Starting a new job after 3/4 months mat leave?

[babsie007]

Hi all

I am currently in mat leave although dd isn't due for another few weeks.

I have my annual appraisal in March that I have requested I use a KIT day for. There has been a new structure out into place within my team which comes into play from 2nd January, and I as I am already underpaid for what I do but left having smashed my target, I am hoping to get a very substantial pay rise that will bring me in line with industry standard. I am in north east and they recruit people in London on 14k more than me a year so I know they have the ability to pay more.

I also realize though my employer doesn't pay well in the north and a payrise isn't completely likely so I am preparing to look for something else once my daughter is born and I have for passed those first few weeks with her. I will be speaking to my employer and if there is no scope for a payrise, I intend to let them know I plan to look for something else.

What have your experiences been of you returned to a new job after mat leave? What response did you get from prospective new employers about you having just had a baby?

I am very fortunate that my dh will be working 4 days a week instead of 5 to allow me to return to work full time. Although we have to pay for 4 days childcare, we so have good family support when needed.

[babsie007]

Sorry for typos...

[babsie007]

That's positive to know! I assume you took the job, hopefully it has all worked out for you.

[babsie007]

Thank you. Excited to get her here and also excited to get my cv out there

[WoodBurnerBabe]

I'm 3 months into a job I interviewed for while on maternity leave with no 3. I stated the date I was looking to return and the fact I didn't want to work full time and they didn't bat an eyelid. It can work really well.

[babsie007]

Woodburnerbabe, how did you feel actually starting back in unfamiliar territory after being off? And how long did you take as Mat leave? A friend suggested to me that my head won't really be in gear properly to start somewhere knew and I should stick where I am! considering she doesn't have any children....

[WoodBurnerBabe]

I'm just now getting my head round it. The first week my head was actually spinning at the end of each day! Didn't help that the new company were v v v busy (hence recruiting new staff..) so I was very thrown in at the deep end.

At the end of my first two weeks I bitterly, bitterly regretted leaving my old job and it's taken really until now to feel happy and comfortable - please don't expect it to happen overnight.

And budget for some lovely treats if you can, takeaways and the like to ease the pressure a bit.

I had had 11 months leave, and had had to return to my old job for 5 weeks to work my notice as I didn't manage to get the formal offer through quickly enough to go straight into the new job. That buffer probably helped, but I still wasn't back in proper 'work' mode when I switched jobs.

[babsie007]

Hope you are enjoying it thoroughly now!

Thanks for the tip off re takeaway, any excuse :-)

[WoodBurnerBabe]

Umm, I still feel a little bit like I'm going to be exposed as a massive fraud sooner or later and completely incompetent and sacked. Not true in the slightest (I hope!) but my old job was a bit of a comfort blanket, which was also one of the reasons I left, if that makes sense?

I am enjoying it though!

[babsie007]

Sometimes we need a new challenge to keep us on our toes! I'm sure they have every confidence in you too or they would never have hired you in the first place