Ways of working · 6 min read
Should I go part-time to retrain?
Whether going part-time to retrain makes sense, how to ask your employer, how to budget for it, funding options, and how to test the new field first.
The short answer
Going part-time to retrain can be a smart middle path: you keep an income, benefits and a reference while you study or build experience in a new field. It makes sense when the training is a real requirement, such as a qualification you can't get any other way, and you've tested that you like the work. Before you ask, budget for the lower pay and any course fees, and check funding. In the UK, all employees can request flexible working from their first day, and employers must consider it properly. In the US there's no general right, so make a business case. Test the new field first with short experiments or volunteering.
Key takeaways
- Part-time work keeps income and security while you retrain.
- Check the training is needed and you've tested the work first.
- Budget for lower pay and fees, and look for funding.
- UK employees can request flexible working from day one.
On this pageWhen it makes sense
When it makes sense
- The new field requires a qualification you can't get any other way.
- You've tried pieces of the new work and want more.
- You can afford the lower income for the length of the course.
- Your current employer can realistically run with fewer of your hours.
Test before you cut your hours
Many people retrain for a career they've never tried. Before cutting your hours, spend a few weeks on small experiments: a short course, a day's shadowing, a conversation with someone in the job, and a small piece of the real work. If you still want it, the case for retraining is much stronger.
Budget for it
| Item | Questions |
|---|---|
| Lower pay | What will your monthly take-home be? |
| Course fees | Total cost, and any funding or loans? |
| Time | How many hours a week for study and placement? |
| Benefits | Pension, holiday and insurance at reduced hours? |
| Buffer | Can you cover three months if something goes wrong? |
How to ask
- Decide the hours and pattern you want, such as three days a week.
- Think through how your work will be covered or redistributed.
- In the UK, make a written flexible working request.
- Offer a trial period of three months.
- Agree in writing any changes to pay, holiday and duties.
Your rights in the UK and US
In the UK, all employees can make up to two flexible working requests a year from their first day. Employers must consult you before refusing and give a decision within two months, and the Acas Code explains how they should handle it. In the US, there's no general right to reduced hours, so your request depends on your employer's policies and your business case.
Illustrative example
Jade, an administrator, wants to become a counsellor. She first does a ten-week introductory course in the evenings and volunteers on a helpline. Sure of her direction, she asks her employer to cut her hours to three days so she can start a two-year diploma. They agree to a three-month trial, which becomes permanent.
Making study and work fit
Agree fixed days rather than shrinking hours each day, so you have whole days for study or placements. Tell your manager about exam dates early. Keep work and study calendars together, and protect at least one day a week for rest, because retraining is a marathon.
What happens to the gaps
Most posts ask for something your CV doesn't show yet. OffLadder CV names those gaps, and Laddie, our AI coach, turns each one into three steps:
- Learn the skill: a short lesson on what the post asks for, starting from the basics.
- Try the work: a 15-minute task taken from the job itself, so you have a real example to talk about.
- Practise the interview: a five-question mock interview for that role, weighted to the parts you're least sure of.
The conversation stays in your OffLadder account. Once you've done the work, add it to your CV in your own words, and the next post you tailor for can point to it.
Questions people ask
- How do I ask my employer to go part-time?
- Put it in writing. Say what hours you'd like, from when, and how the work will be covered. In the UK, make it a formal flexible working request so the legal process applies.
- Can my employer refuse?
- Yes. In the UK, they can refuse for specific business reasons but must consult you first and decide within two months. In the US, it's up to the employer unless a contract or policy says otherwise.
- Should I tell my employer I'm retraining for another career?
- You don't have to. Some employers are supportive, especially if the skills help them too. If you think it would harm you, simply say you want reduced hours for study or personal reasons.
- What funding is there for retraining?
- In the UK, Advanced Learner Loans cover many college courses for adults, and some employers fund training. In the US, workforce programmes listed on CareerOneStop, Pell Grants and employer tuition assistance can help.
- Is studying part-time while working full-time better?
- Sometimes. Evening or online courses avoid a pay cut but take longer and can be tiring. Try one short course first to see what pace you can keep.
- Will going part-time affect my pension and benefits?
- Usually, in proportion to your hours. Check pension contributions, holiday, health insurance and any thresholds before you agree.
Exercises are practice, not evidence of career fit or a qualification. How to read our guides and report a correction.
Sources
- Flexible working · GOV.UK
- Advanced Learner Loan · GOV.UK
- CareerOneStop · US Department of Labor
How this page is written
Sources support the factual background, not a guarantee that an exercise predicts career fit. Fictional practice material is labelled. Dates record content updates; no independent expert review is implied. More about OffLadder.