A job seeker recently shared her apprehensions about part-time work interfering with her job search. She’s not alone.
After much thought and another month of job searching, she decided to apply for a part-time position and landed one rather quickly. She reaped more benefits than expected — she met new people and had a weekly schedule to follow.
Part-time work turned out to be a good choice for her. Not everyone considering a part-time job is looking for a career move. Some job seekers are searching for part-time work that allows them to have more time and flexibility.
If you are trying to decide if you should concentrate 100 percent of your time looking for a full-time job or take a part-time job, these questions from Barbara Moses, Ph.D may help you decide.
• Can you afford to work part-time? What are your reasons for taking a part-time job? Are you working for extra income to spend it on things you want, such as a vacation or second car?
• Are you prepared to trade advancement for lifestyle? Part-time work limits your interaction with key decision-makers who could influence your career. If your goal is to turn your part-time job into a full-time opportunity, consider taking extra assignments or volunteering to help with other projects and increase your chances of visibility with management.
• Are you prepared to give up stability? Be sure to ask questions about benefits that full-time employees receive. A reduction or loss of benefits is an important consideration.
• Are you prepared to give up a sense of belonging? Working part-time can be lonely for some people because they can miss the daily interaction with a group. Make sure you build a routine of activities to maintain that sense of belonging.
• Are you self-disciplined manager? Part-time workers may be asked to change their schedules, and it’s up to you decide how flexible you can be on short notice.
• Do you have a clear idea of what you want to gain through part-time work? It’s a good idea to have a goal in mind. For example, are you taking care of a sick family member or going back to school?
• Are your expectations realistic? This is one area that can easily be overlooked when taking a part-time position. Setting boundaries and job expectations in advance can help you and your boss manage expectations of what can be accomplished on a part-time basis.
• Are you taking a discount in pay for flexibility? Keep in mind that it can be easy to do more work than you are paid for especially if the position is one based on a specific expertise. Most professionals are willing to go the extra mile (within reason), but be prepared to stay within your boundaries. It’s important to write expectations down and get agreement on your workload ahead of time.
Do you think taking a part-time job is a good strategy?
