Family friendly workplaces?

[roic]

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

[nunheadmum]

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!

[kjcroft]

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.

[monniemae]

What hours were you doing / are you looking for? That must make a difference to how appealing it would be to an employer. And, can you approach employers directly, or recruiters?

[patt1980]

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/

[cmacnew]

I also came across a website called 2 to 3 days and they are a recruitment agency specialising in part time work for mums.

x

[womanofdulwich]

timewisejobs.co.uk too

[edanna]

Have you seen this? About to close: http://mobile.timewisejobs.co.uk/job/8935/hr-manager/

[ladyruskin]

Capability Jane is another job website specialising in part-time roles:

http://jobs.capabilityjane.com/

[j-mo]

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

[sineadh]

Hi - I am recruiting at the minute for a part time admin person. Its pretty junior so not sure if its right for you - but you could work school hrs. Its about 25k max. Do get in touch if you are interested.

[LondonMix]

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.

[Northeastview]

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

[roic]

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 :-)

[GlamourBug]

Hello, I wondered how you had got on with your search? x

[midivydale]

Hoping you have had some luck OP! I think it is VERY common to work as if you are fulltime and be paid for 4 days (or 3 1/2 in my case. All my mum friends who have managed to negotiate a 4 day week seem to have this situation.

[roic]

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....!!!!

[midivydale]

Agree, it is madness. What kind of work do you do? (Pm if you prefer).

[midivydale]

Just saw that you work in hr. I am in banking/wealth management) pm me if you are interested in that industry (we have an opening in hr at the moment).

[kristymac1]

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!

[roic]

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...

[kjcroft]

So pleased it worked out for you. Congratulations on your new job!

[AnyaJoeli]

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!

[lisaloulou84]

what area do you work in? I work for Oliver Bonas and they are extremely flexible. Their head office is about a 50 min drive to near Tolworth but a great comapany to work for.

[roic]

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