Part Time Position

[Bluejuice]

Just asking for general feel around this forum from people already in the industry.

How much potential is there in general to pick up extra hours on top of a part time contract in the industry. Looking at a few roles at the moment but they are all part time and ideally need full time hours. Obviously don't want to miss an opportunity if it comes around though.

Cheers in advance

 

[Clip]

Booking office and stations duties Id say yes, everything else I wouldnt know.

 

[RJ]

I'm contracted to work 5 or so hours a week in a ticket office, there are often opportunities to do overtime. However, priority is usually given to full time staff who want to work on their days off. The Train Operating Company (TOC) I currently work for allows me to do overtime at any of several stations on the network. A TOC I used to work for (also in a ticket office) only allowed overtime at my home station, severely limiting rest day working opportunities.

It might be worth enquiring with staff what kind of arrangements the TOCs you're looking at have for staffing. Some have dedicated roving holiday/rest day/sickness relief staff rotas in addition to rotas with fixed staff at each station. Some only have staff at fixed locations and will call you when you're at home to help them out. Planned overtime is more likely at the former.

Either way, it's not a good arrangement if you must rely on a full time income. Unless like me, you have other flexible jobs on, thus increasing opportunities for work. Of course, employment contracts often require employees to seek permission before working elsewhere. Come to think of it, a few friends who study also have their fingers in several pies and it works well for us.

 

[trentside]

From my own experience in a booking office - I'd say it depends on local circumstances.

As RJ says, the priority tends to be given to full time staff, with part-timers picking up anything that remains available (providing they want it). I was able to make a decent living off a part-time booking office job, with a lot of rest day and Sunday working - the latter can be lucrative if the location you're looking at opens on Sundays and has some staff on contracts that do not obligate them to work Sundays. I should however point out that I have no dependants and support only myself and run a car - if you have more commitments you can't rely on overtime as it isn't always regular.