If you work a part time position, how many hours do you work? What is your job function/industry? Do you get health benefits?
I desperately want to work a part time position, but I don't know where to even look. In my current job function, part time positions basically don't exist. I am wondering if it would be worth it to try to transition to a new career/field!
coconut / 8854 posts
I'm an accountant, and I work at a small CPA firm. I work 20 hours/week. Wednesday, Thursday, and 1/2 day Fridays. I definitely took a pay cut taking a part time job (meaning my per hour rate decreased compared to my full time position) but I love it! I'm not offered health benefits, but I do get vacation time.
pear / 1955 posts
I'm in HR, and I dropped to 30 hours/week after my second child was born. I specifically chose 30 hours because that's the threshold for full benefits at the company I work for. I would probably just start browsing job postings and see if you can find a part-time position that appeals to you, or one where your skillset might be translatable.
pomelo / 5720 posts
I'm a clinical SW at a hospital and work 20 hrs/week. I work two 10 hour days which is preferable to me because of the commute. It's pretty typical in my field to be able to find part-time work but some positions pay better than others. I get vacation time, 401k, and benefits, though we opt to use my husbands health insurance instead of mine.
nectarine / 2641 posts
I work PT at a non-profit. No health insurance (that would be true even if I were full-time, though.) I do have a 403B match. I work 15-20 hours/week, very flexible. Usually ~2 days/week, and then I consider the other hours all the time I spend putting out fires when employees call in... I occasionally work from home as well. Luckily, my husband has permanent insurance through Tri-Care because he was medically retired from the military. We could also get it through his job if need-be. I'm lucky not to have to worry about health insurance when considering my own employment.
cantaloupe / 6131 posts
I am an attorney. I work half time - M, T, W, from 8:00am-3:30pm with a 30 minute lunch. I work overtime when things are busy, but its paid as paid time off. I get full benefits at 50% time, so that's why I'm working those hours. I get paid 50% of what my full time salary would be. This schedule allows me to beat the majority of commute traffic, get home to cook a fast dinner, and then pick the kids up from daycare. Thursdays DH and I usually go out to breakfast or lunch as our weekly date while the kids are at school and I have time to do my errands and other household chores. Then we spend the weekends as a family. It also makes it easy to schedule doctors appointments for everyone and its super helpful in terms of getting coverage when the boys are sick and need to stay home from school. I know the 3 days I'm at work DH is going to try his best to cover for me, and vice versa.
We have no family nearby to help us at all and we currently don't have a reliable babysitter, so its a fantastic balance for now, although paying for double daycare for a toddler and an infant pretty much eats up most of my paycheck. Its still worth it because I get to keep my license (and my job pays for my bar membership) and we have outstanding benefits that are super cheap.
nectarine / 2771 posts
I'm a licensed psychologist and work 22 hours in a hospital setting, and 5-7 hours in my own private practice. My schedule isn't this exact but in general, it's 9-3, 5 days a week. I get amazing health insurance through the hospital position, as well as other benefits (PTO, 401k, etc), but dental and eye coverage is through dh's position. I love it! I feel like I have the best of both worlds because I'm at home enough and at work enough. Best of luck!
honeydew / 7622 posts
Not really a 'position' but I am a self employed portrait photographer. This week is busier than normal but typically I work 10-15 hours a week May-November and less over the rainy winter months. DH travels a lot overnight (currently he has been gone overnight 2-3 nights during the week for the last 4 weeks) so having a flexible schedule is essential for us. I took a year off to SAH with the intention to quit working all together. However I missed working and there is nothing else where I would make the hourly rate I do with the flexibility I have. I considered being a RE underwriter or working in a winery tasting room but opted to stick with what I know.
nectarine / 2821 posts
I hope you can find a part time position that works for you! I feel very lucky to work 3 days a week, 8h shifts, and still have free benefits through my job for my whole family. We have considered me going back up to 4days per week, but I am going to stay at 3 for as long as possible. My husband's job is much lower paying and not great in many ways, but our balance works for now. When my second baby is born and we have settled into our new routine, I will consider going back to 4days per week just because its a much smarter financial choice.
ETA I am a nurse in a hospital setting. I know there are many different types of positions in hospitals that are part time, mainly because they like to avoid benefits ( I think).
pear / 1728 posts
I previously worked part-time but have since left for a different full-time position. I worked 80% (M-Th) and got 80% of my full-time salary. I did receive full benefits.
I was working at an accounting firm.
clementine / 778 posts
I'm a part time ESL teacher. I work four hours a day Tuesday through Friday. I could of worked full time and worked at two schools, but between my 45 minute commute and wanting to have mom time and me time, I chose to work part time. I don't received health insurance, but it doesn't matter since my hubby has amazing insurance.
persimmon / 1270 posts
I work "full time" but it is SUPER SUPER flexible and for a small non profit where I dont get paid very well but LOVE the work. I have childcare 4 days a week 9-5:30 and work during that time, but also work evenings at home, or whatever else needs to happen, often with the babies underfoot making a mess while I try to get some stuff done. It's nuts, but works. There are 3 of us in the office.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I am kind of in the same boat, my industry isn't very flexible in terms of part time, but I happen to be in group that's flexible in terms of location and actual working hours (I really think that's because the management team knows it's an easy thing to offer people and it makes us in turn, feel good about the organization and the group). I am constantly thinking about what my next move is and if it requires changing industries and additional training to go part time...then I kind of lose interest because I would have to pay to learn something and then go part time...it doesn't make financial sense right now.
coconut / 8430 posts
Thank you everyone for your thoughtful responses! It's interesting to see how there is part time work in various industries. Too bad mine is not one of them! 
@gingerbebe: that is the dream! I would love to work my existing job on a reduced schedule but I don't think it's possible.
@youboots: At one point I thought about trying to be a pro photographer but decided I wasn't good enough 
@looch: that kind of seems to be the conclusion I'm reaching now. I'm wondering if instead of working part time as in 20-30 hours per week, if I should think about part time as in 4-6 months of the year and work contract jobs, or perhaps even working FT now and doing an early retirement so that I can be completely done working because I've reached my financial goals sooner. It seems to me the only part time work that would come close is working for myself, but that has its own pitfalls.
watermelon / 14467 posts
@sunny: I also work in non-profit and well paying part-time jobs are extremely hard to come by. I'm considering taking an admin position in a school (clerical) so I can work a school year and be home with my kids during breaks just so we won't have to figure out child care every summer. Once my oldest is in kinder, it won't matter so much if I'm not making as much.
honeydew / 7488 posts
I have been working part time for a few years now as a contractor to a government agency (technology field, but there are many, many types of jobs that people hold at the agency while working part time). I scale my hours as the work demands and as I have flexibility in my life to do so. During the school year I have been working 20 hr weeks (allows me to pick up my elementary school aged child and take her to dance, etc). This summer I have added extra hours to support another project. It helps that my company wins a lot of awards for supporting work life balance, especially for women, and I receive full benefits as long as I work 50% or more. More and more companies are also supporting flexible schedules that include work from home options. Have you considered talking to your management about what options there might be?
blogger / persimmon / 1231 posts
I'm an RN and work in a pediatric clinic. Nursing allows you to work in so many different settings/hours. I currently work two 8-hour shifts per week, but will likely do just one for a bit when I come back from maternity leave.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@sunny: Yes, exactly my thinking (contract part of the year and work longer versus full time and retire earlier). For now, I have a good thing going with full time work, so I will keep doing it as long as I get extended.
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
@sunny: If you can't work part time in your industry, is it possible to find an employer that allows for more flexibility, such as telecommuting?
coconut / 8430 posts
@youboots: I don't think I have the skill and right now, no time/patience to get better 
@Mrs. High Heels: I applied for some full time telecommute jobs! There aren't too many positions like that though. 
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
@sunny: good luck!! 
did you happen to look at this site at all? https://www.flexjobs.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjw1a3KBRCY9cfsmdmWgQ0SJAATUZ8broe-rRS59ShIvmm1Lh5Hcei4KcE_b1Pj4S3UAa0l_xoCYpzw_wcB
Here is the full list of companies most supportive of telecommuting: https://www.flexjobs.com/company-guide - maybe you can go directly to their career sections too.
grapefruit / 4997 posts
@sunny: Good luck! I am torn between going back to work and being SAHM. Something part time would be ideal.
grapefruit / 4997 posts
@Mrs. High Heels: Thanks for this link! I would love a flex schedule work environment.
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