Career Toolkit
How to find a new flexible job
How do you find a good flexible job which uses your experience and skills? For many working parents, flexible working is their number one priority. Most, however, want a job which reflects their skills rather than to be pushed into a career siding and left there. In the current climate, it can be hard to find any job, let alone a flexible one. Most organisations don't advertise flexible jobs, except part-time ones so where do you start looking?
There are organisations, such as Workingmums.co.uk, which specialise in advertising family friendly jobs with a large range of employers so it is worth registering with them.
However, up to 80% of jobs are not formally advertised so it is worth doing some research on firms which employ people with your skills, checking out their flexible working policy and asking around about them before sending in a speculative letter. Use social networking to find out about any potential vacancies, even if it is only for short-term work or at more reduced hours than you would like. Once you get your foot in the door, you may be able to build on this. Ask friends, family, colleagues and ex-colleagues for any information on job openings.
If you do spot a good job that is advertised as full time it may still be worth applying and asking whether the employer will consider some form of flexibility. Legally, you don't have the right to request flexible working until after you have been in a job for six months, but if the organisation really wants you, you will have more leeway.
The six million dollar question is when to bring up flexible working at interview. There are many different opinions on this and every job situation is different so there are no hard and fast rules. Feel your way, but don't make it the prime focus of your interview. You could try asking general questions at the end of the interview about the organisation's flexible work policy. You should research this before you apply in any event and ask contacts for the inside view on whether the organisation really backs flexible working or just does so on paper.
The good news is that a growing number of employers are coming around to the positives of flexible working for both employers and employees.
I am so SO angry and upset that employers don't seem to value part-time working mums. I have had two children and tried so hard to return to teaching following their birth. It was quite a struggle! In my experience having people job sharing is a benefit as the skills and experience are doubled even though they may only be working part time. I believe between them they give more!
Anonymous | Report this comment
I wish to find something part time that will fit around my studies and my son who is nine years of age. My nature of work is office/admin. I desire to do somethiing of this nature at home as it would give me the flexibility I need. So far most of the positions/jobs advertised do not offer this. I wish to see more jobs available that can provide this specification.
claudette ikuesan | Report this comment
I recently asked for flexible working to be told by the boss ie woman that she never got flexi working and she coped so get on with it, now in process of a grievance and they refuse to co operate after trying to discipline me over parental leave jokers.
Anonymous | Report this comment
I am a mum of a five-year-old daughter, and desperately looking for a part-time term-time job. I would love the job to be in Enfield,or around North London. My experience has been working at nurseries and creches. My skills are strong customer/client skills, and highly organised, excellent time management skills.
Anonymous | Report this comment
Hi all, I am a mum to 2 years 8 months old twins and looking for a flexible working pattern as the childcare costs for the twins is way out of our reach. I am a ACCA qualified accountant with experience in Practice, Public sector and Charity. My skill set includese communicating effectively with non finance managers and monthly budget statement preparations and more. Looking for flexible work in Watford or the surrounding areas.
Dora Ngoma | Report this comment
Hi , I am a Mum of a 12 year old and at present living in Greece.I have over 25 years experience in the travel Industry.I would love to work from home internet based but there just isn't a lot out there and I am very cautious about many of the companies advertising. After working for the majority of my working life in a challenging environment I do find it very boring and need another challenge.
Editor: Our careers expert Linda Whittern has replied below:
The jobs market in the UK is pretty tough, as we know, but sadly the competition for jobs in Greece is much, much worse … You’ll have to exploit your assets and be very determined and organised about creating job opportunities for yourself. Your assets include your knowledge of how things work in the UK and in Greece, your language, customer service and business skills and your experience of (and contacts in) the travel industry. You are ideally suited to liaison type jobs, working for overseas English-speaking companies and acting as their representative in Greece.
Assuming you live relatively close to the major tourist sites for classical Greece (eg Athens) I think your most likely employers would be the high-end holiday providers to comfortably off, risk averse, older tourists from the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK. While you could be home-based for much of the time, these employers would probably want to use you to vet accommodation (eg for safety and visitor appeal), sites and so on. I suggest you start putting together databases of the different types of English-speaking overseas companies that do business in Greece.
Think about what help they may need from a liaison, customer service or travel industry expert on the ground. Do your research on those companies to check they’re likely to be good payers and reasonably ethical (prefer those with a long Google history to the new sites and those that provide full contact details!).
Embassies keep data on businesses / sectors active in the host country (Greece) and their home countries and normally provide such information to enquirers at no charge. It’s quite likely they’ll run some kind of internal vetting programme that will mean the more dodgy companies don’t appear on their lists (however, don’t assume this). In any case, you’ll be safer initiating the contact with potential employers rather than responding to companies which are deliberately targeting those who need to work from home and so are at a disadvantage in the jobs market. Good luck!
kim DAVIES | Report this comment
I'm a single mum to a 3 year old boy. I currently work in the mornings only, but am doing a mundane job that really has no future and sadly no pay rises!! The cost of living is going up. When my son starts school in September I cannot increase my hours as there is no ability for the company to do so! I really want to work in either my son's school or one close by so I can at least have the same hours he is at school and try to earn a little more money!
Anonymous | Report this comment
To Dora
Why don't you set up as self-employed? If I had your qualifications I would look around my local area and ascertain if there was a niche for you to work from home for local companies, doing their books for them. For many small companies doing their vat, books etc is a pain and they welcome someone who is able to do these types of jobs on an ad hoc basis.
Val
Anonymous | Report this comment
wow - very good job tips. I like the ideas.
Anonymous | Report this comment
I'm looking for a job working from home, i would make an exellent proofreader, i frequently spot spelling mistakes and poor grammar on big and well known websites. I have an excellent and professional telephone manner as i used to be a receptionist for a Formula 3 Racing Team. If anyone knows of an opportunity that fits the criteria then please let me know, my email is charmaine9@hotmail.co.uk
Anonymous | Report this comment
I have been in head office retail for 15 years and during my maternity leave I have had to deal with a difficult birth and losing my father all in 12 months. When I approached my company asking for a reduction in hours, from 5 days to 4 days, I was refused and even in the meeting they piled on the pressure to return full time after 6 weeks. In 2013 I expected more part time/job share positions available at large companies. It is not fair that you should be discriminated against because you decided to have a child - after all not going back to work is not an option now a days. It is a necessity as we live in a society where 2 incomes are needed to keep a roof over you head and food on the table.
Anonymous | Report this comment
Hi all
My name is Abi Little and I have a 16 month old little girl. I didn't want to go back to my full-time job after she was born so I resigned and joined the Bodyshop @ Home. I started in November 2012. I absolutely love it. I earn £250-300 per month for running 4 parties. I am now recruiting a team of ladies who wish to do the same. The work is totally flexible and very profitable. I earn at least £25 an hour. Full training is provided. The incentives are brilliant and because everyone knows and love the Bodyshop, booking parties is easy and so is selling. It doesn't matter where you live, you can still join my Team. If you would like to know more please contact me on: 07817926887.
Thanks
Abi Little
Anonymous | Report this comment