To those who went PT at work or became SAHP when your children were young...

[SchnitzelVonKrumm24]

Can I ask for your experiences of building your career back up again as your children got older?

Pre-children I worked in a very specialist (STEM) field which, for a variety of reasons, felt incompatible with having young children. I've got two DC of pre-school age. Luckily I've managed to side step into a job that I enjoy and provides a very good balance at the moment (0.8 FT, able to WFH) but ultimately it's not what I see myself doing forever.

My plan was to return FT once the children are both in school and start building my career again but I'm having doubts now. It feels that young primary school children are still so young and it would mean a lot of after school care / holiday childcare if I went back full time.

So I would be really interested in others experiences. If you did take a break while their children were young (I understand this is not going to be relevant for anyone who didn't take any time out from their career), when did you feel able to build you career up again? How old were your children? What worked for you? Did you go back to the same field, or did you move into something else?

I went PT when I had children, average 20 hours a week. I did carry on with CPD and sat some exams etc, but I always took the easier option jobs that suited my family better. The kids are now secondary age, year 7 and 9, and I have just returned full time. It was right for me, I have loved being around for them more the past decade and it was great not having to rely on wrap around care. Now is the time, especially for my daughter, to see me going out to work and benefitting from a career.

It's hard to get back into a career after a large break. Personally I'd recommend keeping your toe in, even if it's very part time.

I only managed to get a job, after many failed interviews, by taking on a very temp job and them asking me to stay on. I had a huge amount of experience (15 years) but nothing recent.

I actually think primary school is harder than the nursery years for childcare. I went back to work 3 days a week after having DDs and always had the intention of going to 4 days a week when they were both in school. However when DD1 started school it was suddenly much harder to juggle childcare. We have no family support so she was at after school club 3 days a week and in holiday clubs during school hols. She was knackered and often just wanted to be home and have playdates. It's been fine as it's only 3 days a week and I have 2 days a week to pick her up from school, attend school events, spend time with her in the holidays etc.

I'm fortunate in that I was promoted last year, regardless of being part time so my career has progressed..... although not as quickly as it would have done working full time I suspect. My earnings have obviously taken a hit and I pay extra into my pension to make up the shortfall BUT overall it's so worth it to us as a whole family to have that time with the children. I won't get these years back with them, we're poorer in monetary terms but richer in terms of having that time spent together. My intention is now to look at upping my hours in a few years and probably going back full time when they're in secondary school.