Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Hoping I can pick brains for some advice and perhaps suggestions.


I've just been made redundant after 10 years at the same place of work (I work in HR). My (now ex) employer have been extremely accommodating of my need to work flexibly (I have had 2 children since starting work there). But now, looking for flexible/part time work seems an uphill battle. I'm about to embark on some speculative applications this afternoon, but really I wanted to know:


- Do you work for an employer which is genuinely open to flexible working - if so would you mind PM'ing me the name so I can take a look?

- Have you been in this situation i.e. had to find flexible part time work? It seems most people who worked flexibly started off working full time and then reduced their hours. This is virtually impossible for me due to childcare. I can work up to 4 days a week with one day needed at home, but I can't work 5 days a week.


I'd really appreciate some tips - I want and need to work and am shocked in reality at how scarce part time jobs seem to be (working in HR I already knew this but being on receiving end of it all has come as a bit of a shock!)


Thanks in advance

Link to comment
https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/67630-family-friendly-workplaces/
Share on other sites

I'm lucky that my employer is really family friendly but we're a small office (with no vacancies - sorry!) so it is easier to be adaptable. I've considered moving but the family friendly bit is so convenient that I'm reluctant to give it up.


When I was looking before, I was told to apply for full time jobs and then once the job was offered, ask for part-time. I think your luck with that approach may depend on how easy the role would be to fill from the alternative candidates. I've never quite had the confidence to try that approach but I suspect it may be what I'll have to do if I do decide to move on.


Good luck with your hunt!

I too work for a small company and whilst I can't help directly, would recommend using agencies like Capability Jane who specialise in filling part-time roles. Apologies if you've already tried this route, but I found them a useful source when I was looking to recruit someone in to a part-time position.


Good luck with your search.

I agree that one good tactic can be to apply for full time roles but with the caveat of wanting to do the role 4 days per week. If you can show that you managed your work load well in a previous role (did you get much extra resource when you went from full time to 4 days or did you just make the role work for 4 days?) and that you have a well set-up home system and childcare etc for working in a demanding role than I think a lot of employers would be open to it if they like the look of a candidate. If you can I think it it is easier to find a part time role directly with a company than through a recruiter, unless it's a part-time specific recruiter, as having been one myself I know they can tend to just want to fit a round peg into a round hole rather than push for something different.


LinkedIn is a great tool for making speculative approaches to organisations so make sure to spend a bit of time updating your profile. I often recommend clients that are looking for part time roles (I am a career coach) to find jobs you are interested in applying for regardless if they are advertised as part time and then find the company and ideally person recruiting for the role on linkedin and send them a message saying you're really interested in the role but would they consider someone doing it 4 days per week. As an HR professional I am sure you know that top talent is hard to find and retain and I do think more and more companies are open to some element of flexible/ part time working but wouldn't necessarily advertise a role as such.


Other useful resources for you could be Working Mums, Women Like Us/Timewise, Mothers Meeting (now have a jobs section) and really tapping into your existing network and connections saying you are looking for a new opportunity.


Good luck. It's never nice being made redundant but I am sure a new exciting chapter awaits!


Sophie

http://www.themotherhoodbalance.com/

I work at UCL and it's very family friendly. Most recruiting managers will consider part-time for all jobs if they can.

We are just about to recruit a talent manager in my office. Won't be ready to advertise for a month or so but I can let you know once it's out if you're still looking.

J-mo

It might be worth losing money for 6 months on your childcare arrangements (I?m assuming that the reason you say you can?t afford to work fulltime is that the cost of the additional day of childcare wouldn?t be covered by the additional earnings?).


Once you are there and have proved yourself a bit, I?m sure the company will be flexible in considering part-time work, particularly in an HR role.


If the reason you don?t want to consider full time employment is because your number one priority is to spend the additional quality time at home, then obviously that?s not the right solution.

Would it be possible to do 4 longer days instead of 5 days a week as a compromise with an employer looking for a fulltime employee?

The other suggestions have been great so I am only trying to think a little outside of the box in case you need to try something else.

I found a new job in a different part of my organisation but with the same part time hours I previously negotiated after returning from mat leave. I was lucky that on the day I looked they were looking for the other half of someone else's job share, though the hours were initially a few short of what I wanted (17.5 rather than 23.75) they made up my hours to suit me. How I managed this: 1- luck 2- I was able to sell my experience and skills as their department really lacked what I could offer 3- through condensing many hours to certain days I would be available for the whole opening time of the service on those days. Think like this when you apply, and if you really want the job, arrange a visit so you can find out about them and sell yourself a bit pre interview.

I work for an NHS Trust

Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences and advice, also those via PM.


Since posting I've been applying for full time roles (mainly on LinkedIn) and have had much more interest and invitations to interview. I've been upfront in initial phone conversations that I can only work up to 4 days a week (not sure how I'll find the additional half a day of childcare I actually need to cover 4 days but I'll worry about that when I need to!). More than half of the employers I've spoken to have been amenable to 4 days and not ruled this out. Whether or not in reality this would mean being paid for 4 days and actually being required to work for 5 remains to be seen!


Another option I'm pursuing is doing interim 1 year contracts, these seem to be the bulk of part time roles available as they seem to cover maternity leavers who are already working part time. I'd rather not take a role that is non-perm but I'm starting to look at it as an option now.


The tips above on specialist part time jobs boards and recruiters have also been really really helpful. I'll update when I finally do get a job and also any handy tips/lessons learnt for others in a similar position!


Thanks again :-)

  • 1 month later...

Thanks for asking - I'm still looking!


I've typically had one/two interviews a week since July. The feedback has generally been positive, the main issue seems to be that I should be applying for more senior roles. But the more senior roles are rarely part-time. Catch 22 situation. I don't mind taking on a less senior role if it means I can work part-time but unfortunately employers not convinced. SIGH!!


The experience has been enlightening though and I still can't believe in this day and age that it isn't easier for women to work part-time/flexibly....!!!!

There is an agency 'womenlikeus.Co.uk' who specialise in genuine part time positions for women, the roles are often at 'middle management' level.

I work for a professional body and have worked across this sector for 15 years and my experience is that the sector is fairly accommodating in terms of part time and/or flexible working.

Good luck!

Thanks again for the further tips. I know there are some amazing pro-flex websites/recruiters/employers around. And thanks for all the amazing offers of help to put my CV forward to your own employers!


I've actually just been offered a great role that is a promotion and offers flexible working so I am really pleased and can now say that in this instance my perserverence paid off.


If anyone else is in a similar situation, I can recommend Capability Jane, Timewise jobs, workingmums- all places I've managed to sucessfully apply for genuine flex jobs and get through to interview stage with some really great companies.


I also had a call with http://www.availexe.com/ who have been in the press recently (I read about them in Goodhousekeeping!!) - really great business - linking up freelancers in HR, Marketing, IT, Finance - with smaller start-up businesses who want project work done from talented people, often from home.


It is very hard for people who want to work flexibly so I wish anyone hoping to do the same the best of luck - hopefully in years to come we'll look back and wonder why employers made it so hard, and flex working will just be the norm...

I'm so grateful I've just found this thread as this is exactly the situation I find myself in, that there just don't seem to be part time roles available and I'm over-qualified for ones that I have been applying for, but don't want to/can't commit to a full time job while my second baby is only 9 months old and eldest has only just started school. This thread has inspired me that there are options out there and given me a bit more enthusiasm just when I was flagging so thank you!

Poor you Anya - it can be very bruising and you can feel very defeated when you really want to work but there are these ridiculous barriers that dictate that you can't. I would say persevere as you will get there in the end. Build connections on LinkedIn, make approaches even if people aren't advertising for open vacancies - I've had some success by doing that. Be very clear within the first conversation that you have with someone that you need flexiblity but that you are extremely motivated to perform.


Latest list of the top employers for families is here - might be worth you having a look and see if any fit within your industry, and approach them:


http://www.topemployersforworkingfamilies.org.uk/index.php/special-awards/winners

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Does anyone know when the next SNT meeting is? I am fed up with my son being mugged on East Dulwich Grove! 
    • The issue must be everywhere at the moment. I was visiting a friend last week in Bermondsey, think we were walking  down Linton Rd & we dodged 7 dog poos. It was disgusting. 
    • Thanks for your message — I actually took the time to look into what CityHive does before posting my original comment, and I’d encourage anyone with questions to do the same. Yes, the Companies House filings are overdue — but from what I’ve gathered, this seems likely to be an accountant or admin issue, not some sign of ill intent. A lot of small, community-based organisations face challenges keeping up with formalities, especially when they’re focused on immediate needs like food distribution. Let’s not forget CityHive is a not-for-profit, volunteer-powered CIC — not a corporate machine. As for the directors, people stepping down or being replaced is often about capacity or commitment — which is completely normal in the voluntary and community sector. New directors are sometimes appointed when others can no longer give the time. It doesn’t automatically mean bad governance — it just means people’s circumstances change. CityHive’s actual work speaks volumes. They buy most of the food they distribute — fresh produce, essential groceries, and shelf-stable items — and then deliver it to food banks, soup kitchens, and community projects across London. The food doesn’t stay with CityHive — it goes out to local food hubs, and from there, directly to people who need it most. And while yes, there may be a few paid staff handling logistics or admin, there’s a huge volunteer effort behind the scenes that often goes unseen. Regular people giving their time to drive vans, sort donations, load pallets, pack food parcels — that’s what keeps things running. And when people don’t volunteer? Those same tasks still need to be done — which means they have to be paid for. Otherwise, the whole thing grinds to a halt. As the need grows, organisations like CityHive will inevitably need more support — both in people and funding. But the bigger issue here isn’t one small CIC trying to make ends meet. The real issue is the society we live in — and a government that isn’t playing its part in eradicating poverty. If it were, organisations like CityHive, The Felix Project, City Harvest, FareShare, and the Trussell Trust wouldn’t need to exist, let alone be thriving. They thrive because the need is growing. That’s not a reflection on them — it’s a reflection on a broken system that allows people to go hungry in one of the richest cities in the world. If you're in doubt about what they’re doing, go check their Instagram: @cityhivemedia. You’ll see the real organisations and people receiving food, sharing thanks, and showing how far the impact reaches. Even Southwark Foodbank has received food from CityHive — that alone should speak volumes. So again — how does any of this harm you personally? Why spend time trying to discredit a group trying to support those who are falling through the cracks? We need more people lifting others up — not adding weight to those already carrying the load.
    • Well, this is very disappointing. Malabar Feast  has changed its menu again. The delicious fish curry with sea bass no longer exists. There is now a fish dish with raw mango, which doesn't appeal. I had dal and spinach instead, which was bland (which I suppose I could/should have predicted). One of my visitors had a "vegetable Biriani" which contained hardly any vegetables. Along with it came two extremely tiny pieces of poppadom in a large paper bag.   This was embarrassing, as I had been singing Malabar's praises and recommending we ordered from there. The other mains and the parathas were OK, but I doubt we will be ordering from there again. My granddaughters wisely opted for Yard Sale pizzas, which were fine. Has anybody else had a similar recent poor (or indeed good!)  experience at Malabar Feast?
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...