How I make it work ….. The dad working in the City
This is the first in a series of blog posts from Your life, your work where people tell us how they make work and life work for them. The first is Rob Jones, a dad living in London and working in the City.

1. Tell us about yourself and your family situation
I am married with two boys aged 5 and 2
2. What work do you do?
I work in the city in corporate finance
3. What is the best thing about your current situation?
My working hours are fairly flexible which means I am able to spend time with my family during the week as well as at the weekend.
4. What is the hardest thing?
My job is not a “9–5” job and I do sometimes have to put in extra hours outside of work or be on the phone in the evening. Sometimes I find it hard to switch out of work mode when I get home, particularly if I’ve had a busy or stressful day at work. There are times during the week when I’ll be in the middle of doing something with the boys, such as reading them a bedtime story, and I’ll find myself thinking about work rather than focusing on them.
5. How do you make it work?
I try to be as disciplined as possible with my work hours. I generally arrive at and leave work at the same time each day and if I have a quieter day I try to get ahead with work and if I have a particularly busy day I will aim to finish off at home later in the evening once the boys are in bed. It doesn’t always work that way, but more often than not it does.
6. What advice or tips would you give to someone else in a similar situation?
Don’t fall into the trap of “the week is for work and the weekend is for family” just because it’s easier. I know a lot people in the City who would rather just focus on their job during the week and spend time with their kids at the weekend. I’ve even come across some people who deliberately aim to get home once the kids are in bed! Obviously there will be some days or nights when you won’t see them if you have to travel or work late but I think it’s important to make as much time as possible to spend with the family.
Thank you very much Rob.
If you have a story like this that you would like to share please let us know.
