Left my career to move across the country now feeling lost!

[aanniem]

So not to sound spoilt, I am very lucky to be able to have been at home with my daughter who is now 2. But I have been very unhappy since leaving my job at the end of maternity leave.

Basically during maternity leave my husband got made redundant, and when he got a new job in London (had to commute). We decided to take the opportunity and move across the country to South East to be closer to my parents.

Fast forward a year, I didn't go back to my job (it was in Reading no way to stay) and I've been full of regret and unable to find a new job in what I do (project manager) here that is flexible.

Recently I've given up looking for the big jobs and now hunting out the smaller part time jobs. These are fine but the salaries are about a 1/4 of what I used to earn, and are well below experience wise. But that said I want a balance with family life, and want to work. So to ask everyone has anyone else do something similar? After a few years once kids at school did any one go back to their careers?

I never thought I was a career person but turns out I liked having my own income and working! Rant over...

Are you looking for work in London? I wondered if you'd thought about setting yourself up as a freelance project manager? What sort of industry sector are you in? Maybe try a different industry? Are you networking on LinkedIn to let people know you're looking? It can be tough trying to find good quality work that fits around children too.
Good luck.

Hi SherryRB I have literally this week starting setting myself up freelance! I'm able to get to London and I thought I might see where my LinkedIn in contacts can get me. I don't know many other freelance people. I've been in a few industries so hoping to move around and see what's about.

Curiously I just saw a P-T role project manager role advertised on the jobs section of the Guardian. They often have some interesting roles. And maybe worth talking to some of the agencies that help employers who can't afford a FT member of staff e.g. Talent Gateway, ten2two, or 2to3days.

Have you considered contracting? Can be flexible.

I hadn't thought of Gumtree. In fact my husband got his first job through an advert on there. I've registered with ten2two, and I'll have a look at talent gateway. I've not seen much contracting wise, in my last industry telecommunications there was a lot but that's back in Berkshire.

I think a lot of contract work won't be advertised, you just need to be registered with lots of agencies and well connected on LinkedIn and keep in touch. Of course if they want someone to interview tomorrow and start next week you will need childcare in place.

I've got my daughter in nursery two days a week which is paid through money I make on the side helping with a family holiday let. So in theory I'm actually set up. It's the confidence to get out and promote myself. I've not met many freelance project managers but they must be out there. Also I am guessing I need to register as a sole trader etc.

You can go via an umbrella company first of all which sorts out tax and NI for you. There are groups on LinkedIn. Look for interims and PM specialist groups.

I will have a look at umbrella companies. I know they exist on the telecoms contractor circuit.