When it comes to having flexibility and a good job-one that's challenging and offers growth--it's one or the other. That is what most people think, according to my unscientific survey of workers. You just can't have a good job where you advance if you're not putting in a full day every day, they tell me.

That may be the case in some companies. And as long as you believe it's not possible for you to have a challenging job that offers flexibility, there's little chance you'll ever get it.

Joyce, a 48-year old marketing professional, is typical. She told me she wants to wind down her work hours, but, "There's no such thing as a challenging job that I can do with less hours. Maybe I could find a job answering phones or something, but that's it."

Even if it's unheard of for someone in your company to have a challenging, responsible role in which they start work at 7:30 in the morning and leave at 1:30, it doesn't mean it can't happen.

Take Patty Giura, for example, who works for Alpern Rosenthal, an accounting firm in Pittsburgh. She not only heads the company's entrepreneurial services group, she is a partner at the firm, says an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. And she's one of about 15 part-timers on staff. Another worker at this firm, Elisabeth Leach, is a part-time manager of marketing and business development who was promoted to principal when she was pregnant.

The belief that it can't happen or that having a flexible schedule keeps you from progressing, is prevalent. In a study conducted by the Families and Work Institute in New York, nearly 40 percent of workers said they are afraid they'd jeopardize their jobs or career advancement taking advantage of flexible options.

More companies than ever offer flexible work arrangements--telecommuting, job sharing, or part-time schedules--to accommodate workers' top priority of work-life balance. Many people want the flexibility to deal with child or elder care-or just have more time for themselves. Betty, a veteran sales person in Cincinnati, puts in a few hours at the office on Tuesday then leaves to take her water color class for several hours in the afternoon. Other workers duck out to take college classes.

This kind of flexibility has benefits for the company, too, including higher morale and reduction in lost productivity, Plus, smart companies know that in the next ten years jobs will outnumber workers and it behooves them to find and keep talented employees.

It depends on the kind of work you do, but don't assume you can't have both--a challenging position and flexible hours--even if you're shopping for a new job. A lot of people say it's rare to find a job that starts out with a flexible schedule. I've found that reasonable employers listen to reasonable proposals.

So if your priority is challenging work and flexibility, before you start your job hunt, develop a proposal that outlines the possible work arrangement, how you'll be productive and evaluated and how you can be reached if you're not in the office. Show a company what it has to gain. If you don't at least try, you have the most to lose.

© by Andrea Kay

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