Has anyone had a career change for a better work life balance?

[december2020]

I currently work full time in a high pressure job that also deals with the US time zone (so later afternoon/evening calls).
However, I do love it, even with the overtime, long hours and stress. Sadly it's not a role I can really job share or go part time in (it needs someone as a constant).
I've got a young DS, 15 months and they're very understanding around that with late calls and background noise etc.

For context, DH works in the emergency services and on a rota schedule. He's hands on, but due to the nature of his role, he doesn't have the same daily flexibility as I do, so some days I do it all (nursery drop off and pick up, dog walk, work full time, dinner, later conference call. bed time) etc.

As much as I love the job, this isn't sustainable in the long run and especially when he goes to school.
So I have been seriously thinking of a career change that lets me have a better balance of spending time with DS, have a bit more energy with less overtime but still maintain a career and development of some sort. However, I don't have a clue on what jobs offer something like that? I currently work in advertising, media and marketing .

So I'm asking, has anyone been in a similar situation? What did you career change to and what did you do before? Did you find it was a good decision for you or did you end up going back to your old career?

Yes! I worked in legal compliance for a global law firm. Was very much the 9-5 with hours either side too. Was full on, didn't LOVE IT but I did like where i worked. Financially I earned more than my husband so I always knew I'd be going back to the job.

Fast forward to my baby being about 9 months and we started to make sure nursery places etc and I realised i really didn't want to

• not see my kid 3/4 days a week. By the time drop off nursery, get into office, work, get home...wouldn't see her!
• spend what would essentially be my salary on nursery
• I DREADED going back to work there. Did a few KIT days and got anxiety!!

So I literally copy and pasted a message to most people I knew asking if they knew any jobs thay I could do flexibly from home out of office hours

Long story short...i now do 16 hours a week. It's a different line of work looking at bulk data and finding gaps ans reasons for gaps. They matched my salary pro rata too, it's worked out perfectly. My in-laws have little one (now 14m) two afternoons a week and i work then, and over weekend when hubby has her.

I did start working evenings but I found I was shattered...up 2 times a night is normal for us , followed by entertaining a near toddler all day THEN logging in and working for 3 hours wasn't good for me lol.

Honestly covid has opened up a lot of flexible working options. Contact a few recruiters, ask mates. I see it is a few years in a diff role thne see where I am. You've got the experience so make your way back into that world once littley is in school!

Me. I changed from medicine to civil service. I love it.

Yes, sort of. I worked in a profession within the financial services, albeit in NI rather than London or similar so it wasn't crazy hours (or crazy money).

An opening came up as a lecturer just before we had DC and I went for it, in part for the flexibility and family friendly nature of the job. I now have full flexibility outside of my teaching hours (which I can schedule) and a job I find much more fulfilling.

However, it is not easy to have a career change with small children. Mine are 1 and 3 and in nursery 8:30-5:00 Monday-Friday. I'm ok with that but don't like them in later than 5 and don't work at the weekend unless absolutely desperate. I'm supposed to be doing a PhD and I can't progress without it but I really struggle for time. I'm also so much more tired and much less bright and motivated than I was pre DC.

I'm happier and have zero regrets, but in many ways the old me wouldn't recognise the new me! Although i guess most of us can say that after having DC, and I'm hoping that as mine grow up I'll get a bit of me back.

I love that this has all worked out so well!

I'm a little tempted between something like auditing or then teaching. But if I go down that route I don't think I'll ever go back to my current industry.

I think sometimes I'm a bit chicken incase I'm under the "grass is greener" syndrome.

Very good call to reach out to some recruiters to see what's available out there!

Yes! I was a call centre manager and it was full on, I was basically on call Monday-Friday 09:00-20:30. I just changed jobs and now work 3 days a week and when I shut my laptop at 5pm I’m done until 9am the next day. The relief I feel is palpable. I’m loving the extra time with my kids. No regrets.

You work in my industry. I imagine you’re agency side? You don’t need a full career change if you don’t want one but there are other roles that would allow you more control over your time or reduced hours. Global investment in agency, auditor side, some client side agency management roles. Basicallly, get away from being the client’s first port of call and the pressure that comes with that.

Yes, I do work agency side, but in a vertical I adore, I think I would have moved out of agency a long time ago if it wasn't for the vertical. That's great to know there are opportunities outside of agency that would accommodate a better work/life balance or part time work! Definitely something for me to think about.

Other times I think I have a very rose tinted view that somehow I could work part time around school hours, and still earn ok and develop my career and maybe do something totally different and a bit more "fulfilling".