Any mums here who work during the evenings/nights?

kegg_2

sallyjh wrote: »

I work 12 hours a week (3 shifts 6pm-10pm) in a local chain store (not supermarket) stacking the shelves. Its not a bad job at all and it fits in well with dh getting home. The money is ok - well better than ok as I dont have to pay for child care and also cos I only work 12 hours I dont pay any tax or NI - so all that I earn I keep.

I worked there as a Christmas temp in 2009 and a few months ago they contacted me and said they had an evening job that was mine if I wanted it!

There will prob be loads of shops advertising for Christmas temps in the next few weeks and sometimes staff are kept on afterwards so might be worth keeping your eyes open in the local shops - thats how I found this one last year.

Hope you find something that works for you

I do the same but 7 to 11.
Fits in with my family commitments
Money not bad as i get 25% enhancement for working after 8 pm and i get a discount card for 13% off any purchase instore or online

Spendless

I used to work evenings when my eldest was small, first at a convenience store, later at a DIY chain. For shop work I'd say you are limiting where you can work due to not being able to start till 7pm-ish. My starting time used to be between 5-6pm. I was lucky that my nan could fill in for the hour or so between me going to work and hubby coming in.

My suggestions are to try the bigger supermarkets that are open later, till midnight or 24 hour ones, or the ones that stock their shelves during the night whilst closed.

You could also consider bar work, waitressing, taking orders at take-away place (eg chinese).

How old are your little ones?

NAR

Are there any red lights in your district? :eek:

Pee

My mate did this. She was a chef in a local restaurant and had done that kind of work before. It was quite well paid and it was the normal shift pattern, so no problems with her working evenings, although it also involved weekends. It was a really good chance for her son and his Dad to bond. He loved being with his son in the evenings.

On the downside it was a lot of standing about, especially when she was pregnant with her second child, and she was very tired. She got very little sleep, as her son would be awake pretty early in the morning. She didn't like the fact her son was being cared for by her husband, his father as they had different ideas about parenting and bedtime and it did mean they both spent time with the child, but very little time with one another, no couple time and very little family time - if they were both at home, he'd be fixing the car or the house as he couldn't do that whilst minding his son.

I felt that it was one of the causes of them splitting up, but different attitudes to parenting or trying to live on one salary may have or would have caused real problems too and if I am honest they were both great people but not great together.

donnaessex

Thanks everyone for your posts.

To try to answer your questions - I work in HR at the moment but my background is Events Management. I have today posted on the Employment board because I'm getting nowhere fast with my job applications.

Like someone here said, I am limited because my husband doesnt get home until 6.45pm so most of the big shopping centres dont want me (their shifts usually start at 6pm). Pubs - I have years of barwork experience behind me but nowhere is hiring at the moment locally. I've actually been in most of them asking face to face so its not like they are just getting an unsolicited letter and CV from me.

I have been knocked back by all supermarkets locally grrrrrr. I'm thinking of leaving off my most recent position (been here 9 months) to pretend that I'm a SAHM at the moment as I'm not even getting to interview even though I'm stating that I am looking for a career change and more flexible work/life balance on the application.

I LOVE the idea of working in London during the night but again I wouldnt be able to get to work on time.

Sorry I sound all doom and gloom - I'm not! I'm just getting knocked back everywhere and am looking for anything at the moment.

donnaessex

Spendless wrote: »

How old are your little ones?

36 months and 21 months.

donnaessex

NAR wrote: »

Are there any red lights in your district? :eek:

Nah - not sure if anyone would like me getting into their car with weetabix, yoghurt and jelly sweets stuck in my hair but the hours would suit!!! :rotfl:

Spendless

Another idea, my friend used to work in a nightclub issueing tickets for people's coats.

You might find things pick up at the end of the month, places start thinking about xmas and uni students go back/start leaving their summer jobs behind.

donnaessex

kegg wrote: »

I do the same but 7 to 11.
Fits in with my family commitments
Money not bad as i get 25% enhancement for working after 8 pm and i get a discount card for 13% off any purchase instore or online

Where do you work Kegg?

Spendless

donnaessex wrote: »

36 months and 21 months.

ahh right. bit of a while to go to tell you to hang on in till they go to school. The 3 year old should qualify for 15 hours non-means tested funding for nursery though. Was she 3 in Aug (as she'd get funding from this term) or Sept (would have to wait till Jan). Is it childcare costs causing the issue?