Everything You Need to Know About Having a Part-Time Job

Don’t want to work full-time but aren’t sure what the alternative is? If you’re not exactly certain what a part-time job entails, hours-wise, here’s a primer to what you might expect.

The Hours

Essentially, a part-time job is a position that offers you flexibility—of scheduling or decreased hours. The number of hours varies from company to company: anywhere from 5 to 35 per week. The company has the discretion here, as to what they consider part-time. It isn’t regulated by the Fair Labor Standards Act—and the ACA only differentiates full from part-time work (at 30 hours per week) for the purposes of health insurance benefit eligibility.

The Opportunities

There is a bit of stigma attached to “part-time” work, making it seem as though it isn’t real work, but there are many professional gigs that fall under the part-time umbrella. It’s not just retail and hospitality either! It can be particularly useful for stay-at-home parents, students, retirees, and any other workers who prefer not to have the time commitment of a full-time position.

The Perks

It’s even occasionally possible to start with part-time employment and transition into full-time work at that company, if you play your cards right—making part-time work a useful way to get your foot in the door somewhere. It’s also possible to gain access to benefits—though not as extensive as full-time packages, and not universally. If you think part-time work might be an ideal situation for you at this stage in your career, try looking for positions that have flexibility and at least some baseline benefits. And remember, what works for you works for you. Don’t worry about what anybody else thinks.