If you have been looking into part-time work, that can be an ambiguous term if you are not familiar with it. Obviously, it means fewer hours than full-time, but that still leaves a wide range for what your schedule could be.

There are a lot of different scenarios you could encounter with part-time positions that might catch you off guard. The site The Balance Careers sheds some light on the subject, clarifying the exact thresholds for what makes a job part-time.

Traditionally, being full-time meant doing 40 hours per week. Some jobs now require more or less than that and are still classified as full-time. But at first glance, you might assume being part-time simply means you will be kept at just below 40 hours with your schedule.

That could be a bad assumption, though.

In actuality, depending on what standard is being used, part-time could be just under 40 hours or it could be under 35 or it could even be under 30 as the maximum.

Truthfully, some people working part-time for a company even have weekly schedules in the single digits. You want to make sure you are clear on the hourly expectations as soon as possible.

Part-time work is also frequently scheduled for less consistent hours. You might be slotted into evenings and weekends. Your schedule may change drastically from week to week depending on the needs of the company.

Many companies expect you to be willing to fill in whenever they need you part-time.

Another unfortunate reality is that many companies will cap your hours at a level that precludes you from being eligible for any employee benefits.

However, that is certainly not universal.

Some companies will offer you options for stocks, tuition help, and other perks. Depending on the organization, they may even be willing to offer you sick leave or health benefits.

Such perks are not the norm for part-time, but it is always worth doing your research about what the position offers.

Whatever your reason for looking for part-time work, you have hope of finding something that accommodates your schedule and can work for your career plans.

To learn more about the details that constitute a part-time position, check out the post from The Balance Careers here.

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Manshuk Kerey sheds light on the question of whether you should consider switching to small multiple jobs instead of holding to a single permanent one.

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