I am really really thinking of leaving my current position. I get paid adequately, especially for what I do but I am not happy. I am tired of the clients and want a change. I would like to work 8 til 2:30 each day. I have never done anything besides legal secretary except for 6 months of delivering auto parts. I only have a high school diploma. I am better at making change than most folks working today. I do not want to be a waitress. Any suggestions? Would big corps like Target and Starbucks be better than locally owned places since I would hope more employees would mean a bit more flexibility? I miss about one day a month on average for illness, etc.

I am terrified to leave where I am and get into something worse. Unless DH agrees to homeschool, we need my income for the girls' tuition. It is the ONLY reason I work.

I think you could easily find another secretarial position but outside of the legal secretary specialty if that would give you enough change. One day a month surprise (meaning unscheduled) days off would put my business into a tailspin! So probably avoid businesses as small as mine (total of 5 employees) because not much flexibility there at all.

Temp work might be perfect for you! Lots of change, pretty decent hourly wage, easily scheduled days off. The ability to check out different kids of jobs and see what fits/does not fit your needs.

Have fun! This could be very exciting for you.

I had not considered temp work. I type really fast (like 95 to 115 words a minute depending on the test). But, I have to be able to be at school by 3. I will be investigating. Thanks.

Could you work for the school that your kids attend?

I work for the public school system as a teacher and my hours are 7:00-2:30 (although I usually get there around 6:15). I think the secretaries have similar hours. But, that is for high school. They stagger start times here, so a secretary working in a middle or elementary school would start later. I don't think all of them are necessarily full time and some probably do leave around 2-3. What about something like that?

I'd think a locally owned store would be more flexible. Big box stores can find employees easily and tend to treat them like crap and would not be flexible with your hours. A department store (a nice one) in a mall may be a bit more flexible....I use to do that when I was in college.

Also what about working with developmentally disabled adults on life skills? Those jobs are usually very flexible and pay pretty well.

Can you sub teach at your children's school? What about secretary there or a teachers aid? (other than the secretary, you usually have the same hours as the students)

I don't blame you if you are not happy. That is #1 priority. :)

I'll pray for success!

Michelle

What about working as a personal assistant? You've been a legal secretary, which means that you are probably more than qualified enough to work as someone's personal assistant and they would often have flexible hours.

I know that the guy for whom I used to work as an executive assistant also had a personal assistant for home stuff - travel, dealing with the various employees (ground's keeper, housekeeper, etc.), etc. - and I believe that position paid around $25/hour (granted, it was in the SF Bay Area).