Part-time work can be a way to balance family life and employment, but it's not always a good move for your career. Clare Whitmell explores ways to ensure working flexibly pays the bills
Recent focus on a handful of women who manage to have families and high-powered careers misses the point for the majority of working mothers, who battle to find decent-paying part-time work.
The figures around part-time work paint a bleak picture. A survey by Resolution Foundation revealed that part-time pay penalties for women in the UK are leading to "occupational segregation". A lack of quality part-time roles means that women move down the occupational ladder into low-skilled and low-paid jobs, where there are few opportunities for progression. Expensive childcare and inflexible work patterns compound the situation.
An article in the Independent illustrated the dilemma women face.
Public sector cuts are affecting many women. Employment opportunities in the private sector are concentrated in areas such as caring, catering and cleaning, with a gender pay gap of more than 18% — twice as high as in the public sector.
But while part-time wages are often swallowed up in childcare costs, staying in the employment market arguably makes it easier to find full-time work later. In a live Q&A on returning to work Fiona Severs says: "It's much harder to find a rewarding role when you've had a long career break than it is if you've managed to keep your hand in with flexible years."
Explore flexible work opportunities
These might include part-time work, but also job shares, staggered start and finish times, working from home, compressed hours, term-time only work, and so on. Maternity Action have produced an information sheet with advice about your rights on asking for child-friendly working hours.
Also consider applying for full-time opportunities, then negotiating for part-time hours. You'll need to match all the other criteria in the job description and be a strong candidate for the role. This approach also works well for roles where the required skills are specific or hard to find.
Be prepared to make a business case for hiring you by helping employers see the benefits of flexible working patterns. These can be economic (getting senior-level expertise for reduced hours and cost) as well as operational (hiring for specific or complementary skills, or at certain peak periods).
Target the right employers
Focus your efforts on companies that have policies on flexible working hours or where the culture towards working parents is positive and supportive. Some (though less than half according to Sarah-Jane Butler) may offer some form of childcare support, such as vouchers.
Social enterprise Women like Us recently launched Timewise Jobs, which specialises in senior part-time vacancies.
Strategies for keeping your career on track
It can be daunting to return to work after a break, so address any confidence issues by examining your skills and expertise, and deciding if you need any further training or professional development to get up to speed. Networking and workshops can also be a good source of support and encouragement.
Make sure your CV showcases your strengths, relevant experience and achievements. Focus it around the requirements of the role and include everything that supports your application, such as relevant voluntary or part-time work and professional development. Although you'll have a maternity leave gap (which you can address with a brief line in your work history section) highlight how you've kept up with the industry.
Encourage employers to see you as making a valuable contribution to the organisation. There's some evidence to show that not being present in the office – for example, if you're working part-time or from home – can derail your career and chances of promotion. Be visible when you're in the office, be proactive in suggesting projects, and don't be shy to announce positive results of your work.
This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To get more content and advice like this direct to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Careers update.
Diversity
Salary
Clare Whitmell
guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds