Every mum is painfully aware of the need to eventually resume work after maternity leave. The thought likely lingers across your time off with your baby, and that return date will creep up on you far more quickly than you would like. Just like that, you’ll be spit out from the world of nappies and baby vests, and thrown into a working environment that, all too often, won’t feel like a great fit for you anymore.
The simple fact is that having a baby changes you. Even if you were married to your job before, there’s a new sheriff in town now. Aside from the practical changes to things like your availability, your mind’s probably in a different place, and going back to your career can be an undeniable struggle.
This is the reason why a surprising number of mums actually end up changing their careers when they’re still fresh from maternity leave. But is this really such a good idea? After all, that move back into work can already feel like a strain. Will you really have a new career in you just then?
In truth, the answer will be different for everyone. But, to help you decide, we’re going to look at pros, cons, and potential compromises involved in a post-maternity career shakeup.
Pros: Carving out a New Life
Life has changed since you had a baby. Even if you thought you’d bounce back into work after a month brimming with passion and new ideas, that’s far from the reality. Going back to your old career can actually feel like putting on your post-baby wardrobe – it might not fit.
With this in mind, there are undeniable pros to making a career change at this crucial time, the most obvious of which include –
Leaning into new Skills
As parents, we develop a wide range of new skills, including patience, time management, organisation, and much more. This could end up forming a fantastic foundation for a new career. For instance, many parents choose to change careers for a childcare setting. These are also transferable skills that could be fantastic for everything from PR to healthcare roles like a therapist or support worker, and well beyond. And you can only lean into those new talents by choosing to make a change.
Selecting Hours That Suit
Sometimes, a post-maternity career change also becomes necessary for the simple reason that your old role no longer suits your stretched time frame. You certainly can’t spend 12 hours in an office each day anymore. Instead, many new mums choose to pursue flexible work, which might include self-employment, or shift work with an understanding employer.
The Cons: Can you Really Take This on Right Now?
Of course, making this kind of change isn’t always as simple as it seems. Your life right now probably feels full of compromise, financial stress, and logistical struggles. Can you really afford to pile another major decision onto that load? For some parents, this could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, and that’s the case because of potential cons that include –
Adding to Your Mental Workload
Right now, your brain is filled with childcare hours, meal plans, and bedtime routines. Unfortunately, if you choose to change careers right now, you’ll end up adding tasks like job seeking and interviews to that already large pile, and that’s sure to feel overwhelming.
Cost Can Be an Issue
Even with maternity pay from an existing employer, most women have to spend at least some of their leave on a reduced income. This can take a pretty extreme financial toll at a time when your outgoings are likely soaring, and adding periods of unemployment, months worked in lieu, or even additional training isn’t always possible.
Compromises: Finding a Way to Make it Work for You
If you’re tempted by the pros we’ve listed, but you still can’t overcome those cons, then you’re probably looking for a compromise. How can you make this move work for you and your lifestyle, without stretching yourself too far? Well, you’ll be pleased to hear that such compromises very much exist. Let’s get into them!
# 1 – Advance in Your Existing Career
You might not need to completely change your career to find a job that suits you better; sometimes, you can simply advance in your existing role. This is especially true if you’re already working a job that’s famously great for parents. For instance, if you work in healthcare, you may want to consider advancements that could lead you into roles with shorter hours or a more flexible approach. Options like this accredited hypnotherapy training course are a great example of this, as this could see you securing a role as a private practice therapist, rather than working every hour in a gruelling hospital setting. Alternatively, if you’re working on a freelance basis, simple switches like renting an office space outside of the home, or attending additional courses on topics like copywriting or SEO can all strengthen and refresh your offerings.
# 2 – Wait Until Your Kids are in School
While it’s not always easy to wait around, remember that your life will also become a lot easier when your kids are in school. That can seem like a long way off, but considering that you’re already at least a year into your parenting journey, the time will come around before you know. Then, you’ll hopefully have a lot more headspace to think about what you actually want from this career move. You’ll also have a lot more time during school hours to attend interviews, look at job listings, and even undergo that additional training you need to thrive. Not to mention that you will have hopefully had a few years to build that savings fund up by this point, meaning that you can actually afford those tempting courses that feel out of reach right now!
If you’re thinking about making a career change right after having a child, then know that you aren’t alone. Simply weigh up these pros, cons, and compromises to find the best path forward.
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