TTC vs potential dream job!

[Gecasarepo]

Help! My husband and I are wanting to start trying for our first baby in the next few months. I’ve been offered my dream job at an amazing huge tech company, but it’s a 12 month contract (just salary and holiday - no other benefits). They’ve told me that the contracts often renew (the recruiter says he’s placed a few people there and they’ve all rolled on) but that they can’t guarantee it. What do I do? Take the job but accept that if we are lucky enough to get pregnant in the next 6 months then I could end up losing my contract whilst pregnant? Or, if I get pregnant after 3 months of being in the job then the contract would end when I go on maternity leave, with no commitment for me to return to the role? I’m aware I’ll only get stat mat pay and not enhanced, which I’m (just about) ok with. Advice appreciated!

Depends on your age? If you’re younger I’d start the job. But there’s no perfect time. If you can get by on statutory then that’s reassuring.

I had this choice a few weeks ago between a dream job or staying where I am.

I ended up staying where I am as the maternity leave is so good if/when I get pregnant.

I do still wonder about the other job though and wish the timing had been better.

I’m 30, but we want to start now and be youngish parents. Also got our mortgage renewing in 2 years and the timing of that could be scary if i’m out of a job and on mat leave, with no job to go back to…! But this is all worst case scenario.

I’m 32 so a little older but feel you on the mortgage front. I wish I’d done the five years locked in deal - hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I am a pessimist myself and stuck with what I knew but every morning I dread going into work. The place sucks the life out of everything.

If you can work out the finances than why not? I wish I’d been a little bit braver but too late now 😅

You have to do what’s right for you. But just to give my personal perspective, as someone who’s been TTC nearly a year with a miscarriage recently, it completely consumes your life.

I do feel trapped in my job, which I’m totally ready to move on from but have a good maternity package so stuck with it. So not only do I still not have my baby, I’m stuck in a job I don’t love with no end in sight. Mentally it’s tough.

I’d think about how you’d feel if it took a while to conceive and you hadn’t taken your dream job, would you regret it or be ok with it?

I’m so sorry to hear, that sounds really tough. Thanks for the advice and wishing you best of luck

Thanks everyone - the main thing that’s worrying me is the 12 month contract point and what the implications could be. If anyone has any advice on that, that would be great. Thanks

They don't need to honour the contract if you go on maternity leave, because the contract technically means they only need someone within that term. It's shit and to be honest I think companies who keep people in contracts and keep renewing them are exploiting the system and puts women at a disadvantage. I'd be questioning the company culture personally! Contracts should only be for short term requirements.

What are your options? Wait a year to TTC? Stay put? Or just go for it? If you do the one year contract and they renew it for one year again how does that change your plans? Personally I'd be looking for more future security in a role anyway.

I turned down a new job because of risk of losing maternity benefits however I have now been TTC for a year so maybe it would have been fine. The problem is it's hard to know what your TTC journey is going be like. I've now got a promotion at my existing company so it worked out in the end. I have friends who have not let it impact their career decisions at all, sometimes it works out sometimes the timing doesn't. As with most things the bigger risk, the bigger reward!

Personally I wouldn't delay TTC as you never know how long it takes.

I waited until after my wedding to start TTC
But almost a year later, 2 miscarriages and no baby.
I know it’s not the same as a job/money situation but I regret waiting for my wedding.
As another poster said, it really consumes your life.
I don’t think anyone ever gets it until they go through with it themselves - but you never know what will happen! So I wouldn’t wait either x

Agree