Should I take this job?

Parent Cafe
1

After struggling to manage a career, two elementary aged sons (one SN) and a partner with a massive work/travel schedule… After 11 years of working full time and juggling raising kids and not feeling like I’m doing anything well… After gaining weight and feeling constantly three steps behind… After feeling for years that I’m not doing the things I want to do as a mom… And feeling constantly stress, rushed, anxious, angry and exhausted.

I’m thinking of pulling the trigger and going part time in Sept/Oct.

Last week I was offered a job as a scientific editor at the same organization where I work (a top cancer hospital research center) that is 25hr/week with one 2hr meeting onsite and the rest from home. I’m currently in a management role and split my time editing grants, reports and papers, managing people and projects, putting out fires, and providing a lot of emotional support for my boss (who is a proverbial brilliant enfant terrible).

When this role was offered to me, I initially thought ‘wow - how perfect’ but didn’t think I’d actually go through with it. Then every single person close to me gave me feedback like, ‘seems like it could be ideal’ or ‘why not give it a try?’ or ‘you have earned this.’

We can afford, thanks to H’s financial wizardry (and a timely raise he just received), the salary cut.

I would still have benefits, still contribute to the 401k, etc. We are on H’s health plan so that wouldn’t change.

My new manta is: “build the life not that the 20-something envisioned, but that the 40-something lives, given the dice roll.” I cannot serve a ‘big job’ right now, and prize using my brain to do good for decent pay with lots of flexibility.

I’ve never worked this part time, I’ve never worked from home. Is this the right move? What can I do to make this a success?

2

I worked part-time (not from home) for many years and it was great. I’d go for it!

3

It sounds like a good move. But try to have the right mindset. I’ve heard part time work can be challenging if you try to hold yourself to standards of being full-time employee & also full-time stay-at-home parent.

4

Having read all your previous posts, I am thrilled to hear you have this opportunity! You are capable of figuring out how to work from home, just give yourself and your family time to adjust.

If this turns out not to be your dream job, i am confident you would be able to find other work to suit you.

I say Go For It !!

5

I have been a part-time employee much of my life, especially when my kids were young and my H had very long hours. It was the right choice for me and our family. I love working from home but it is s bit lonely from the point of not getting the interaction you might in a workplace setting.

Only you can weigh the pro/con for yourself.

6

My main concern is how this will look on my CV.

Will no one every take me seriously again after working PT mid-career?

7

I moved from part time to full time two years ago. The new employer did not ask me about why I was part time. They asked about my responsibilities and how those would translate into how I could do their job.

8

I feel I am taken very seriously even though I am a part timer. I have the freedom to take on national volunteer positions because I am not tied to a full-time job.

9

Do what is right for you/your family, not what will look good on a resume. Isn’t that what we tell our kids when they are thinking about choosing extracurriculars?

10

Do it!

I worked full time until my second child was born, then stayed home for two plus years, and then worked half time for several years. I will say that working half time was more like working three quarter time, but working full time was often fifty-five hours or more a week. I did, eventually, go back to work full time when we needed money for private school and college. I was very fortunate to have wonderful bosses who were very flexible all those years. I was never asked about why I had stayed home or why I worked part time and I felt I was always highly valued/respected whether part time or full time.

My D is a mother of one and plans to work 50-65% time the rest of her life. She worked full time before her S was born. Her employer is extremely supportive of this decision.

Good luck, @Aspieration.

11

@Aspieration, you can “hide” your part time status on your resume/CV and emphasize the responsibilities and skills.

I would be more concerned about the safety/longevity of this position, or odds of you being laid off. Editors are a dime a dozen (even though science editors aren’t, so it’s good that you have that niche) and publications often get outsourced if not cut altogether as cost-saving measures. And a part-time employee who also gets benefits could be considered very expensive when the alternative might be a contract worker who gets nada.

Just this food for thought - for someone who’s been there.

12

Part time can be a great option. However you might want to make sure that you are being paid what you are worth. Too often, businesses will underpay a part time professional. Don’t be afraid to renegotiate if you find you are being asked to assume additional responsibilities especially if they are higher level than what you are hired for. This is based on my ( and several friends) part time experiences.

Good luck!

13

I can’t think of one good reason not to do this.

14

This sounds like a great opportunity. I have been lucky enough to be able to work part-time and from home. My advice would be to make sure you have a dedicated work space at home and that you set work/home boundaries. For example, when I sit down to work at home, I need to ignore the laundry and dishwasher and other chores or I would never get any work done. The benefit is that I can be flexible about when I work and am able to make it to kids’ sporting events or doctor appts.

15

Appreciate the feedback. It is aligned with what my dear friend and family have been saying.

16

Doing part time and working from home will require you to do more networking and stay relevant in order not to get displaced during down turn. You may also find yourself working more hours than part time if you are working from home, so it will take some discipline. I would make sure there is a room you can close off where you could work. It may be a tall order in NYC sometimes. I’ve had the luxury of working from home few days a week. I have a very large monitor, Jabra speaker and very fast internet, everything I need for a home office.

I agree with other posters. There is no reason why you shouldn’t take this position. It is a great opportunity to spend more time with your kids now and get back to your career when they are older. BTW - both of my sister and I did that when our kids were young and went back full time when they went to middle school. My sister is a lawyer. She was at a big law before she went part time. She later had few jobs as a general counselor at some major companies. I pivoted a bit when I re-entered and worked my way up. I feel like I lost probably 5 years of my career (some of my peers were MDs before me). Of course once I got there, I decided it wasn’t for me and then pivot again. Both of us feel going part time was well worth it.

Good luck. Congratulations. You must be very well thought of by your firm for them to offer this opportunity to you.

17

OP this sounds like a very good thing for you, but it’s going to be very challenging in it’s own way. Is there a place you can go to do work which is not “at home” if you find that you need to? A suitable office? If you decide to take this job, it can be a chance to take a breath and get your life back on track, but you need to do it with eyes wide open and no illusions that it will be a panacea.

If you make that jump, I’m sure we will have more to say about what to be aware of.

18

Just remember that the person who planned a certain career path when you were in your 20s didn’t know the person you’d become or the situation you’d be in in your 40s. We all need to adapt to reality and to let go of rigid goals that may no longer fit our situations

19

I’ve worked part time most of my career, and I’m an engineer / AutoCAD technician. DH and I have run our business out of our home since 1999. I’m hoping I never have to work in an office again! Working from home is wonderful. As others have said, working part time is usually not an issue.

I do have to share one story. When my kids were very young, I worked three LONG days a week in an office. I didn’t make my work hours known to our clients, since they were all men and I was afraid they wouldn’t understand. Sure enough, one of them figured out my situation and sarcastically said, “You must be a MOMMMM…” What a jerk. Fortunately, he was the only idiot who ever commented on my work status.

20

OP, do you have space/set up for a work place at home? Something more than a laptop on your lap or a desk in the midst of other family activities/space? I think I would still need a space to “report to”, be mine for work, undisturbed space, etc.

The other thing about working at home - and working part time. Do you have the discipline to start-stop work? Not have work turn consuming all days/parts of your week? It can be easy to catch a couple hours of work here and there - and all of a sudden NOT be working part time -even though you’re getting paid for part time.