Career opportunity at the wrong time

[greenfooted]

Feck, feck, feck. Am in pretty senior specialist role and main earner. Am PG with last DC and would have planned to move sideways to a broader role when return from Mat leave next year. This would mean working at my level for a couple more years but then moving up. I was ok with this as whilst a bit of a plateau it would give me a wide career base and mean a relatively stress free and longer mat leave. Except ten days ago my boss resigned. Do I go for his role ? I’m not starting mat leave until the autumn and I love my specialist area (and if I don’t go for it a role like this may not come up for another decade) but it needs a ton of work before leave and will mean a shorter and interrupted mat leave

Only you know if it's feasible for you, but I'd definitely be tempted.

Do you have support? Childcare / cleaning / someone to pick up the slack if things go wrong / cover child illness etc.

If yes, then go for it!

Go for it. You might not get another opportunity for a while. Would the step up enable you to get paid help like a cleaner or au pair to make life a bit easier?

Yes, go for it. You sound like you might well be the right person for the job. But remember to stick to the rights you have around maternity leave, and not put too much pressure on yourself when off, whilst respecting of course that being flexible to some extent will be necessary for the role. And do not be apologetic or engage in discussion with others about applying just prior to maternity. Talk yourself into it. Good luck.

Yes, go for it. You’ll regret it if you don’t - especially as it might be another decade before you get the opportunity.

Read Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg and then go for it

Do it. If nothing else it shows you are serious contender and not passive about your future.

Slightly different but my boss resigned when I was on my second maternity leave. I worked four days a week and decided that I would apply only because I’d have to put up with the idiot they appointed and if I didn’t put up I’d have to shut up. However I made it clear that I planned to only work four days a week (v unusual at that level).like you the opportunity might have taken another 10 years to come around.

I was offered and took the job. In the post maternity sleep deprived haze I’m still not sure it was the best thing to have done. I had some crazy moments on work life balance stuff but have to keep on reminding myself that whatever my self confidence issues they appointed me, and a year on and I think I’m finding my feet. And I’m very glad that they didn’t appoint the other candidates, from what I’ve heard about them...

I’m also unexpectedly pregnant with a third (and definitely) final baby...

In short, go for it.

Why did your boss resign? If it's anything to do with the nature of the job/workplace then I'd not be chomping at the bit to take over right now, with all your other considerations. But if it's the kind of job where you can call the shots and make the role work for you, then maybe. Don't let it screw up your mat leave though. It should be possible for women to get promotions without that, so get the job and then get arrangements in place.

Go for it. You'll kick yourself if you don't.

Worry about the details when you have to.

Good luck!

Oh and something another mum at this level told me - actually when you’re more senior it is a little easier to control your hours around children’s demands - ie I don’t ask anyone’s permission to do a school drop off once a week or go to sports day or whatever (of course the downside to that is the fact that I’m working all evening too, but I get to control my flexibility a bit).

Go for it. You’ll regret it if you don’t!

I have just gone for a job that really doesn't come round that often. In honesty, I would have preferred to wait a few years till my children were a bit older but knowing how rare the opportunity was, I went for it. I got the job! I didn't go for something earlier in my career and kicked myself for it so just go for it!

Definitely go for it. Good luck!

Go for it!

If the children’s father is properly supportive (as a wife is generally expected to be of her husband) then you are very well placed to do the role.

Also, if you DON’T go for it, you’ll always wonder what might have been ....

I’ve always found I’ve regretted the things I didn’t do, rather than things I did. Sins of omission rather than commission.

Go for it! If opportunities like this are as rare as hen's teeth you have to really. Good luck.

Wow didn’t expect such positive replies, thanks for sharing your stories. Yes have good childcare (incl nanny I’ll keep on during my leave) and DH supportive. Feel a bit guilty about DH as he wants to change jobs and this was supposed to be his opportunity to move and get settled. Yes job will be challenge by, there are some problems with the team and it needs a shake up so this is a more high risk approach but could bring dividends and allow DH some more flexibility.

Go for it op.

Which job would you rather be doing in 5 years -- your current job, or your boss's job? If the latter then I agree with the "go for it" majority, but since you said you enjoy your current job, I would think carefully before doing that.

If your boss's job is about managing people and you prefer the specialist work but do not enjoy managing people, then that would argue against what the majority is saying.