Finding a new job after redundancy/mat leave?

[PeppermintInfusion]

I have always been very career focused, so taking my foot off the pedal is going to take some getting used to...
I am due to give birth later this year, and I will be redundant around the time I would have started mat leave anyway (pg and redundancy unrelated btw).
I'd always figured I'd take 6 months or so for ML and start looking around the 4-5 month mark, but now I'm worrying it will be too difficult to get back in. I earn a higher than average salary for my type of work in this city so think I will have less bargaining power at interview to maintain/increase my pay on the next job. Also it is a male dominated industry and I worry that being asked about the 6 month gap on my cv when I tell them I had a child will put them off.

Has anyone found it difficult to deal with this when going back to work?

You are under no obligation to tell them that you have had a child. Just say that you took the opportunity of redundancy to have some time out to rejuvenate, or to look around for the right position. Career breaks are more common that they were, and 6 months is not long - your knowledge and contacts won't be out of date.

That said, I think looking at 4/5 months to start work at 6 months is optimistic. Since you are planning a relatively short maternity leave, I would just keep your toe in the water tbh - call recruitment agencies, or whatever is relevant to your sector, as soon as your old job finishes. And do all your CV sprucing before the baby arrives! Good luck.

Well I'm looking around at the minute for some freelance or contract work as my redundancy end date is flexible, so everything is up to date and I'm networking like crazy at the min as I'm not showing yet.
I'm aiming for 6 months as that's what I would have taken if I didn't have redundancy allowing me the time and money, but I could end up taking longer I suppose if nothing came up or I decided to.
The only thing is that my industry everyone knows someone who knows you etc so they are likely to ask for an opinion of me and say "peppermint?! Good but heard she's pregnant" so they'll have an idea. I just don't want to address it at the outset of why I had time off, but to be fair saying I took some time out could work and I have some plans for courses and career development once the gardening leaves begins. I know I'll have no childcare issues (family nearby and other childcare planned) but my type of job is generally only full time with few PT options so I know people will consider this.
I'm just stressing as I thought the redundancy was the ideal time to take time out and have a baby as otherwise I'd have wanted to want a while in my next job before going off on ML. Now it's actually happening the panic is setting in!

Hey peppermint, just bumping for you. My sense is that the redundancy and the pregnancy together is a stressful combination, but it sounds as though you know your industry / stuff really well and that will count for a great deal.

Is there anyone more senior that you, perhaps at the company that you're leaving, perhaps a woman, who you could arrange to have a quiet drink with and an off the record chat about all this?

Thanks, Rooty, unfortunately not as all senior management I know/could approach are male and the one mentor type person I am friendly with had a baby and went back to work 6 weeks later!
I have just got a new freelance job now which takes me up to the birth, I think they may be keen to have me back after a ML (though they obviously don't know I'm pg yet). I'm a bit less stressed now, especially as once you got one freelance role it's easier to find another iyswim.

I like rootypig's advice about trying to find a senior mentor - not redundant but I had a 20 month career break, I said it was for maternity and it was just accepted. I wouldn't worry, most people are used to maternity breaks and I also work in a male dominated industry, don't let it affect your confidence.

Just saw your update - congrats! Don't you think any of the senior men might be sympathetic, they can't all be dinosaurs?

Oh great news! I worked right up til birth and it suited me really well. Having a child and trying to reconcile with your professional life is such tricky territory, but I think in this (as so much in life) confidence is all, so don't let it dent yours this early on. Can you try to change the way you think of it - a child is another enormously impressive string to your bow, perhaps?!

Give the senior woman a go, she might surprise you, she may have gone back after 6 weeks but regret it, or have advice on how you can navigate things differently based on her experience. Even if not, she may become something of a mentor / ally in other ways. Go for it!

I have a really good feeling about the new place, think they will be happy to accommodate ML so breathing a sigh of relief