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

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who was out of the workforce for about 8 years (to care for her kids). Her background was HR and she got a job with a nonprofit in her neighborhood (very close to her home/kids school). She leaves work to pick up her kids from school and runs them around to their activities and then logs again in after bedtime. I would love find a situation like this for myself! (Little commute, flex hours)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Telework jobs exist that pay well, OP. You have to look around for them. DH had an interview with a division of a company that's 100% telework. The woman he interviewed with was in Australia. He didn't take the job, but it was an interesting company. All the workers in the department were in different parts of the country and world. They have face to face meetings every few months, but otherwise work out of their homes.

It's out there, not a unicorn, OP. Keep looking and you'll find it.

Was your DH looking for flexible, “rewarding” PT work that paid a good salary, after taking 10 years off?

Telework isn’t a unicorn. PT isn’t a unicorn. Decent salary isn’t a unicorn. Rewarding isn’t a unicorn. But these things combined are hard to find, especially after a ten year gap, and with a skill set/credentials that aren’t exactly rare in this town. Otherwise, we would all just quit our jobs when we had kids.

I’m sorry you’re so angry.

NP. I don’t read this as angry at all!

Me neither. I was just going to post that this basically sums it up. The individual pieces are real, but the combination is basically impossible barring random luck. People who get those sweet part-time flexible well-paying gigs usually have a history with the company and have proven themselves, or they have lots of current connections in the field that make it possible to freelance or cobble together a series of contracts.

Another person that agrees. Nothing said above was angry; it's just fact.

The question about her DH was a fact?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Telework jobs exist that pay well, OP. You have to look around for them. DH had an interview with a division of a company that's 100% telework. The woman he interviewed with was in Australia. He didn't take the job, but it was an interesting company. All the workers in the department were in different parts of the country and world. They have face to face meetings every few months, but otherwise work out of their homes.

It's out there, not a unicorn, OP. Keep looking and you'll find it.

Was your DH looking for flexible, “rewarding” PT work that paid a good salary, after taking 10 years off?

Telework isn’t a unicorn. PT isn’t a unicorn. Decent salary isn’t a unicorn. Rewarding isn’t a unicorn. But these things combined are hard to find, especially after a ten year gap, and with a skill set/credentials that aren’t exactly rare in this town. Otherwise, we would all just quit our jobs when we had kids.

I’m sorry you’re so angry.

NP. I don’t read this as angry at all!

Me neither. I was just going to post that this basically sums it up. The individual pieces are real, but the combination is basically impossible barring random luck. People who get those sweet part-time flexible well-paying gigs usually have a history with the company and have proven themselves, or they have lots of current connections in the field that make it possible to freelance or cobble together a series of contracts.

Another person that agrees. Nothing said above was angry; it's just fact.

The question about her DH was a fact?

Ha fair enough. But the question wasn't angry either. OP asked for a unicorn of a job; one person countered that it wasn't. A third person asked a question for the purpose of clarifiying whether that anecdote applied by explicitly asking whether that poster's husband was interviewing for a job with the parameters OP is looking for.

sheesh.

You are for sure adversarial for no reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who was out of the workforce for about 8 years (to care for her kids). Her background was HR and she got a job with a nonprofit in her neighborhood (very close to her home/kids school). She leaves work to pick up her kids from school and runs them around to their activities and then logs again in after bedtime. I would love find a situation like this for myself! (Little commute, flex hours)

I really doubt she's netting what OP is requesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Telework jobs exist that pay well, OP. You have to look around for them. DH had an interview with a division of a company that's 100% telework. The woman he interviewed with was in Australia. He didn't take the job, but it was an interesting company. All the workers in the department were in different parts of the country and world. They have face to face meetings every few months, but otherwise work out of their homes.

It's out there, not a unicorn, OP. Keep looking and you'll find it.

Was your DH looking for flexible, “rewarding” PT work that paid a good salary, after taking 10 years off?

Telework isn’t a unicorn. PT isn’t a unicorn. Decent salary isn’t a unicorn. Rewarding isn’t a unicorn. But these things combined are hard to find, especially after a ten year gap, and with a skill set/credentials that aren’t exactly rare in this town. Otherwise, we would all just quit our jobs when we had kids.

I’m sorry you’re so angry.

NP. I don’t read this as angry at all!

Me neither. I was just going to post that this basically sums it up. The individual pieces are real, but the combination is basically impossible barring random luck. People who get those sweet part-time flexible well-paying gigs usually have a history with the company and have proven themselves, or they have lots of current connections in the field that make it possible to freelance or cobble together a series of contracts.

Another person that agrees. Nothing said above was angry; it's just fact.

The question about her DH was a fact?

Huh? PP said her DH has been considered for jobs like this. The point that poster was making (I'm not her) was that HER DH HASNT BEEN OUT OF THE WORKFORCE FOR 10 YEARS.

[Anonymous]

An approach that worked for me as well as a few friends was to make it known with former colleagues that we were available to do projects on a one off basis. That allows you to start doing work for an organization without the organization taking the hit of having to go through a hiring process and feel that it is making any significant or long-term commitment and you. Then, you do a good job, and get more work. In my experience, organizations that are lean staffed are happier to hire a consultant to do projects sporadically then to hire and pay for a regular employee. So that may be a way to get your foot in the door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Telework jobs exist that pay well, OP. You have to look around for them. DH had an interview with a division of a company that's 100% telework. The woman he interviewed with was in Australia. He didn't take the job, but it was an interesting company. All the workers in the department were in different parts of the country and world. They have face to face meetings every few months, but otherwise work out of their homes.

It's out there, not a unicorn, OP. Keep looking and you'll find it.

Was your DH looking for flexible, “rewarding” PT work that paid a good salary, after taking 10 years off?

Telework isn’t a unicorn. PT isn’t a unicorn. Decent salary isn’t a unicorn. Rewarding isn’t a unicorn. But these things combined are hard to find, especially after a ten year gap, and with a skill set/credentials that aren’t exactly rare in this town. Otherwise, we would all just quit our jobs when we had kids.

I’m sorry you’re so angry.

NP. I don’t read this as angry at all!

Me neither. I was just going to post that this basically sums it up. The individual pieces are real, but the combination is basically impossible barring random luck. People who get those sweet part-time flexible well-paying gigs usually have a history with the company and have proven themselves, or they have lots of current connections in the field that make it possible to freelance or cobble together a series of contracts.

Another person that agrees. Nothing said above was angry; it's just fact.

The question about her DH was a fact?

Ha fair enough. But the question wasn't angry either. OP asked for a unicorn of a job; one person countered that it wasn't. A third person asked a question for the purpose of clarifiying whether that anecdote applied by explicitly asking whether that poster's husband was interviewing for a job with the parameters OP is looking for.

sheesh.

You are for sure adversarial for no reason.

Oooooooh, you're totally right, my mistake. Speed reading through the thread. See, I thought that PP was asking OP if HER DH "was looking for a flexible "rewarding" job after taking 10 years off" - as in super sarcastic, bc obviously, someone was/is getting paid. But, I see now that it was a response to the Australia PP.

SORRY!!!! I take it all back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a Master's degree in public policy, about 10 years experience in government affairs. I have 3 children and made the SAHM leap about 10 years ago.

I want to work close to home or from home from about 9 am to 2 pm, I want interesting, rewarding work (not interested in sales), I don't need benefits and I only need to net roughly $2500-$3000 a month. I am also willing to put in more hours from home after the kids' bedtime if needed.

Online searching is leaving me feeling discouraged. I know that I need to network,but not sure how/where for what I am looking for. I have a ton of contacts in DC, but live in the burbs and don't want to commute.

Am I being unreasonable?

Yup, you are absolutely looking for a unicorn of a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a Master's degree in public policy, about 10 years experience in government affairs. I have 3 children and made the SAHM leap about 10 years ago.

I want to work close to home or from home from about 9 am to 2 pm, I want interesting, rewarding work (not interested in sales), I don't need benefits and I only need to net roughly $2500-$3000 a month. I am also willing to put in more hours from home after the kids' bedtime if needed.

Online searching is leaving me feeling discouraged. I know that I need to network,but not sure how/where for what I am looking for. I have a ton of contacts in DC, but live in the burbs and don't want to commute.

Am I being unreasonable?

Yup, you are absolutely looking for a unicorn of a job.

OP, here. I did say that I'm willing to put in more time in the evening. I could do 9 am- 2 pm, then 8 pm-11 pm. That wouldn't be part time, but more flex time.

If I commute, I lose time that I could be working. I would be willing to do the occasional trip to DC, but would prefer not to have a daily commute. If not a WAH, then something closer to home would be ideal, but telecommute is not a must if the work location is closer. If I have to dish out for an after school nanny (who would have to double as a driver, cook, cleaner, tutor), that cuts into the cost-benefit ratio.

To the PP's that say $2,500 - $3,000 (no benefits) seems unrealistic, what would you consider realistic?

To PP's that say those opportunities are out there - besides using personal networks, former colleagues (of course, good ideas) are there other resources you recommend for searching? Has anyone had success with a career coach or head hunter?

Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

NP here. The only professions that allow this arrangement are dentist and teacher. NPO are now flooded with former political appointees and the salaries are low because a lot of them are trust funders and work for the cause not money. Industry lobbying / association is also super competitive now and wants extensive experience on the regulator side. Your best bet is a high up connection who would bring you as a PT govie for an agency with generous telework (patent, IRS etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who was out of the workforce for about 8 years (to care for her kids). Her background was HR and she got a job with a nonprofit in her neighborhood (very close to her home/kids school). She leaves work to pick up her kids from school and runs them around to their activities and then logs again in after bedtime. I would love find a situation like this for myself! (Little commute, flex hours)

I really doubt she's netting what OP is requesting.

100% agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a Master's degree in public policy, about 10 years experience in government affairs. I have 3 children and made the SAHM leap about 10 years ago.

I want to work close to home or from home from about 9 am to 2 pm, I want interesting, rewarding work (not interested in sales), I don't need benefits and I only need to net roughly $2500-$3000 a month. I am also willing to put in more hours from home after the kids' bedtime if needed.

Online searching is leaving me feeling discouraged. I know that I need to network,but not sure how/where for what I am looking for. I have a ton of contacts in DC, but live in the burbs and don't want to commute.

Am I being unreasonable?

Yup, you are absolutely looking for a unicorn of a job.

OP, here. I did say that I'm willing to put in more time in the evening. I could do 9 am- 2 pm, then 8 pm-11 pm. That wouldn't be part time, but more flex time.

If I commute, I lose time that I could be working. I would be willing to do the occasional trip to DC, but would prefer not to have a daily commute. If not a WAH, then something closer to home would be ideal, but telecommute is not a must if the work location is closer. If I have to dish out for an after school nanny (who would have to double as a driver, cook, cleaner, tutor), that cuts into the cost-benefit ratio.

To the PP's that say $2,500 - $3,000 (no benefits) seems unrealistic, what would you consider realistic?

To PP's that say those opportunities are out there - besides using personal networks, former colleagues (of course, good ideas) are there other resources you recommend for searching? Has anyone had success with a career coach or head hunter?

Thanks again.

$2500 gross/month might be realistic.

[Anonymous]

You could get the hours at a nonprofit I think but pay at less than $25/hr, no benefits. Or set yourself up as a consultant. Or figure you will need to work standard hours at least a few days/week. There are very few jobs with no meetings from 2-5.

[Anonymous]

I agree that $2,500-$3,000 gross per month might be realistic. But depending on your circumstances, net may be only about half of that.

[Anonymous]

It's possible to find a job like this but you'll have to network really hard and be bringing something to the table.

I work from home 3 days a week and net around 8k a month after full retirement, taxes and healthcare. But I didn't step out of the workforce when I had kids and I have a certain level of expertise that's hard to find.

Just start pounding the pavement.