By Maria T. Pepin
Are you a stay-at-home mom looking for a flexible, family-friendly career? You may want to consider getting a part-time job. Not working a standard 9-5 office job will allow you to devote your time to motherhood while putting some extra cash in your pocket.
Here Is a Great List to Get You Started:
At a School District
These jobs are ideal because they offer flexibility and you may have the opportunity to work in the same district in which you reside. This way your children are nearby or even down the hall! You will also enjoy child-friendly schedules (summers off and holiday vacation time). Additionally, schools offer good pay and benefits if you work enough hours.
At a Florist
Flower shops are usually in need of help, especially during the holidays. There are many types of employers to choose from: small flower shops, florist chains, wholesalers, or grocery stores. You don’t need to have experience to deliver bouquets, answer phones, or prep flowers. At the end of the day, you may even get some beautiful arrangements out of the deal.
In Childcare
~ You are already watching your children, so why not make some money out of it? Childcare is fun, rewarding, challenging, and can even pay well. The hours are also appealing because some families only require child-care for a few hours per day or per week. You can supervise young children in your own home, at a child-care center or at the child’s home.
Pet Services
Are you an animal lover? Post some flyers up and you may be surprised at how many responses you get. Perhaps your neighbors are swamped with work and do not have time to come home during the day. Offer to take their dogs out for a small fee each week. You can also provide pet sitting services for families while they are on vacation or away on business.
Coffee Shops
Independent coffee shops are a fun option. You can usually wear what you’d like and choose your own commitment level. If you have good people skills and are willing to remember faces and drinks, you will get reasonable tips. Added perk: who doesn’t love free coffee?
Local Gym or YMCA
Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors are always in demand. Think of it as getting paid to exercise. Trainers base their schedules on when clients can meet and instructors teach courses such as spinning or yoga when the gym decides there is a demand. Therefore, the hours tend to be scattered and best for people looking for a part-time gig.
Freelance Writer
Do you have a flair for writing? Freelance writing is a wonderful choice for stay-at-home moms because you can set your own hours and work in your pajamas. It’s also nice to make extra cash doing something you really enjoy. There are tons of sites on the Internet that will pay you to write articles or reviews. This way, you can dabble in a variety of assignments and build a broader portfolio of work.
Target Small Employers
Check out the help wanted ads in your local newspaper. Many papers have a section for part-time jobs. A great way to find a flexible employer is to target “up and coming” businesses, smaller companies, and startups that are expecting growth within the year. More often than not, these companies are happy to bring someone on part-time.
The Library
Libraries tend to offer an attractive benefits package at all levels of employment. You do not need experience and the tasks are relatively simple: checking out and re-stocking books, notifying customers of overdue items, and ensuring the library's materials (books, movies, and music) are in good condition. Hours vary by library. Some smaller libraries are open fewer hours, while larger libraries can stay open late.
Retail
There are a number of good reasons to work in the retail industry. Retail stores offer flexible work schedules and multiple store locations to choose from. The perks are great… who wouldn’t love the employee discounts, especially if the company offers products you seek out regularly? Bonus: If you need to relocate from one state to another- retail experience can land you the job in a new town.