Another Work Thread

So I want to go back to work. I'm sick of sitting around all day with Thomas doing nothing. The problem is that I only want to get out for a few days a week, and the only places that have jobs available are the warehouse and new world which both require you to work weekends. I dont work weekends. Its bad enough that i've been a nail tech for 15 years and I cant go do it because I need to work full time for that (and no, I dont want to do it from home or mobile) and i'm gonna have to take a crappy wage that the other places offer. Can you specify with supermarkets and the warehouse the days you can work? will they only take you on if you can work a weekend and evenings? Matt reckons he's going to do the childcare at home, which will consist of Thomas being stuck in the corner of Matts office all day - its the only option really, I have no friends, no money of my own and I'm bored to death. I need a job to solve all this!!! Advice = great.

Some places will do a swap with you that maybe you work every second weekend (only one day) or one weekend a month. If it's what you need to do to go and work, then I guess you have to think long and hard about that.

For me, I am currently earning $10 an hour less than what I'm qualified to earn, in a boring, dead-end job, working by myself in a stuffy room where I don't see the outside world all day... but it pays the bills and I would quite happily keep the damn job for the next wee while as I am very, very lucky to still have it (although ask me again in a few months and I'll be saying something different... redundancies left, right and centre). Unfortunately we're in a job market where employers can be picky, so employees have to be flexible if they want the work.

Could you not try job sharing? ..

I know quite a few peope who job share one role .. one works three days the other two etc etc.

I didn't know you had PND...obviously you have to look after yourself and do what is best for you :)

I never would have thought of the fumes from the nail thing.....good call there :)

I have found since my boy has been walking...he is just non stop all day...busy, busy, busy and I have to get out of the house and so something with him or I go crazy at home. I don't go to heaps of things, but I do have a range of things to keep us both entertained.
I meet with my antenatal group once a week which is really good. We meet at a parent and child centre and just chat while the kids play. Its not too OTT and its nice for DS to have a range of other things/kids to play with.
We also go to 'tumbling tots' which is just another energy burner really.
I also walk with a friend once a week. I wouldn't go for walks normally, but going with a friend is quite good.

Im not sure getting a job will 'solve' how your are feeling, but may help with a change of scenery I guess. I think it is quite common for mums to find it hard with the huge adjustment to their life...as in giving up their career and social life to stay at home all day!

What about trying a clothing shop? Most of them don't open at night (or where I live they dont), and you might get away with just an occasional rostered Saturday.

All the best to you whatever happens :o)

What about a home based educator?
Or mystery shopper?

I was wondering if you might be able to pick up some office work at a local playcentre - quite often they will have small paid office positions during the week.

Otherwise I would look at marketing the nail tech thing as a wedding thing. Can you do make-up as well? I know you said you didn't want to go mobile but that would at least give you the flexibility you are wanting - and probably working on Fridays/Saturdays only.

I've been a checkout chick, it's how I paid my way thru uni (and funded my social life as a teenager ) and in my experience, you just put on the application form what days/hours you are available for work and then they call you when they need someone for some/all of those hours.

I also worked as a merchandiser for Kodak for a while one summer holidays, that was good money for easy work and part time hours, and I worked in a call centre, which might be another option for you.

I'm not sure Thomas being stuck in a corner of your DH's office will work too well tho. I worked from home when the gremlins were tiny and pretty much fit it in around their sleeps. But once they got to about 8 mths and were sleeping less and more active, I had to find alternative care for them coz they were driving me mad, and I wasn't getting enough work done.

Its way too expensive :) I'd have to work full time hours to be able to afford that! :)

Really! I know at least two nail techs that do it that way and they only work 2 days a week. Maybe look around as I am sure the costs vary. Also you could look at approaching salons etc with the idea in mind and price you are willing to pay. I know lots of places are getting tight and might like some extra cash coming in.