In my last blog post (Is Part-Time Work Really Ideal for Working Moms?), I talked about how many women decide to work part-time because it will give them more time with their family, but then they eventually discover that part-time work is not all it’s cracked up to be.
So what is the solution if part-time work is less than ideal?
Well there are several options: 1) Go back to work full-time, 2) Fill in the part-time work with a second (usually home-based) business opportunity, 3) Quit working entirely, 4) Decide it’s time to change careers, or 5) Reinvent yourself.
There are pros and cons to all of these scenarios. Let’s explore . . .
Let’s start with going back-to-work full-time. That may work, but often people find it difficult to do after having a taste of the “freedom” that part-time work provides, especially women with children and otherwise busy lives! Too much freedom can lead to a lack of work ethic – sometimes a difficult habit to change back. Another drawback is that the previous full-time position may not be available anymore. Someone else may have filled the position, or the position may have been cut, since the company now knows that the work can be done on a part-time basis.
As a result, many people begin to fill in the time that part-time work provides with some other kind of home-based business opportunity. This can lead to offering professional services such as consulting, or perhaps selling products such as Tupperware, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Scentsy, etc. The problem with the consulting is that if it is in the same field as the (now) part-time employer, then that is a conflict-of-interest. So the only solution in that case is to quit completely. But what happens when the part-time business starts to grow, and suddenly conflicts with the part-time job? It’s at that point when a decision needs to be made – either stay with the part-time job or quit it and go full forward into the business.
So now I want to know:
Have you had anyone in this situation?
What did they do?
Were the coach in this situation? How did it turn out?
Coming up . . . Part III in this post – Options #4 and #5: making a career change and/or reinventing yourself.
I haven’t had a “real” job in several decades, but one thing not mentioned here about part time work was the conflict within the home. When I worked part time, my husband worked full time, and since we had a 2 year old at the time, one of us needed to be home for his care. Whenever a schedule conflict arose, I was the one who had to tell my boss “sorry” because my husband’s job – the real wage earner – came first. Eventually, I quit that job because the stress of trying to make it all work far outweighed the tiny amount of income it brought in.
Great point Jamie! Many times the husband’s job takes priority (vs. the wife’s job), and the wife is the one who is forced to make concessions and schedule changes in her job, just like you experienced. This is very common in a dual career household. Thank you for sharing.
Working part time from my home worked great for me when my kids were little. I sold encyclopedias sitting on the bleachers watching my boys play ball! I never even did a presentation! Haha!
Thanks Martha! I appreciate your sharing and your support!