Quick Recap: I’m looking for flexible working. A well-paid, part-time job, to be more precise. The Holy Grail? Maybe.
I want to share my journey. How long will it take to find work? Have attitudes changed? What I learn along the way. How best to broach the subject with a possible future employer.
And I hope sharing my story will help you if you’re looking too. Please see my previous post on the start of the journey, to give you some context, and the one on practicalities (such as CV writing).
JFDI
JFDIYou will have seen from my post on networking that one of my tips was JFDI (Just Flipping Do It – the polite version). Often we hold ourselves back and doubt ourselves which stops us moving forward.
I know that I can over analyse too. Shall I contact this person, chase him up, invite her to link to me on LinkedIn, apply for that job even though I don’t have all the skills listed on the job spec….
So, I’ve decided it’s time to put the self doubt aside and make some progress. I’ve realised several things along the way too:
- the only person in charge of my career is ME, no-one else
- negative self talk is holding me back and needs to stop (and be replaced with positive self talk)
- I do actually have a huge amount of experience and knowledge and a lot to offer any future employer
- rather than doubting myself, I should feel confident in who I am and what I do
- my quest for flexible working doesn’t make me a lesser person. Like many men and women, I’m just someone wanting to balance my work and caring role too
- and I just need to get out there and start talking to people 🙂
What Have I Done With My JFDI Thinking Today?
Today, I’ve taken the bull by the horns, so to speak and done with following. Let’s see what it leads too.
- Sent my CV to 7 recruitment companies. 2 have called me back for a chat.
- Contacted a company who I interviewed with last year to see if they have any current openings.
- Applied for a role at a ‘previous’ competitor company. It’s a full-time role but I’m happy to start the I want 3 to 4 days a week conversation.
- Researched start-up companies in Leeds and contacted several people over LinkedIn.
- I’ve also been looking at returnships which seems to be a buzz word in the media at the moment. More on that in another post. Following my research, I’ve sent my CV to a recruitment company that help working mums get back to work.
- I’ve been thinking out of the box a little too and wondering whether I have been limiting myself in my search for work. Are there other roles that I could be doing? Other business models I should be looking at?
- And finally, do I need to look at my skill set? Do I need to re-train in any areas?
