Kids or career - how do you make the choice?|

[bgt]

I am not due to go back till October after my 2nd child. I currently work in the NHS and would like to get into Project Management but have heard this is not very family friendly career, is this correct? I have no experience in this field and no specific PM qualifications.

My current job involves organising events and training for medical staff and am bored of doing it after 10 years. It pays well and is flexible. My dh thinks I should stay there till the kids are bit older as they are so flexible when kids are ill etc. I only work 3 days a week in London and one day from home (which I really dont do much during the day,mostly in the evening)
I know I am onto a good thing but need a challenge apart from my kids :)

To be honest, it sounds like you are on to a good thing, especially with little children. Could you stretch yourself in another way instead e.g. an evening language class or something?

Or what about doing the CIPD with the specialisation in Learning and Development? Won't take you into Project Management but would be a natural career step into a more interesting training role.

Sequins - isnt CIPD more HR related?

Soungs like you have an ideal job with two little ones. I would stick with it until they are of school age. My DH is a project manager and he works 10-14 hours a day

Yes it's HR L&D, not project management - wasn't clear to me if you are keen on career progression and interest or if you have your heart set on PM. If the latter, why so? I think there are people on here who can advise on that move.

I would not recommend Project Management at all, and both DH and I have done it for many years and are still involved in it. In fact at one point we were managing 100+ Project Managers between us, so have seen it/heard it all.

It is not a job that lends itself to a lot of flexibility, especially at peak times where the Project needs to be "in" and the customer is jumping up and down. Also, you are only ever as good as your last project, so it is a bit like being a freelance in that respect. I would say that doing a CIPD is a good idea too in terms of career paths that are more family friendly.

what does your dh do?

if you both work then at least one of you needs to be flexible/not work long hours. if you both do it can be so stressful.