Career change after maternity leave

Omg! I can totally agree with your exact sentiments. After having my son, I decided that going back to my corporate America job just didn’t coincide with me being as present as I wanted to be to my household. I resigned and began trying to create my own lane as an entrepreneur but it’s been soooo tough and discouraging at times. On the bright side, I’m determined to make this work and find a path the works for me! Stay encouraged Mama🤗

i was selling insurance during the day before i got pregnant/during pregnancy, now im working a totally different job and schedule. im working a logistics job now from about 5 pm- 12/1 am and i absolutely love it because it means i get to spend every day with my son! i seriously am so greatful everyday because i couldnt have done that before working the 9-5. im a single mom so every situation is different and it may not work out best for you and your family. but i definitely wont be going back to days until my babys in school and i cant spend the day with him!

I was a teacher and loved it, but there is no way to make it work with two kids. I'm a SAHM now, but when my 2nd starts daycare next year I'm going back to school to study speech and language pathology. It's really scary because I have to take the GRE, and of course it will cost a lot of time and money. I'm afraid of letting my family down, but if I can do it, my new career could really help us out a lot. It feels like a ton of pressure though...

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You can do it! just one step at a time, just one foot in front of the other. Be kind to yourself - encourage yourself as you would one of your students!

That's really good advice, thanks!

I can't see an argument for changing career paths at that time being advantageous timing. Seems bad timing to start in a new field bc you are unlikely to give a new field your all as you once would. Even if you do, ppl are likely to think thats the case....

Have you thought about looking into working from home? I work with lots of mums who do not want to return to their corporate roles after children and out opportunity allows you to work around / with your children...

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I went back when son was 4 weeks old then decovered my work from home and I have not been back to a job sense, as moms it’s really hard and child care is expensive as well

Yup! Had my girls, started grad school and will have a completely career starting in August.

I changed companies 8 weeks after returning from mat leave. Completely different industry and role from my old job, but still in communications. I had a lot of trepidation going into it, but haven't looked back once! Having a job I love makes all the difference when I have to kiss my little one good-bye in the morning, plus I was able to negotiate family-friendly hours and vacation time in my offer package. Trust in yourself--there's never a perfect time to make a big change!

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What do you do Melissa?

I went to law school when my son was 6 months. Career change can happen whenever you decide you need to. I was active duty military before and wanted a more applicable job where I could choose where to live. Love the change , love being an attorney but it was rough not gonna lie; lol.

I’m in network marketing! It’s the 21st century and now a days that’s where the jobs are at! 😃

I completely quit my very competitive, time consuming and creative job once I had my son. I had no idea before having him that I would feel that way. My husband and I picked up and moved closer to family where I work for my family’s business while I attempt to figure out a smaller, more flexible creative venture.

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We moved further away from family for my husbands new career. We were paying so much in daycare and basically all my paycheck was going towards that. So we decided it would be best for me to stay home with the kids. I rather watch them and get to see them grow then have someone watch them.

After my first, I returned to the job I had had for 7 years as an insurance agent. Unfortunately while I was gone, my “duties” were dispersed amongst other employees so when I returned I felt as if I had no specific job. I was BORED out of my mind. It was very difficult leaving my babe off to daycare every morning knowing I was going to be bored for the next 8 hours. So unexpectedly a position opened up at a local bank for a teller position. I took it and could not be happier with my decision. I ended up STARTING out making more an hour than I was as a LICENSED INSURANCE AGENT and have received a few raises and bonuses since. I’ve formed forever friendships and I get excited to go to work everyday now. I am currently on maternity leave for my second child and I can’t wait to return to work and see my work family! I hope this perspective helps you out :)

Yes! I was in college to be a social worker no I’m going into nursing since they do not have just the 9-5 hours and I can work nights while my daughters young and switch to days when she is in school!

I’m in retail management and it requires long hours, weekends and more importantly less structure and consistent nights for my baby. I’m currently soul searching trying to figure out what my next adventure will be that will give me 8-5 and weekends off. I know that right now it feels like it will be just a job but thrive on ambition at work so it can’t be. I feel ya mama. Babies make you realize what’s important and more importantly what’s not!

I changed companies a year and a half after returning from leave to get out of a dead end job. Best I can say is that since I was entering a new area of work where I did not have domain knowledge and they did not give me the training resources, it was not the right company/role to move to. I also learned a few months in that all the important conversations happened after I would leave for the day to get my kid. If I had known that upfront I would never have taken the job. I do think it is extremely hard to make a productive move within the first few years postpartum but not impossible. However, if I could go back in time, I would have left that deadend job before baby so I would feel good and settled for awhile after baby.

This is Something I am considering as well! I’m a tradeswoman. Gone for 10-12 hrs a day for 3 months at a time depending on work. I can’t see my job working with the new one .... I feel ya mama🥵

I totally feel ya! I was in a corporate role before having my son + if I went back I was having to basically chose work over my son + place him in daycare (+ the fees are ridiculously expensive) which we weren’t willing to do! I started an online business when Koa was 6 weeks old + now I get to work from home + still spend time with him. Have you considered working online or from home? X

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What type of business did you start?

I’d love to start something like that, but I’m unsure the realistic earnings are going to be enough to work? I’d need to have the girls in nursery sometimes I think, for my sanity and their development (Millie loves it and I’d hate to take her out ), and worry could I earn enough to justify that.