Saturday, August 4, 2012

Working - Careers That Can Help You Find a Balance Between Your Job and Your Life


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In today's world most families - with and without children - find it impossible to make ends meet without two incomes. At the end of the 90's it was estimated that over 40% of all married couples had dual incomes. To compound the problem, both men and women who work full time jobs say they average at least 50 hours a week - a far cry from the "full time" definition of 35 - 40 hours a week.

For the most part society demands that the woman be the family caretaker, child care provider, housekeeper, cook, chauffeur, nursemaid, financial manager, social secretary, activities planner, event coordinator, and wife. While trying to accomplish all this, she is still expected to bring home the bacon - low sodium turkey bacon! - fry it up, serve it, do the dishes, clean the kitchen, and then run back out to bring the kids to soccer practice, pick up the dry cleaning, go grocery shopping, pick up kids from soccer practice, head home, help them with homework, and get them to bed. With any luck she can splash some cold water on her face and brush her teeth before collapsing from exhaustion.

Does this sound like your life? Maybe it's time to make a change - into a new job. A job that will give you the flexibility you need to gain control over your schedule.

Be aware that making a change of this magnitude could easily decrease your earning potential, at least in the beginning. However, with any balancing act, some type of negotiation needs to take place. If your goal is to spend less time with your co-workers and more time with your family, it is certainly a sacrifice worth making.

Below are some options to consider. Some do require special training and/or licensing but you can usually take advantage of online courses if need be.

Your first choice should be to try to work with what you have:


  • Ask your present boss if you can cut back your hours permanently. (This may turn your job into a part time position without benefits, so weigh the financial consequences before committing.)

  • Are there any transfer possibilities at your company? A different department / job / facility?

  • Find a new company that allows flex time or telecommuting doing the same job you do now.

If these choices don't work out, you could consider the following:


  • Outside sales positions usually allow plenty of flexibility and "free time" as long as you meet your sales quota.

  • Field reps in computer repair can usually find a few hours here and there between client sites

  • Reporters, journalists, newspaper columnists, freelance writers

  • Anything with "mother's hours". Even if you aren't a mother you can still benefit from having most of the afternoon to yourself.

  • Retail jobs are never 9- 5. Schedules can vary widely each day and each week.

  • Nursing. Usually a few days on and a few days off whether you are full time or part time.

  • Freelance court transcription

  • At home medical coding and billing

  • Real estate sales

  • Insurance (life, health, car, home, etc.) sales

  • Transportation services

  • Catering / meal preparation / baking special desserts (birthday cakes, etc.)

  • Become a "virtual assistant". Many small companies and sole proprietorships don't even have office space; they are home based businesses. Regardless of their size, however, they frequently have a need for the same type of support services as their larger counterparts. Phones, customer service, help desk support - to name but a few - can easily be handled by an assistant in a remote location (your kitchen?).

  • Develop and start your own at home business.

There is no magic answer to the dilemma of how to make enough money for your family vs. how to spend enough time with your family. All too often these goals become mutually exclusive as we try to burn the candle at both ends and watch helplessly as our lives spiral out of control.

Assess your needs and decide what is most important to you and your family. Once you find the answer, the rest will fall into place automatically.

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