13 Sep Full-time Happy: The Pleasures of Working Part Time
Many people are examining the relative advantages and disadvantages of working part time versus full time due to simple economic realities or personal choice. There are a number of factors to consider when looking at part time rather than full-time employment. Working part time offers many personal benefits, and may be why 26 million people work less than 35 hours per week (the official cut off for part time in the U.S.).
Some reasons to consider working part time:
It’s not full time. Ok, that’s obvious. But the point is, having a job usually means very little else can happen, at least not with a lot of balancing and little sleep. But going to school, starting a business, or spending more time with your children are just a few of the things that you can do more easily.
Self-control. The choice of time to work is also an overlooked advantage of working part time. While not every part time job has multiple shifts, most employers looking for someone only part of the day can offer flexibility over which part of the day. You may have the choice to work mornings, afternoons or evenings.
New destination. If you cannot find employment in your chosen field, because you lack the required academic credentials, you may elect to work only part time and spend time taking classes to obtain the certification needed. Or maybe the next thing isn’t work at all, but taking a hobby seriously – whether it is to pursue a special project, such as writing a novel or training for a marathon.
Open door. Working part time can be a way to get your foot in the door, either as a way to get paid experience, or until a full-time opportunity is available. Be willing to accept part time work in an unrelated career field if you can, as sometimes that opportunity offers the training that could lead to a new career path.
Slowing without stopping. And conversely, if you want to stay in your career, but dial down the demands of a full time job, moving to part time can be a great option. Whether you want to just temporarily take your foot off the gas, or it’s a pre-retirement step, you can keep your mind (and bank account) in the game, just not all the time.
Working part time is not for everyone, but it might be right for you.
There are a lot of obvious reasons to work full time, most especially money, benefits, and opportunities to more quickly advance your career. But there sometimes is a stigma to working part time. For some it seems like less of a commitment to career, for others it signals inability to get a full time job. But those views are changing. And like anything else, it’s important to do what you want, so you can get where you want to be.
