Finding a new job

[MrsLeopard]

I am currently on maternity leave after having my second child. After my first mat leave I went back to my previously full time job and asked for flexible working, this was granted as a trial for 3 months. At this point I was told "no sorry we want you back full time". I was already pregnant with my 2nd when I returned to work and needed to stay at that point to get maternity pay. I won't be able to work full time with 2 children because childcare would cost me £1800 a month for two children (and that's with my parents helping out 2 days a week!)
I am now thinking about starting my search for a new job. My AIBU is this, my family (mum and sister mainly) have both said I should look for minimum wage admin work. I have a degree and 10 years experience of HR, Recruitment and data analysis work. I am finding it quite offensive that they think I'd be happy to do filing just because I now have kids and can't work full time. When my sister asked me yesterday if I would be interested in a receptionist job she'd heard about politely told her it wasn't relevant to my experience or education and her response was basically that if I want part time work I need to lower my expectations.

I'm not looking to be a ceo or even anyone's manager but I'm looking for something equivalent to what I did before, am I being naive to want this? Should I just accept as a working mum that my career is on hold for the next 10 years and no one will take me on in a "professional" role? I had been earning £30k per year pro rata, I can't afford a pay cut

No I don’t think that’s too much to ask!! I wonder if approaching your company about doing a job share might work?

I would have thought there would be a good number of roles in hr that offer part time due to the number of females in the industry - however I’m not in that line of work!

Surely start looking for other jobs early and getting registered with recruiters etc is the answer?

No. Aim high. Don't listen to your relatives. You can do well at work.

I listened to my stbxh and wasted my career life. Don't settle. Go for your ambitions and all power to you.

I do agree that your degree and experience are relevant and you don’t want to put your career on hold but unfortunately frequently it does seem to go on hold when you have children. Salary wise though admin jobs, PA jobs can be okay earners. I became a PA when I had children, which was a change of career, but I earn well over the £30k pro rata you mention so may well be worth considering until further down the line?

I know it's likely but I don't want yo resign myself to that kind of job at the moment. There are so few part time jobs above minimum wage advertised here so I know it will be difficult

Could you go free lance?

I don't know anyone that works in HR that works full time. It's a predominantly female sector, there must surely be jobs out there. If not get yourself on LinkedIn and put yourself as 'open to work' and start searching and applying - connect with HR recruiters and professionals. Search for remote jobs too. Good luck.

I would suggest alongside job hunting you put an official written application to change your hours of work to what is your ideal. I'd even drop.in you are looking to have a third child asap - that might tip them to do it to avoid mat pay. This way, they have to provide a reason it's not doable rather than just saying 'no'.

I work 3 days a week in HR. I work for a small company so they don't need a full time person. Have you looked at housing associations/ schools/universities for part time HR roles? Some schools and academies need HR staff and can be term time only so that would help with your kids are in school.

Who is Lance?