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professional goals & pregnancy
I'd appreciate any words of wisdom or shared experiences. I'm grappling with an unexpected pregnancy and my current job situation. My partner and I are expecting our first child and getting used to the idea that our lives will be drastically changing. The pregnancy was unplanned, and I had been trying to find a new job. I've been employed at the same place for 8 years and have been trying to find a new job on-and-off throughout my tenure here. I'm looking to change industries, and I'm in a specialized field. Admittedly, I had lots of fits and starts during the multi-year job search process as I got married during this time, changed positions and was promoted w/in my organization, and finished grad school. I was committed to securing a new job, learning the ropes, and being in a better financial situation before starting a family,
I actually was having some good conversations with a potential employer when I learned I was five weeks pregnant. After lots of deliberation and conversations with my partner, I decided to postpone my job search until post-baby. I think this was the right decision due to my existing insurance coverage and ability to have more life-work balance and working from home flexibility with my current position. I also had concerns about being able to perform at 110% in a new job while pregnant and the lack of maternity leave in a new job since I wouldn't have technically been covered under FMLA.
So while I still think this was the right decision, I'm struggling to feel good about my professional (and financial) prospects. And it's not a option to take a hiatus from the workforce post-baby and do a more thorough job search (not that I'd have time w/ a newborn) b/c my husband is finishing school himself so I'm the primary breadwinner and insurance holder. I know I'm lucky to have a job, and we are genuinely excited - and slightly scared ;-) to be having a family, but it's hard for me to not feel professionally stagnant.
Any advice on how to keep a positive attitude and not lose too much momentum on the professional front over the next year?
Re: professional goals & pregnancy
I really have no personal experience with this but I wish you happiness!
This change of life baby will probably put some of your plans into perspective after having him/her. It is no reason to stop progressing in your career but you are lucky. A lot of people would love to have a secure job and insurance to cover their pregnancy.
A friend at my work was telling me about her sister who worked two part time jobs and they cut back her hours from one of her part time jobs so they didn't have to pay for insurance. Now she doesn't have insurance and she is half way through her pregnancy.
I think the reality of life is that we always hope we can plan for everything bad or good (in this case) that might happen, but we can't.
Don't let this pregnancy stop your career, but you might change your mind or have some different perspective about your current job over the next few years if it is as flexible as you say it is, especially with a baby.
Congrats!
Thanks for the well wishes. I know we have many blessings to be thankful for, and sometimes things have a way of working out for the best.
I honestly would not switch positions if I was pregnant. Knowing that fact that the company is not required to give you a leave of absence, it'd be too risky for me. Some companies do give employees FMLA-type leaves even when they don't qualify for FMLA. My current company is a prime example. However, not all companies do that.
I, myself, am wanting to find a new job that is a step up in the Human Resource field, but I'm holding off. I'm not even pregnant yet, but my husband and I are trying. I wouldn't want to accept a new position and then find out I'm pregnant a month later. I also haven't found something that is really sticking out either. If that does happen, I would probably switch, and we'd wait a couple of months again before trying.
TTC since June 2012
Being 100% brutally honest with you - yes, your career will likely stagnate for awhile. It's almost impossible (not totally impossible though) to keep the same amount of momentum and passion for your job when you're dealing with (and loving on) a newborn at home. Other things are going to take priority - being to work early and staying late will be the last things that you're willing to do, you won't volunteer to work weekends, and even the time that you spend at work will be spent half thinking about your baby.
At least it's the experience that I've had and most of the working moms I know have had.
I love being a working mom. I love my job and have no desire to leave the working world. But I don't have the same drive that I used to, at least not right now. I expect that as my kids get older it will come back, and I'll be happy that I kept my feet in the professional world so that I'll be able to climb that ladder quickly. But for now, I'm pretty content with a less-than-perfect job because it provides me a lot of flexibility - which is my main priority at this time in my life.
My advice is definitely to stick with the job that you have for now. Get past your pregnancy, ML and newborn stage. And go from there as far as a new job is concerned, when you have a better idea of what your life is like post-child and what your priorities are.
Congratulations!
And it's never too late to start something new. Good luck to you, stay positive.