Help! Return to Work - am I looking for a unicorn?

[Anonymous]

Do you actually need to make money op? Why not just find a volunteering gig that lets you use your skills and doesn’t require you to need child care.

[Anonymous]

I do think what you are looking for is a unicorn.

I have a similar gig to what you are after (30 hours a week, 4 days a week from home, interesting work, $70k/yr) but to get here, I had to put in my time with the organization. I've looked for better paying opportunities that would be at least somewhat flexible and have a minimal commute, and in 5 years of looking, have not been able to find something. Granted, I'm in a somewhat specialized field, but in general, people aren't looking to take on unknown entities and allow them to work a flex schedule right off the bat.

If this is your end goal, you probably need to make some sacrifices in the short-term -- i.e. look for jobs at organizations that have a reputation for being family friendly, even if it means starting out as a full-time employee and finding afternoon childcare for your children. If you can prove yourself, in a year or two of time, you might be able to cut back. Otherwise, I think your best bet is to explore options for contract work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you considered starting your own business, OP?

Yes, although this option seems even more daunting.

When I was in my 20s, right out of grad school I did some freelance work. One example : a small venture capital company that was not incorporated as a nonprofit, but had a nonprofit like mission was kind of floundering, stalled and not sure what to do next. I conducted a capital needs assessment and trend analysis of the local small business market, researched what other venture firms and NPO's were doing in the market and wrote/recommended a new business plan for them. Other than meeting with the board chair at the beginning, and presenting to the board at the end, I did everything independently on my own schedule and it probably took me about 5 hours a week (I had a month to do it.) They paid me a flat $1,500 for the report.

If I could land gigs like this on a consistent basis I'd be in business.

This was 15-20 years ago, right? You probably won’t consistently get gigs like this at first, but do you know anyone (even your contacts in DC) who have work like this available? Get one gig, and use that reference to get a second, and a third, etc. Alternatively, what kind of volunteer work have you been doing? Can you start a business doing that kind of work? Use your current ED as a reference to get a first gig, etc, etc.

+1

I do this kind of consulting, and have slooooowly built up my work over the past year. (Left FT position last 12/31.) First client was a $500 day-long training session. Then a several-week project for about $1000. Then an ongoing per-diem client. Just scored my first $20k client.

It's possible. Hustle.

NP, here. I have similar situation as OP, but I am in a STEM field and haven't been out of the workforce as long. I've thought about pursuing consulting, but since I am not a business person, I find myself stumped on the first step. Before reaching out to one's network or pursuing gigs, is it best of form an LLC or small business? Or is it best to just become a 1099 independent contractor and let the employer/client handle the business end? What is your payment arrangement? Do you need an attorney, or just an accountant? Thanks!

I did side projects here & there for a couple years while working FT. Just did 1099 type stuff. When I knew I was going to jump ship and have receipts over $600, I created an LLC, webpage, FB page, etc., before I quit my FT job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have kids in elementary school and I have that schedule now and like it. The rub is that I didn't take time off and get that job to start. I stayed working and eventually was able to chip back my hours after I was a known entity who they could trust at work, if that makes sense.

Same here. Kept my foot partly in the door to get PT. Hoping to change jobs at some point, but worried I wont' find anything PT. Would you be willing to go back FT for 2-3 years then negotiate PT? Once you prove how valuable you are, you might be able to swing it.

[Anonymous]

I am currently " proving myself" in a FT job right now and still don't think I could get what you are looking for either. It is not a flexible work culture out there for the majority of workplaces still.
I think the only way to make it happen somewhat is to go the consulting route and find some clients with small projects to keep you busy and allow you to make some money but work at your own pace and schedule as you please. I'm tempted by this idea myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am currently " proving myself" in a FT job right now and still don't think I could get what you are looking for either. It is not a flexible work culture out there for the majority of workplaces still.
I think the only way to make it happen somewhat is to go the consulting route and find some clients with small projects to keep you busy and allow you to make some money but work at your own pace and schedule as you please. I'm tempted by this idea myself.

The "trick" is to be able to walk away from the job. If you can't afford to, maybe line something else up and use that to negotiate PT. I don't understand why more companies aren't on board with this because they can cut all of your benefits but still make the same amount of money off of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you considered starting your own business, OP?

Yes, although this option seems even more daunting.

When I was in my 20s, right out of grad school I did some freelance work. One example : a small venture capital company that was not incorporated as a nonprofit, but had a nonprofit like mission was kind of floundering, stalled and not sure what to do next. I conducted a capital needs assessment and trend analysis of the local small business market, researched what other venture firms and NPO's were doing in the market and wrote/recommended a new business plan for them. Other than meeting with the board chair at the beginning, and presenting to the board at the end, I did everything independently on my own schedule and it probably took me about 5 hours a week (I had a month to do it.) They paid me a flat $1,500 for the report.

If I could land gigs like this on a consistent basis I'd be in business.

This was 15-20 years ago, right? You probably won’t consistently get gigs like this at first, but do you know anyone (even your contacts in DC) who have work like this available? Get one gig, and use that reference to get a second, and a third, etc. Alternatively, what kind of volunteer work have you been doing? Can you start a business doing that kind of work? Use your current ED as a reference to get a first gig, etc, etc.

+1

I do this kind of consulting, and have slooooowly built up my work over the past year. (Left FT position last 12/31.) First client was a $500 day-long training session. Then a several-week project for about $1000. Then an ongoing per-diem client. Just scored my first $20k client.

It's possible. Hustle.

NP, here. I have similar situation as OP, but I am in a STEM field and haven't been out of the workforce as long. I've thought about pursuing consulting, but since I am not a business person, I find myself stumped on the first step. Before reaching out to one's network or pursuing gigs, is it best of form an LLC or small business? Or is it best to just become a 1099 independent contractor and let the employer/client handle the business end? What is your payment arrangement? Do you need an attorney, or just an accountant? Thanks!

I did side projects here & there for a couple years while working FT. Just did 1099 type stuff. When I knew I was going to jump ship and have receipts over $600, I created an LLC, webpage, FB page, etc., before I quit my FT job.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am currently " proving myself" in a FT job right now and still don't think I could get what you are looking for either. It is not a flexible work culture out there for the majority of workplaces still.
I think the only way to make it happen somewhat is to go the consulting route and find some clients with small projects to keep you busy and allow you to make some money but work at your own pace and schedule as you please. I'm tempted by this idea myself.

The "trick" is to be able to walk away from the job. If you can't afford to, maybe line something else up and use that to negotiate PT. I don't understand why more companies aren't on board with this because they can cut all of your benefits but still make the same amount of money off of you.

Yep. I'm the PP who did that--walked away to consult & work PT. I had a few months' reserve, a desire to leave the "rat race" and a unique skill set I knew people would pay for. This allowed me to negotiate meaningful part time work at a decent salary. I talk about my family commitments, desire for flexibility, and my "get the job done" attitude, as well as my dislike of "butt in chair" culture all the time, and, it definitely hasn't hurt me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am currently " proving myself" in a FT job right now and still don't think I could get what you are looking for either. It is not a flexible work culture out there for the majority of workplaces still.
I think the only way to make it happen somewhat is to go the consulting route and find some clients with small projects to keep you busy and allow you to make some money but work at your own pace and schedule as you please. I'm tempted by this idea myself.

The "trick" is to be able to walk away from the job. If you can't afford to, maybe line something else up and use that to negotiate PT. I don't understand why more companies aren't on board with this because they can cut all of your benefits but still make the same amount of money off of you.

Yep. I'm the PP who did that--walked away to consult & work PT. I had a few months' reserve, a desire to leave the "rat race" and a unique skill set I knew people would pay for. This allowed me to negotiate meaningful part time work at a decent salary. I talk about my family commitments, desire for flexibility, and my "get the job done" attitude, as well as my dislike of "butt in chair" culture all the time, and, it definitely hasn't hurt me.

Does your husband support you financially?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am currently " proving myself" in a FT job right now and still don't think I could get what you are looking for either. It is not a flexible work culture out there for the majority of workplaces still.
I think the only way to make it happen somewhat is to go the consulting route and find some clients with small projects to keep you busy and allow you to make some money but work at your own pace and schedule as you please. I'm tempted by this idea myself.

The "trick" is to be able to walk away from the job. If you can't afford to, maybe line something else up and use that to negotiate PT. I don't understand why more companies aren't on board with this because they can cut all of your benefits but still make the same amount of money off of you.

Yep. I'm the PP who did that--walked away to consult & work PT. I had a few months' reserve, a desire to leave the "rat race" and a unique skill set I knew people would pay for. This allowed me to negotiate meaningful part time work at a decent salary. I talk about my family commitments, desire for flexibility, and my "get the job done" attitude, as well as my dislike of "butt in chair" culture all the time, and, it definitely hasn't hurt me.

Does your husband support you financially?

Nope. He makes an okay non-profit salary. He carries our insurance, and his steady paycheck is definitely helpful, but I've always been the breadwinner. Not gonna lie, the first few months were rough, but it's been almost a year now and I'm back to bringing home more than him again.