Careers expert: “How to make part-time work for you”

The pandemic has changed work for lots of us, with firms cutting hours or our circumstances changing. Expert Rob Kerr reveals how to make your career more flexible

COVID-19 has had a meteoric impact on the way many of us work. Huge numbers have seen work dry up, while others have experienced changes in their lives, thanks to childcare issues or elderly relatives needing support.

We asked business expert and author of upcoming Project Future: 6 Steps To Success As Your Own Boss (out in January), Rob Kerr, to share his advice on finding the perfect part-time gig.

IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS

It might sound obvious, but if you’re looking for a part-time job on it's own or to supplement your income, think about what you want to do – not just the flexibility element. Rob explains, “Ask yourself what you’re good at and what you enjoy. What can you offer that someone will be willing to pay for, and how can your next role be a step towards your goal? Asking these questions will help you get clarity. Use LinkedIn to look at roles you aspire to and that also offer flexibility, and investigate how people in those roles built the foundations to get there. Message them for advice. People love to help, but be clear about what you’re asking them.”

TAP INTO YOUR NETWORKS

Before you start scouring through job ads, think about your own networks first. “Ask people you know if they’ve heard of any opportunities in line with what you’re looking for, or people they could introduce you to,” says Rob. “Posting on social media is another way of casting your net wider.” But avoid vague “looking for part-time work” status updates. Rob continues, “The more effort you put in to get clarity on what exactly you’re looking for, the better the response rate is likely to be.” For instance, if it’s telephone work during evenings or weekends, state that specifically when you speak to people, and ensure any qualifications or relevant experience you have are obvious when people look you up.

PROVE YOU CAN DO IT

If you work full-time but need to scale down because of unforseen circumstances, don't assume there's no flexibility. “Whether or not it’s possible to reduce your hours depends on your relationship with your employer and the size of the business, but it’s worth informally raising the possibility to get your manager’s view – you might be surprised by their response. Find examples of people in the business who’ve already done this and ask them – off the record – how they approached it. If you need to work different hours around your childcare needs, for example, could one team pass work to you by 7pm, then you get it to the next stage by 9am the next day? If you can improve or at least maintain what you deliver now and outline that clearly, it’s a much easier sell to an employer.”

FULL-TIME JOB AD? APPLY ANYWAY

If you see a job that’s advertised as full-time but you know you’d be perfect for it, there’s no harm in applying. “Be open and transparent about the flexibility you need – they can figure out whether it’s feasible or not,” advises Rob. Don’t forget your situation could prove beneficial to them, too. “The world of work is changing rapidly, but with change comes opportunity. In such an insecure environment, businesses are understandably cautious about hiring people on full-time permanent contracts. So use this to your advantage, and, if there’s a specific problem you can solve for a business on a part-time basis or as an external supplier, pitch your solution and make it an easy decision – flexibility works both ways.”