Is Part-Time Employment Right for You?

Contributed by Certified Credit Counsellor Suzanne Cramer.

Divorce is difficult on so many levels and can definitely leave a strain on your finances. Your once “dual” income is now a single income or maybe you stayed home with the kids and have been out of the workforce for several years. How do you ease your way back to the workforce or supplement your current paycheck?

A part-time job is an excellent solution on both counts!

What is Part-Time Employment? 

Part-time employment refers to jobs that permit employees to work less than forty hours per week.  Part-time employees usually work a maximum of 35 hours per week and a minimum of 4 hours per week. Schedules are often flexible but, do include a lot of evening and weekend hours. The beauty of part-time employment is that it allows you to work on your “off” hours from your regular job, or if you have children the ability to work around their schedules.

My Experience

When I was going through my first divorce I was initially only working part-time due to the birth of my son two years prior. The divorce forced me to go back to work full-time in order to support us. Fortunately, I did not need to supplement my income with part-time employment; it was tight but I wasn’t willing to sacrifice those magical years with my son.

Part-time employment however, is not foreign to me. I began working part-time for a grocery store at sixteen and began waitressing at eighteen. I spent my college years working part-time for a private country club and a bank. Both positions were flexible enough to work with my school schedule.

The Facts

Before you make the decision to explore part-time employment, let’s review the facts.   

• Types of Employment. There are several different positions that offer part-time employment. The greatest number of part-time jobs is in retail, restaurants, clerical, call centers, etc. Temp agencies also help employees to find part-time work.
• Hours.  Part-time employment offers a variety of hours for you to work, allowing you to navigate around your full-time job and your kids. Part-time hours are usually less than eight hours per day, but you could be working until ten o’clock or later in the evening. If you want the “normal” 9-5, Monday – Friday schedule, then part-time work is probably not for you.  
• Benefits. Medical benefits and healthcare are big problems today and many people are looking for jobs that offer these benefits. There are some companies that offer their employees part-time benefits, but they don’t compare to the coverage of full-time benefits. It is important to keep in mind, part-time jobs do not offer financial incentives or retirement plans. 
• Pay.  Part-time jobs typically pay hourly, compared to a set annual salary offered for full-time employees. Most part-time jobs offer minimum wage, with a pay increase yearly after a performance review. Minimum wage is different for each state, so make sure to do your research. There are some part-time jobs that pay much more than minimum wage, so don’t assume the worst.  
• Job Security.  Job security is always a concern especially with a part-time job as those positions are usually cut first in tough times. So work hard and be an exemplary employee, which can help you during a possible downsizing event. 

There are many pros and cons to working part-time.  It’s not always an ideal situation, but if you are looking to ease your way back into the workforce or supplement your income it can be an excellent solution. As with any of life’s difficult decisions it is important to know the facts and way weigh your options.   

If you’re having a hard time finding full-time work, consider working part-time until you find what you’re looking for.  Working while you’re looking will give you experience and the drive to keep working. 

Have you worked part-time after a divorce?  What was your experience?

Suzanne is a certified credit counselor and a Social Media Specialist for CareOne Debt Relief Services. Suzanne writes for their Divorce, Debt and Finances and A Straight Talk on Debt blogs.  Follow Suzanne on Twitter where she shares her journey through divorce and the latest debt industry news and tips to keep your finances in check @ADivorcedMom and @AskCareOne