November 2009

Consider Working Part Time

We know from many of you that one of the hardest things about going back to work is the thought of handling a full time job along with all the other responsibilities you have. So in this newsletter, we explore how to go about getting a part time job. Read my suggestions below.

And if you have friends in New York City, please email a link to our newsletter to let them know that we are now offering workshops in New York. They can contact us through the website, if they want more information.

Finally, if you are looking for some help figuring out what you want to do next...join us on November 17 in Cincinnati for our next Discovering Your Act Three Workshop.

Sincerely,
Julie Shifman
Act Three

Getting a Part time Job

1. Search national job websites.
Careerbuilder, Monster, Flexjobs and Snagajob are great resources. I have always preached that most women will find a job through networking and while this is true, part time jobs can be found on these job sites. Liz from Detroit tells me that she just started a great 20 hour a week marketing job, a job she found on Monster. Searching these sites is also a great exercise to see what employers are looking for to help you target your resume.

2. Look for seasonal work.
Are you a former accountant that would consider working hard for a short period of time each year. I get contacted by many accounting firms looking for part time help around tax time. Retail is another obvious choice for seasonal work around the holidays. But, you can also find seasonal warehouse and delivery jobs - think of all the presents being ordered and shipped! If you like animals, even pet hotels need seasonal help as so many people go out of town. And sometimes seasonal work can translate into part time employment after the season.

3. Consider a temp agency.
Forget your view of temp agencies from the past that supplied just hourly low paid/low skill jobs. Temp agencies today supply jobs at all levels of a company. If you would consider working full time for a short period of time and then taking off all together for as long as you want, a temp agency could be a good fit for you. And, you can often translate a placement by a temp agency into a permanent position.

4. Register on 10 til 2.
10 til 2 is a national placement firm that only places part time. I have worked quite a bit with Gina Kopera (the owner of 10 til 2. in Cincinnati) and she has placed many women in the last year in good quality part time jobs. You register on their site and then are placed according to your skills. Gina tells me that you need to have a targeted resume so that she can efficiently place you. www.tentiltwo.com

5. Consider teaching.
Do you have a graduate degree. Many Universities (including for- profit ones like Kaplan and Phoenix) are always looking for adjunct professors. The pay isn't great relative to how much work is involved (I know as I am an adjunct professor for the Xavier University Business School) but it does force you to get up to speed in your area and provides good credibility.

6. Look for ways to create a part time business.
If you like to sell and have no problem talking to friends and neighbors about your products, consider becoming part of the enormous multi-level marketing business. Vitamins, skin care, jewelry, cleaning products, cosmetics, even sex toys (Pure Romance has an excellent model), all are sold this way and the women who do this really enjoy running their own businesses or their own schedules.

7. Read the papers for companies that are downsizing.
While it might seem counterintuitive that a company that is downsizing would be hiring part time workers, but that is exactly the case. A part time worker that can be paid less and given no benefits is sometimes a wise hire for a company that has been forced to layoff good talent.