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Career Break - what to consider

3 replies

Morleylass1 · 27/04/2016 12:43

I'm contemplating taking a career break, not an official one from my company, I'm going to have to resign.
I don't have little children, my kids are 13 and 15 so my situation is quite different to many others and I've just turned 43!
I'm now in the fortunate position that with my DHs change in career we could afford for me to stop work and it would have many benefits.
-DH works long days and is likely to have to work away within time, everything falls to me now during the week. It would reduce the stress on the family.
-I'll get to spend school holidays with the kids - they go to a school that has different terms to a normal school, they get 17 weeks holiday a year! It has become a pain juggling everything now, DH used to share the holidays but it is not so easy now and the kids are too old for playschemes.

  • I'm thinking that the kids won't want me around for that much longer, ds 15 isn't that bothered now, but dd 13 likes to do things with me and I would like to make the most of this.
  • I'm not really enjoying my job and really cannot see myself staying there.

Downsides:
  • I'm unlikely to find a job with the same flexibility when I decide to go back and I do really like my boss - just not the job. Although I'm thinking I may like to change careers.
  • Pension contributions etc, currently I'm in a workplace pension
  • Obviously there is a risk only having one income, but DH is insured for illness etc.


I'm just wondering what else I should consider. I'm fed up of thinking about it and being so indecisive, sometimes I think I should just go for it and other times I think I should just be sensible.
Any opinions welcome,
Thanks
OP posts:
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MissMellowMellons · 27/04/2016 13:45

No ideas to share yet but watching with interest as I'm wanting home based paid employment too.

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flowery · 27/04/2016 14:07

It's not just the flexibility you may struggle to find when you decide to go back. Many many people (usually women) struggle to find employment at the same level of seniority after taking significant time off. Employers often prefer someone with recent up-to-date work experience.

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jclm · 29/04/2016 13:28

Where are you working at the moment? Could you reduce the hours or ask for a term-time only contract with them? As they may be sorry to lose you.

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