Diary of a future rentier (8)

I have always thought that a total early retirement from the professional world was not desirable. Maintaining a lucrative part-time activity allows you to diversify your sources of income, to taste the joys of retirement before dawn and to maintain a social connection. My goal is therefore now to find a job with a reduced activity rate. However, in this quest for financial independence I am today coming up against two phenomena that are, to say the least, unexpected...

First of all, people like me who are looking to become financially independent are in principle good at their job because they are looking to maximize their salary to save and invest their money. In doing so, even if in the long term they achieve their goal, in the short and medium term they feel like they are moving away from it. Indeed, and I was already talking about it hereThe more successful an employee is, the more his employer monopolizes his available time. In this context, it becomes practically impossible to lower his activity rate.

The only solution is then to change employers, aiming only for part-time positions. The good news is that these jobs are quite common, as companies are keen to recruit skills that they cannot afford full-time. So I thought I would quickly find a shoe that fit me, but that is where I had underestimated the weight of certain clichés that are still very present, even in the 21st century.

Discrimination against women in the professional world is often discussed, especially in relation to salary and promotions. I do not dispute these allegations, which are often justified. However, discrimination against men looking for part-time positions is much less often discussed.

The reasons given for the non-selection of my applications have bordered on the ridiculous several times. Without wanting to brag, I have a CV that is well-stocked and my profile corresponds to what is sought in the market, as much from the point of view of training, age and experience. I would find another position at 100% without any problem. But when it is for part-time, I am told that I am too experienced. Even if it were true, why bother since I am ready to make this additional baggage available without any other compensation than the fact of being able to work part-time?

Sometimes the explanations are even more limited. I was even told that I did not understand why a man would be looking for a part-time position, despite my legitimate explanations (balancing private/family life and professional life). You have to be dreaming... Imagine someone saying something like that to a woman for a full-time position!