Why are part-time jobs in programming an anomaly?

Posted by Mikle on Programmers See other posts from Programmers or by Mikle
Published on 2011-11-24T09:54:40Z Indexed on 2011/11/24 18:16 UTC
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I've recently quit my full time developing job at mega-corp, and I decided that I'll look for a part time job. Since then I've talked to half a dozen potential employers, and every one of them had the same reaction when I said the magic words "part-time" - they all closed up and became suspicious. Now, I understand that it might just be me, so as control I asked every one of them what if I were willing to work full time, and they all said I would probably get an offer.

My question is two fold:

  1. Why, as an employer, would you give up a competent, even great, developer, simply because he wants to work 3 days a week and not 5?

  2. How do I sell the story of part time job better? I usually just list my reasons which are that I prefer that balance currently in my life and that I want to work on my own projects, but it leaves them even more suspicious - am I going to start something myself and quit? Am I just lazy?

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