TOP TIPS FOR LOOKING FOR PART-TIME WORK

 

                                                       By Nina Daranijo, MD of JustPartTime

 

I know how difficult it is looking for part-time work so I thought I might share some of my experience of the search.

I have to say that we, at JustPartTime, do not have the answers to all your questions regarding part-time work, but I can guarantee you that we will do our best to help you find what you are looking for.

So, here we go:

 

Be Pro-Active: Looking for a part-time job is twice as hard as looking for full-time jobs. You have to work really hard and you have to be very pro-active.

 

 

Interviewing: When you get to the interview stage, PLEASE prepare:

• Research the employer - research the market they’re in
• think about all the possible questions they might ask you and have your answers ready.
• Prepare you own questions (to ask the interviewer), there is nothing more appealing than a candidate who shows an interest in the job and the company itself (and not just the money..).
• Speak confidently and show genuine interest in the company and the job.  
• If you want to negotiate different part-time hours to what was advertised, think about the hours you’d prefer and prepare how you are going to present it to the employer (making sure it will still be beneficial to the employer)

 

A Good CV:  Take your time to create a very, very good CV - this is extremely important. Your CV is your foot in the door; it is your first chance to impress a potential employer – make sure it is good enough to ensure it is not your last chance.  It MUST be good enough to attract them to call you for an interview.  If it does not work for you the first time, it won’t work for you anytime.

• Read the job description and match your skills to the job requirements.  If you don’t have the exact skills, yet you know you can do the job, don’t be afraid to tell them why you think you are the best person for the role. Highlight your skills and demonstrate how you used them in similar roles – these are your “transferable skills” which means they can be used in a variety of jobs. 
• Be positive and confident:  keep away from using phrases like “I think I can” - it shows you are not sure and no-one (not even you if you were in their shoes) would spend hard-earned money on someone who is unsure whether they themselves can do the job you are offering.
• I could go on and on about CVs but please visit our career website (http://www.justparttime.co.uk/careers.aspx) for more information on CVs building.

 

Organise your Home Life: If you have children, PLEASE plan your childcare arrangements before you even think about looking for a part-time job, so that when the perfect job does come along, you will not have to give reasons why you cannot work the hours you originally negotiated for. Obviously, there are situations where things just go wrong, like the children falling ill and so on (especially if you have toddlers) - no-one can plan for these occasions and your boss should understand that.

 

 

Be Flexible:  Remember, this arrangement is a two-way thing and both parties need to be happy. Be as flexible as possible with your hours and be open to discussion.

 

 

Job Search:  Dedicate 2 or 3 hours a day to your part-time job search on the internet.

• Use the search engines (Google, Yahoo etc).
• Type in different keywords like “part time jobs” or “part-time jobs in London” etc.
• Search through as many websites as possible.
• Register for Jobs-By-Email with different websites aimed at part-time work (like www.justparttime.co.uk).
• If you want a local job, search for employers in your local area.

 

Move fast:  When you find a job of interest to you, apply immediately, DO NOT wait till later – it’s a tough market.

 

 

Don’t be afraid to ask:  If the vacancies you are interested in are only full-time jobs and you know you can do the job part-time, be prepared to call them to discuss whether it could be changed to a part-time role. 

• Call the company and introduce yourself.
• Ask to speak to the person recruiting.
• Once through to the correct person, find out whether the role has to be full-time or if there is a possibility they would consider taking someone on part-time.
• Discuss the possibility of working part-time or flexible hours shared between office and home or job-sharing.
• Sell yourself and your skills and demonstrate your interest in the role

 

Recruitment Agencies:  Dealing with recruitment agencies.. hmmm! Not the easiest way to find a job but to be honest, they do have the jobs, so you need to work with them.  Having found a job advertised by a Recruitment Agency,

• call them and ask to speak to the person dealing with that job (have the job ref to hand)
• ask about the job, the requirements, the location etc,
• Make sure you sound very confident and give recruitment consultant a feel for who you are so that he/she will remember you when he/she sees your CV. (Agencies receive hundreds of CVs a day so yours really needs to stand out).

 

Be realistic:  If you have a senior level career, be realistic about whether you can find a part-time job at that same level.  Unless you are already employed in a role, say as a financial manager, in which you are able to negotiate part-time hours, it is going to be quite difficult finding another job of the same level of responsibility and salary, in the part-time job market.  It is not impossible but it may take some considerable time to find so be realistic.  If you have to find a new role and it must be part-time and you need it soon, be prepared to take a lower-level job within the field you want, and work your way up.

 

 

Other opportunities… Open your eyes to other opportunities out there like freelancing, and running a part-time business. You never know, you might just enjoy working for yourself.

 

Finally, whatever situation you’re in, (either looking for part-time work, or in business for yourself), you always need to think positively, be determined and grab every opportunity as though  it’s the last one. If you don’t get that job, or business deal, don’t let it get you down and don’t give up. Just pick yourself up, learn from the last experience, and go after the next opportunity.

 

 

Nina Daranijo

Managing Director, JustPartTime