in IT deveopment/support in investment banking. I do still get calls from pimps, but whenever I say 'oh, I'd only be interested in part-time or from-home', they get off the phone very quickly.

TBH I think teaching/solicitors are the only 'professional' careers I know where part time work is agreed upon on a regular basis.

It is actually really sad, isn't it?

local schools - school administrator - in a bigger primary school this is well paid and you get school hols off (though you may need to go into school once or twice in the hols to keep on top of things.)
Or schools IT manager in larger primary or secondary schools
Any finance/accounts experience? School bursar/business manager, or general accountancy. I've seen a lot of P/T accountants jobs, both in practice and industry.

forgot to add - local government in the education support side, assisting schools with IT networks/management/development. May not always advertise as P/T but often open to job share.
If you live "on the borders" of a county, try looking in various directions at the councils. eg in West Yorkshire I'm close to 4 different cities with different educational departments/job websites

Is there ANY part-time/ home working IT jobs that you found but ruled out as being too low-payed. Maybe an idea to do one or 2 and see if it leads to contacts, foot in the door etc. Local councils and most of the larger employers are clique (clicky?) beyond belief and I've known people to start on lower wages only to reap the benefits. Crap having to consider it being skilled in your profession, my DH does IT and we're seriously thinking about moving overseas for something worthwhile. I'm a qualified OT and have given it up as would have to do a full time job for about 18 months before being considered for aprt-time and I'm just not prepared to do that just now.

earlycomputers,

Is there an opportunity for you to work freelance as a consultant in your specialist filed? This is a way that many people end up working for their old company but on much better pay for less hours!

I work as a consultant in the voluntary sector and get a good whack and really flexible working (except at year end like now when I'm flat out!!!)...back to it!