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

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

20 hours a week, working from home to net $3000 per month when you've been out of work for 10 years?

Yeah, that kind of sounds unreasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20 hours a week, working from home to net $3000 per month when you've been out of work for 10 years?

Yeah, that kind of sounds unreasonable.

I'd be willing to put in more time, but need flex time. Cannot be on the clock from 2-8 pm.

[Anonymous]

Total unicorn.

[Anonymous]

Way too inflexible!

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Way too inflexible!

I don't have to work, I just want to. The schedule and pay need to work for me to make it worth my while.

[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.

OP, and makes total sense.

[Anonymous]

Isn't that what every mom of school-aged kids would want? And if you're looking to net $3k per month on part-time hours, that would be the equivalent of about a $90k full time job, without commuting into the city. Without some specialized, highly desirable skillset, I don't think that's very realistic.

I WAH part-time for about $35/hr, but it was a full time job that went to part-time after I had kids. And my hours are not guarunteed, so I don't always have something to do.

If you're looking to work during school hours, consider working as an aide or substitute teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't that what every mom of school-aged kids would want? And if you're looking to net $3k per month on part-time hours, that would be the equivalent of about a $90k full time job, without commuting into the city. Without some specialized, highly desirable skillset, I don't think that's very realistic.

I WAH part-time for about $35/hr, but it was a full time job that went to part-time after I had kids. And my hours are not guarunteed, so I don't always have something to do.

If you're looking to work during school hours, consider working as an aide or substitute teaching.

If you don't mind my asking, what is your field?

[Anonymous]

OP, what you can net also depends GREATLY on your spouse's income (if you are married) and your income bracket. I work full-time for the federal government with a MPP earning about $100k gross and have a decent number of pre-tax deductions ($5k childcare per year, $17k retirement per year), and my take home is about $3,700 per month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't that what every mom of school-aged kids would want? And if you're looking to net $3k per month on part-time hours, that would be the equivalent of about a $90k full time job, without commuting into the city. Without some specialized, highly desirable skillset, I don't think that's very realistic.

I WAH part-time for about $35/hr, but it was a full time job that went to part-time after I had kids. And my hours are not guarunteed, so I don't always have something to do.

If you're looking to work during school hours, consider working as an aide or substitute teaching.

If you don't mind my asking, what is your field?

Tech writing for a software company. I work remotely, doing mainly some tedious work that I don't mind but others would prefer not to do, and special projects that come up.

[Anonymous]

Won't work going in. MAYBE if you had already proven yourself somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Not necessarily unreasonable. I telework part time for a government contracting firm and make more than what you are looking for. Also advanced degree, also took substantial time out of the workforce to be a stay at home parent. Found job through a personal contact who knew I was looking, and knew of a company looking for my skill set.

There is a lot of networking in this town. Much of it is purely surface, for show only. I think the real key to successful networking is for it to be authentic and based on actual relationships. I've never had a lead pan out from networking event, conference, random semi-cold call, etc. But I've had leads turn into jobs when based on relationships with former colleagues and friends, people who know your skills and interests and can vouch for you personally. And I gladly do the same for former colleagues and for friends.

Contact your old network. Don't worry that many are in DC. They may know of jobs in your area, or of telework opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Ten years does not seem to long. Now my wife on the other hand is looking to go back to work part time when out middle child goes college around the year 2020.

Her last day at work working for a major bank as an AVP was January 2001.

That will be around 20 years off. Kinda hard for her to network with old peers. How hard is it to find a job, she want to go to the office. As by then just the one kid at home.

Or and this I find crazy she is will to go back to work full time when youngest goes to college. But that is the year 2025. Is there even such a thing as a 25 year break from work. Honestly, things at work have not changed much from 2001 to today.