To consider moving jobs whilst TTC?

[AxisofEvil]

We've been TTC our first child for a year now and I am now on drugs to kick start ovulation. I've just turned 32, having progressed well in my professional field. I'm well respected in my company and ambitious but am now a bit bored with my current job.

I've been approached recently by a contact about a job at another company which I have a good CV for. It would be a promotion from my current job and would be more money. I think I would have a reasonable chance of getting the job if I went for it. It would most likely be a couple of years minimum before I could get a similar job internally, if ever. Both the current and potential job would have roughly similar hours and stress levels. If we manage to concieve then I would intend to take 6 months off as maternity leave and then return full time regardless of where I am although I appreciate you can't decide that 100% in advance. If it wasn't for the TTC I'd definitely go for it.

Due to the TTC I haven't been actively looking to move jobs but part of me is loathe to let this opportunity pass so currently I'm thinking of letting them see my CV and having an initial meeting. Particularly as we're not having much luck and it would be a shame if another year or two down the track we're no further on and I've let career opportunities pass me by. If I fell pregnant before getting to a job offer stage I'd withdraw my application. But if I were offered the job and wasn't pregnant then if I wanted to accept I'd probably stop actively TTC (ie stop the drugs) for my notice period of 3 months as I'd expect they'd make me work it. Then after a month or two in job we'd probably start the drugs again. However this could potentially mean going off on maternity leave within a year of starting a new job. There is also a small chance I could start work pregnant which would mean missing out on contractual maternity pay but that wouldn't make a major financial impact to us.

So I'm a bit torn - on the one hand I want to be "fair" to a new employer and turning up intending to get pregnant quickly doesn't fit with that but on the other hand I'm unkeen to let my career fester over TTC which might never come good. If I'm being honest I'm also a little resentful that it is my DH who is keen on children rather than me yet it is my career that will most likely take the hits. This may well all of course be totally academic as I might decide I don't want the job or they may well decide they don't want me. But if they do, would I be unreasonable if I went ahead as I'm thinking?

You are not being unreasonable. I have been faced with this sort of situation twice now.

First time exactly 7 years ago was diagnosed with PCOS and then that week the company I went for went bust... consultant recommended fertility treatment (clomid) as I hadn't had a period or ovulation for months. As I was only 28 what was right for me was to hold on the fertility treatment but try more natural things in the meantime (eg change of diet and acupuncture - which I cannot recommend enough). Meanwhile I quickly found a new job and I got pregnant within weeks of starting (started end Dec, DD born in the October after). I only took 6 months off and I don't think they were too annoyed by it.

Second time was last year got made redundant, had been TTC for a few months and a client offered me a job with them (3 days a week they knew I had 2 kids)... I didn't know what to do.... but it was a fantastic opportunity careerwise and I had to take it esp as the alternative was being a SAHM but we decided to put TTC on hold for 6 months because I didn't want to get pregnant whilst in the consultation period in old job or in probation period of new job).

Anyway haven't told them yet, will have to on monday as am 24 weeks, will have done 13 months work before I go on maternity leave and again I'll only take 6 months. Hope they will not be too pissed off, actually dreading telling them as even though I only do 3 days its a quite senior position.

Its never a good time if you have a career... either you want to move jobs or waiting for promotion etc. I think it would be sensible to make sure you are not pregnant when you actually start (or within a few weeks of starting) as this means your maternity rights are less.

Here is link to my acupunturist incase you are interested!
link

Just to say, thanks for your messages. I've been in touch this morning with my contact and am sending my CV in for consideration. Probably won't go anywhere but you're all right, I can't just put my life on hold for goodness knows how long.

good luck,hope things go positively.finger crossed with cv submission