Part-time jobs are more prevalent now than ever before. Whether you want to manage work and personal priorities, do two different jobs that cater to your varying interests, or there’s no other option but to cut down hours, make sure you know what you’re getting into when going this route.
(Photo Credit: Alan Cleaver/Flickr)
1. Each company defines and treats part-time differently.
In general, if you work less than 35 hours a week, you should be considered part-time. So, your salary is paid commensurate to the number of hours worked. Your benefits also get affected because you are not full -time. The number of hours required to be eligible for benefits varies by company. For those who don’t work the designated number of hours, benefits are either prorated or not given at all. So it is very important that you understand how this works in your company, lest you are caught by surprise.
2. “Part-time” workers can get pushed around if they’re not careful.
Because most people in the company work full-time, it is easy to forget your part-time status. Some employees even end up doing more work, because they are unable to establish clear boundaries. So unless you are very clear and vocal about the hours you work, you may find yourself working longer than expected, without actually being paid for it.
3. You need to invest in your professional relationships more.
Because you are not in office full-time, you may be missing out on meetings, activities, get-togethers, etc. If you want to stay updated on the happenings in the workplace, you will have to invest more in your professional relationships than you would when you were working full-time.
4. You have to manage perceptions.
However efficient you are, there’s a very strong perception that people who work fewer hours are less effective. So use your time wisely and deliver results. If you are able to win trust during the first few months by meeting or exceeding your commitments, your colleagues and manager may feel comfortable relying on you.
5. You need to be better organized.
Because the number of hours you are working is limited, it is essential that you prioritize in line with your manager’s/business’s priorities. While this is true of any job, it is even more so for part-timers because you need to stay on top of your work, in spite of not being available a lot.
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Have you ever gone part-time? How was your experience and how did you manage the work arrangement? We want to hear from you! Leave a comment or join the discussion on Twitter.
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