I'm an individual, seeking someone to co-apply for roles with. Unconventional I know, but frankly, we all know the status quo isn't working for mums who want to keep their careers as well…

 

The vision:

I have a young child and don't want to work more than 3 days a week (ideally even less) but of course, senior level roles are always targeted at full time employees.

There's research around the world that job sharing can work really well, but in my experience most companies resist the idea as there isn't a clear plan about how to make the communication smooth, division of responsibilities clear, and avoid staff “playing mum against dad” in leadership roles.

But the benefits of the set up, if it did work, are really clear:

• Two sets of skills and experiences instead of one
• Two sets of stakeholders and network brought to the role
• Better decision making when someone can challenge your ideas or bounce your thoughts off
• Increased coverage for annual leave, sick kids etc - absences can be smoother with the other party involved and able to share coverage
• Reduced burnout, lower frustration and improved engagement when you feel like you can succeed at both elements of your life

But rather than a job share where you get “stuck” with whatever other person in the organisation also wants to cut their hours with no real strategy for how their skills or styles combine, my plan is to build our own complementary combination, check out communication and styles will work really well together, and THEN build the role.

My hope is that if 2 well-suited people put in an application together almost as one CV full of what experiences and skills we offer when combined, making these benefits clear, we might get to have some of these conversations with employers.

Of course, only quite progressive companies are likely to consider it. But this is the 21st century and until someone proves it can work, noone will try it. So I believe in putting my money where my mouth is, and being willing to try to prove that it IS a good plan.

 

But of course, I need someone else who is willing to try “having it all” with me.

 

About me:

My background is in veterinary, animal welfare or conservation type of roles. I've been CEO of small charities and senior managers of large well known ones.

I have an MBA and an MSc, and strong credibility in animal care and welfare industries as well as the zoo.

As a leader, I'm heavily focussed on culture, development of middle managers, future-focussed strategy, and getting things done. My style is fairly open and authentic, usually believing in an casual, friendly approach to most situations. However I am also more than capable of being pretty firm (including performance management and all that jazz), and have a tendency to be quite decisive, preferring to move forward and have action rather than wait for perfection.

 

About you:

Of course, I don't know which jobs will come up this year (a few interesting ones have already come and gone wanting hours that I wasn't willing to give) so it's hard to know exactly what would be the perfectly complementary skillset.

But I guess if I start with the areas that my experience is lower, might create some good starting conversations? So, below are some of the areas that would make a combined skillset more competitive than a solo one:

• Commercial senior leadership and/or strong financial acumen and/or
• PhD that would help us be competitive in science type organisations
• Medical or social services background to be competitive in human NGOs
• Marketing or education roles that would make us competitive in a communications type role (I have a strong interest in human behaviour change to improve animal welfare or conservation)

Or any other set of skills at a senior level that would combine well together for the right type of role.

Non- technical skills that would be excellent:

• Attention to detail (I'm more a strategic thinker so this combo would be great)
• Human-centred, believes in investing in people as the key to success for most organisations rather than just as a tick box exercise
• Authentic approach, don't take “professionalism” too far that we can't get to know each other
• Progressive and interested in challenging the status quo, future-proofing, and looking forward
• Resilience, adaptability, flexibility, exceptional communication and a commitment to working through how things could work are going to be essential to prove that a shared role can work well

 

Then what?

If you're a parent wanting part time work AND have a meaningful career, think your skillset could combine with mine for senior leadership roles, and are keen to challenge the status quo to try something different which may include awkward conversations and frustrating rejections, get in touch.

 

Email jessica@unleashedconsulting.com.au with:

• Your CV
• What sort of roles you'd be interested in co-applying for, and how you think our combined skills would work for that type of role
• How you see a co-application looking/working in the application and workplace
• How you see it working as a person, and why you think it's a good fit for you
• Logistical details like when you'd be looking, what area you live in, salary range expectations, hours you'd like to work etc

Then maybe we just arrange a phone call and/or a coffee to chat and see if we could be a good fit…

 

 

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