Should I stay part time at work, or leave?

June 29, 2020 11:26 AM

I have just been made part time in a role I actually quite enjoy (I work in non-profits, in a relaxed, junior position after years in senior roles, so I can focus on my writing while learning more about the non-profit sector), however I am conflicted on how I feel about the decision.

Positively, it will give me more free time to pursue my writing career and/or allow me to find a complementary part time position that aligns, whatever that is. However, since searching I have struggled to find a part time role that excites me, I really do not want to have to go back to freelancing or journalism (I now write fiction and I do not have the burning desire to work in media gain) and everything is a bit scattered due to the pandemic.

I am wondering whether it is worth the risk of searching for another full time role and leave this one even though there is a huge chance my hours will increase later subject to funding, and that I will lose working on a great team and projects. I cannot really afford to survive on my part time hours in spite of my decreased expenditure due to lockdown (I am in the UK), as a friend suggested I use this time to focus on my writing and worry about getting another job in a couple of months while things are more settled and opportunities open up.

There is a deeper inner conflict at work here too - I have this eternal struggle with wholeheartedly pursuing the creative life versus settling down with a comfortable well paid career track and a serious relationship and possibly children. I am 'all-in' person and do not feel I can do both.

Can anyone provide any insight on what to do next?

Thanks in advance!

posted by foxmardou to Work & Money (3 answers total)

Don't put the cart before the horse. There is no reason to not casually search and apply for positions that interest you right now. Applying is not getting a job offer is not taking a job offer. The absolute best time to search for a job is when you don't urgently need one, because it gives you the luxury of being picky. A low key, part-time job search should not take up too much of your time, and will put you in a much better position if you get to the point where you are desperate, because you'll have shaken off the rust of applying, and have a better idea of what the options are.

Basically, it's way, way harder to make any of these decisions - about job, about creative life, etc., when you're only working with theoretical options. You can make decisions if and when you have actual, concrete options.
posted by brainmouse at 11:36 AM on June 29, 2020 [2 favorites]

Not sure about the NP vibe in the UK, but in my US NP world, just because they say it's part-time doesn't mean that they won't give you a full-time amount of work to do and expect you to do it. Pay attention to that factor when you are deciding about next-steps. If you're going to do full-time work, you should get a full paycheck.
posted by mccxxiii at 1:03 PM on June 29, 2020 [4 favorites]

It sounds like the status quo isn't really tenable long term. I would look for a new full-time role. There is more than one non-profit organisation in the UK with great teams and great projects, so start looking for a new job. Even going really quickly it will take at least a month or two to secure a new job, and depending on how unicorn-ish your requirements are it could take a year or two. If a merely so-so opportunity turns up you don't have to take it.
posted by plonkee at 6:48 AM on July 1, 2020