jennlx Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 I currently work 4 days a week in the UK (well, I will be once I end my maternity leave). Now, I appreciate that the best way to negotiate part time is after having a baby, but with Australia being so family friendly, is it possible to get a part time job straight off? Obviously it depends on trade (I work in financial services), but just wondering what sort of experience you have had out there. I would find it really, really hard to make the move if I leave working 4 days to have to take up a post 5 days a week (I have a toddler and baby so they're both still quite young). Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Depends, probably harder to get part time as most mums want the shorter hours. There are job share situations. In the suburbs its a bit harder too because most mums want to live close to home. Suggest you look at the local area newspapers that is where you can find a lot of part time jobs. Also if you are prepared to change career and do something else it may be easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 As Petals said, it depends! Unfortunately you are more likely to get part time with an organization if you have already proved yourself with them as a full time employee rather than hopping straight into part time but go for positions that are advertised as part time and see what you get. It's more likely that you would get discrete days rather than short hour days - there will be more competition for the latter, especially from mums with school age kids like yourself. For all that Australia prides itself on social justice and all that, you may well find that with young kids you may be discriminated against in the workplace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 About a quarter of Australia's workforce is part time and a high percentage of those would be mothers of young children. My daughter has two young children and works 3 days a week and almost all her friends with young children also have some combination of part time hours. So the jobs are definitely there and employers are definitely used to the concept...but you may have some competition from others in a similar situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GeorgeD Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 I have a number of customers who have lots of part time staff. Most of them are small businesses, so I don't know if it's because they don't have enough work for a full time person or if they are being flexible. i think it's a mix of both to be honest. I know of several accountants and IT people who work part time. Some do 3 days a week, others do mornings, etc. It's either ebcasue they have family commitments or because they have other jobs, so there is a bit of variety to it. Casual work is also very common in retail environments so there are always options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lisa crowe Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 Hi I quit my job back in the UK to come to Aus with my fella who gained employment here in NSW, now I thought WTF am I going to do, after 2 months of being a SAHM to my 4 year old son (I was going out me head with boredom) I decided to look into part time work in the same field as I had left in the UK, thankfully aged care workers are in high demand here and after one telephone interview I started my new job last night, its 5 evenings a week but fits in with my partner and son, and I feel sane again. I guess if your that determined to find work something will come about eventually...Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 Part time work is there, there is a lot of competition for it though. I advertised for a part time admin assistant and received nearly 100 applications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatsitallabout Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 There is part time work here if you want it! I had to work full time first then reduced my hours after 1 year, was hard going, but the co I was working for wanted to see how I was. I then proved to them I could do this job with less hours. I would do what other suggest look at the jobs situation here to see if your industrry caters for part time workers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freckleface Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 There are part time roles out there but as others have said they are in high demand. The hours you work vary from role to role. I employ part-timers with some who work short days (5hrs x 5 days a week) and others who work full days but only 3 or 4 days each week. We have one or two who work odd hours on odd days but we limit this type of arrangement to those returning from maternity leave. You won't be discriminated against because you want to work part time but you are unlikely to be offered part time hours when a role has been advertised as full time. Fair enough IMO - if I advertise a role as full time it is because I need someone full time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennlx Posted July 27, 2012 Author Share Posted July 27, 2012 Thanks for your responses - no, Freckleface, totally agree with you about advertising fulltime job so wanting fulltime employee. Hmmm....all food for thought. Maybe I will apply direct to companies and see if anyone is interested (rather than applying for advertised jobs), then take it from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest iubatvut Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 yeah. Australian is best place to get part time jobs.. if you have no skill, you may easily get part time jobs in super store. if you have skills , you must get good part time jobs in different compnay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest iubatvut Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 australia is best place for getting part time jobs . it will not be difficult to get part time jobs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sanda Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I wish it was easy more chance in the city I did some temping in brisbane then husband couldn't find work moved rural victoria and nothing here in the papers agencies etc, i work from home earning next to nothing but would go mad if i did nothing, but generally part time work harder to find I working via the Internet I have been unable to work around school times shop work not possible shops shut early on Saturday here... So don't use part time workers. Shop close on bank holidays too supermarket is best opportunity no vacancies at the moment as every Aussie mum wants a part time job and being English you are last on the list... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellers and Whitehead Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Where I work 2 of the mums work until 5 and both children sit in the office till they finish. Not sure of the reasons for this?? U could also look at casual work so when it sis u but will generally be full days.I have seen lots of part time jobs advertised, but it is difficult to get them, i'm looking for full time perm but many are part time, not sure about financial services tho? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Am finding it difficult to find part time where I am. There are jobs but most I have seen want you to be available for rotational shifts, not set days. No good when you have a wee one in childcare. Others want 4 hours per day for 5 days, not good either as you have to pay a full day at the day care centre and I dont want her going everyday. Will find something eventually Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fashionably Late Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I found a wonderful part-time job for the first one I applied to. I work 5 hours a day, 5 days a week during school hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurls Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Depends on what sort of job and where. I want to return to work 3 days a week and what annoys me the most is that companies don't advertise what hours they want. I have had interviews for 3 roles now, 2 decided to wait until the interview to tell me they want someone 4/5days a week, despite clearly stating I am looking for 3 days to fit in with childcare arrangements. 1 I never heard back from at all, which I thought pretty rude after going to an interview. Anyway, if they want someone for 4 days a week why not just say so on the advert and save wasting everyone's time! Grrr, sorry this turned into a rant. Sent via Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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