'Classy' part-time job opportunities - where are they?

Sally McIlroy writes in to ask where are the good part-time jobs for mums:

I, like many other alpha mummies, went to the One Life exhibition at Olympia to have a non-specific look at what is out there. I was struck by one noticeable factor: how few ‘classy’ part-time business opportunities there are. Weekenders were there, Avon and Pampered Chef and the Direct Sellers Association with a host of others including Hillarys Blinds and Kleeneze

I can honestly say I’m not a snob, but if you’ve had a university education and have made a choice to ‘give up the day job’ to bring up your children (but want a bit of stimulation outside the home to fit around nursery school hours), what is there?!

Sally is right. A lot of the part-time jobs out there are the same ones that were around 10 years ago or on a similar theme: direct selling to your friends. We have learned of a few of sites aimed at helping women get back in to the workplace:

www.womenlikeus.org.uk - this is a not-for-profit organisation that helps women with children get back to work, with some job listings, mainly in London area

www.workingmums.co.uk - a site run by a working mum, with alternatives to the 9-to-5 traditional positions

www.motheratwork.co.uk - this is a webzine for working mums with advice, a list of recruitment agencies and job listings

www.jobsite.co.uk/channels/part_time.html - has what appears to be decent part-time professional positions around the UK

In truth, it seems a lot easier to start your own business than find something out there that uses your qualifications and suits mum's hours.

Anyone else know of a good source for finding part-time work?

Comments

[Jane]

I have to say that i am one of the lucky ones who works part-time for a company supporting anyone looking for part-time work(www.JustPartTime.co.uk). This website is run by Nina Daranijo, created out of her frustration of not finding a part-time job. She's even gone a step further to host the first Flexible Working Fair in March, which was a success. We are having another one soon.. please visit www.justparttime.co.uk for more information.

[Juggle Mummy]

I am a working example of the the statement about negotiating a part-time role with a historic employer being much easier than finding a new part-time role. I spent an angst ridden few months negotiating a 3 day week with my current employer. I work in public relations so very much a 24/7 role and understandably hard to accomplish part-time but in this high-tech society the use of wireless at home, blackberries and mobiles makes life easier. I never work a 3-day week (for which I am only paid 3 days by the way) but am willing to make that sacrifice to spend the precious extra time with my son

[Azita Qadri]

I run Eat Your Cake, a job-sharing agency for professionals.

Eat Your Cake enables professionals at companies to work three days a week, while sharing the role with another person who works the remainder of the week. Companies can retain high value professional staff who would otherwise leave, and the job-sharers can have their cake and eat it.

Professionals interested in job-sharing can register with Eat Your Cake for job-share opportunities. All candidates are interviewed in person. Professionals interested in registering for job-sharing opportunities simply send their CV to perfectbalance@eatyourcake.co.uk and we arrange an interview.

I am actively building up my list of job-share candidates. I am meeting candidates from all lines of work, from hedge funds, to people specialists and lawyers. All business sectors are welcome.

So I look forward to hearing from you.

Visit www.eatyourcake.co.uk

[Magnolia]

I've never seen a really decent part-time job advertised anywhere. As supermother says, it only seems to be possible if you were previously known to your employers.

I manage to do board level management consultancy three days a week, but the guys who run the firm I work for knew me years before I had my daughters and wanted me to come on board when they started the business regardless of how many days I could do for them.

I routinely hide the fact I work part-time from my clients and regularly hold conference calls on a Friday locked into my dining room with Peppa Pig on DVD-loop and the phone on mute so no small girl squeaks can be heard. Also, in practice the three days are usually four and sometimes five. Funnily though, my clients who have found out are totally fine about it (providing I jump when they yell) and my employers have never put any pressure on me to go full time. It's not exactly easy but for me it's much easier than either working full time or staying at home full time would be.

[Jan Rose]

For that 'classy' part-time job - look no further!

After a successful career as a Lawyer but with a poor work/life balance, I was determined to find a flexible job with great people, support, training, recognition, financial security and lifestyle. My 'classy' business gives me all of that plus a very 'classy' income!

If you like people and want to choose when you work then see my site at www.aloe-vera-guru.com

Intrigued? I'll be delighted to help - my phone number is on the site.

[Mandy D2O3]

I am a mother of two who, having divorced, needs to support my two children. Having, via living in Holland and Switzerland (and had a child very poorly with food intolerances), not worked for 13 years returning to work has been difficult. I was a Marketing Manager in the UK and then in Europe. Not having been able to find work to fit around the children which also pays decently I am now looking at retraining as a teacher. Does this fill me with joy, no , not really. However, as my ex has not worked for 18 months it has been an absolute nightmare financially. Teaching will provide a more challenging career than my current job - part-time Receptionist. In addition to the holidays it will, hopefully, provide a much better salary. On top of dealing with and ex-partner who has been unreliable with regards to finance and contact there are the huge hurts my children have gone through. What I can't cope with is worrying whether I can feed or clothe my children.

[Joe Greene]

So where are all the 'classy' part-time jobs for never ever satisfied middle-class women? errrrrrm........... who cares!!!

[Michelle Maden]

I am ridiculously lucky to have a part-time job that pays well and is stimulating and interesting. This is not down to law, culture or equal opportunities but a highly intelligent manager who was willing to take the risk. I, in return, am highly focussed and efficient. We both win.

[delilah, USA]

Classy job(adj) ... generally admired occupation which requires contacts in high places, and to a lesser degree, familiarity with expensive habits or ready investment capital. Typically pays less than a living wage, especially if done flexibly or part-time (if the pay is too good, it's probably not "classy", eg gentleman's escort, psychiatrist, pyramid selling agent). Examples: librarian or secretary at a well-funded and slightly sleepy private educational establishment or museum; sales rep at a vintage wine merchant's, Fortnum's, or art dealer; artist; private schools consultant; home-based caterer or gardener for the rich and famous. Avoid any implication of "service" - ie, not nanny, cleaner, or teaching (other than special needs/ therapy - and even that can be a bit too close to psychiatry).

Olympia's the wrong place to look, dear (except perhaps during the Antiques Fair). Try the back pages of Better Homes and Gardens.

[Pete]

If you can find someone in a similar position with complimentary skills/experience, a lot of public sector employers will listen to job share applications

[alie]

There is no such thing as 'classy' part time work. I have a degree from Cambridge, and MA from UCL and a brand new PhD. My 'classy' part time work includes a day in the local deli making fancy coffee and swanky sandwiches, and a morning as a cleaner for a friend's very posh B&B. Her comment on the situation was that I am the best qualified 'scrubber' in the village. My advice would be to start your own business - and I would if the environmental health inspector would hurry up and come and pass my kitchen!

[supermother]

It tends to be easier if you are already in a job and go back part time. If you are so good you're indispensable many jobs can be altered to different hours. If they're glad to see the back of you though then it's not so easy.

Part of the reason is that if you want to do many complex and interesting jobs it is genuinely hard to do them part time which is why employers are legally entitled in those cases to refuse flexible/part time working requests. Lots of people of all ages would like to work part time if they can afford that (most people can't afford it).

[supermother]

It tends to be easier if you are already in a job and go back part time. If you are so good you're indispensable many jobs can be altered to different hours. If they're glad to see the back of you though then it's not so easy.

Part of the reason is that if you want to do many complex and interesting jobs it is genuinely hard to do them part time which is why employers are legally entitled in those cases to refuse flexible/part time working requests. Lots of people of all ages would like to work part time if they can afford that (most people can't afford it).

[Nicola Thomas]

As this blog suggests, I had no alternative but to set up my own business to create the perfect job to fit around my child’s needs, but in the process, I developed a business model that created many ideal part time jobs for mums. I am launching a glamorous online lifestyle and parenting glossy and deluxe directory for the woman behind the mother – go to www.mama-mag.com to subscribe for free. As we are also launching 120 LOCAL MAMA realms, we are looking for 120 local mums (or more as job share is possible) to effectively manage their own local realm and sell media space to local businesses as well as write local editorial. We are looking for self starters with a solid background in marketing and sales, who would enjoy being part of online team. Email nicola@mama-mag.com with your postcode in the subject line to explore an opportunity with us. Look forward to hearing from you, and well done Alpha Mummy – it’s a classy blog site and look forward to promoting it!

[Duncan]

I can't comment on my birth experiences, but being taken seriously by potential employers when you've taken 10 years out of f/t work to bring up children is a Dad's dilemma too. 'Househusband' just sounds silly on a CV. I job-share with my wife: would it work for mums with complementary skills to pair up and apply for the 'classy' job jointly, I wonder?