24 July 2023 , 14:07
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Life’s complicated. Circumstances change, and our plans may have to change with them.
When that happens, finding a healthy work-life balance is often near the top of the wish list. Whether it’s caring for a relative, spending more time with the grandchildren, or taking better care of our own health, new priorities can alter our perspective in terms of what we’re looking for from a job.
You might prefer to look for work that offers more flexibility than a traditional nine-to-five. Luckily, there are plenty of options available.
However, you might not be sure how to land the right job for you - so, to help, we asked Mark, a 50 Plus Champion at Jobcentre Plus, to answer the questions that jobseekers ask him all the time.
What kind of flexible work is out there?
Mark says: "There are lots of jobs to choose from if you need one that fits around other important things in your life.
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"Many jobs today can be done at least partly from home, where you work in the office one or two days a week or month, and the rest at home. Try asking employers about this even if they don't state it upfront.
"Many employers offer a variety of options around working hours. Part-time work can be good for hands-on grandparents who need to be available after school.
"Other flexible options include weekend work, shifts and job shares, where two employees share one full-time job between them."
Which types of work are most likely to offer flexible hours?
Mark says: "Almost all businesses offer flexible hours of some kind, but two key areas are hospitality and retail, as the more flexible workers these businesses employ, the more staff they have available to call on in peak times.
"Social care is another good option for flexible hours."
Mark, a 50 Plus Champion at Jobcentre Plus, helps people find new opportunities everydayWhere can I find flexible and part-time jobs?
Mark says: "There are plenty of sites like gov.uk/find-a-job or Indeed.com where you can search and apply for roles, filtering your job hunt using search terms such as ‘part-time’.
"It’s often important to be honest about why you need flexible work, and the skills it takes to balance work with other responsibilities are valued by employers."
Where can I find more advice on flexible working?
Mark says: "There is advice on flexible working on gov.uk/jobhelp or workingwise.co.uk. If you have a work coach at your local Jobcentre Plus, they can also give you practical support with finding a job that’s tailored to your needs.
"The Citizen’s Advice network across the UK also has lots of resources for you to tap into, including financial advice and information on your rights."