Find Part Time Work if You Are a Single Parent
advice for single parents trying to find employment. I am a single parent and have been in work and out of work for long periods over the last 7 years.I hope that the following tips may be useful for single parents in every part of the skills and social spectrum.
Steps
- Try to establish a support network with friends or relatives if this is not possible try becoming more socially familiar with other parents at either pre school or play groups or your child's school. These other parents may be able to help you if you can offer alternate child care between you or if not they may be able to recommend a child minder or nursery.
- When applying for jobs, make sure you specify what hours you will most likely be available to work.
- When you specify be sure to include that you would be willing to show flexibility.Try a number of different employers, it is possible that the work you are qualified or experienced in may not be able to offer parent friendly working hours.consider new things and keep an open mind.
Tips
- Tip . Large companies often have more policies in place to ensure that employees are protected and given allowances that enable them to be productive employees as well as good parents for eg an employee is called during working hours to collect a sick child from day care or school cannot be penalized for time off or leaving work at short notice.
- Do not reveal that you are a single parent until after you have been offered the job, accepted and signed a contract of employment as there are no laws currently in place to stop potential employers from discriminating against employing you but there is legislation in place to protect you make sure you are treated fairly once employed.
