Would you job hunt while TTC if you don't really need to? Happy enough with my job, but feel like I could find something better if I tried. Hope to be pregnant with #2 within 2-6 months from now. Job hunt or not?
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I would either put off the job hunt or put off the TTC. You need to be at a job for 12 months prior to the birth of your child to qualify for FMLA or whatever maternity leave they may offer.
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@Truth Bombs: I'm not as worried about FMLA part since a lot of the companies I would work for in my industry don't have to follow those rules since <50 employees. More worried about employers reaction
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I still would. The perfect job might be out there right now! And who knows how long TTC will take.
My benefits (short term disability in NYS) kick in a month from hire. Don't know about FMLA because we don't qualify.
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@runnerd: I know of people who have moved jobs while visibly or not visibly pregnant. Just be upfront if you get an offer and are pregnant.
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Depends on the work force you are in. But I say yay! I read Sheryl Sanberg Lean In book a few years back and her chapters on motherhood/pregnancy stayed with me. She basically said that we feel like we can't do both and good women in the workforce are leaving/not taking promotions because they are worried about what companies will think. It was inspiring read that changed my perception. If you find a better place or a perfect fit you still can take a leave. Not all places are strict about the 12mo rule
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@runnerd: Can't hurt to look! I feel like waiting to look for a new job until you have a baby would just add to the TTC pressure. I say keep on living your life! That said, if health insurance or FMLA or anything else was going to be an issue, I might hold off.
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Job hunting while TTC = yes. No idea when you may get pregnant. Job hunting while pregnant = unsure.
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I did. Well I wasn't actively looking but two offers came to me. I haven't let it affect my TTC for several reasons. I can't guarantee when I'll get pregnant. I'm almost 37. I want a small gap between kids. And I feel like if you hire a woman in child bearing years, pregnancy is always a possible factor.
I was referred to these positions by friends (former co workers). They were well aware that having a 3rd baby is part of my plan. And when I accepted the offer, I even told my friend - you know I want a 3rd kid, right?
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I'm in the same boat. I love what I do, I love what the company I work for does, I just hate the atmosphere. And it's getting worse.
I decided to wait on the job hunting though. I'm in Canada, so I will be taking a full year of maternity leave. If I get a job and I'm there for less than a year, and I take a year off, I don't want to feel like I'm starting a brand new job when I get back - at a job I have worked at before. I'm comfortable asking questions when I'm a newbie, but I hate asking questions when people feel I should know what I'm doing. I also feel like I'll have plenty of time to find another job while on maternity leave.
I am going to tough it out, go on maternity leave and not come back. After being on leave for 6 months or so, I'll start looking for a new job.
Problem is I want kids less than two years apart, so I may run into the same issue after maternity leave (starting a new job and being there a short amount of time before the next maternity leave) but I feel I'll be less stressed about it then.
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I did and it all worked out. However, just go into it knowing that if you do get a new job and you get pregnant that your maternity leave might suffer.
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I voted that I would not do it. I like knowing I'll qualify for FMLA and having some time banked so my leave won't be completely unapid. I felt similar when I was trying to get pregnant with my son, I thought about moving on but didn't want to be new while I was pregnant. I worked from home more, left for medical appts, etc and I wouldn't have been as comfortable doing that if I just started.
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I would say yes since you don't know how long it'll take you to get pregnant. If you're already pregnant, I would say no depending on your financial stand point. Like if you're okay not getting FMLA leave since you have to be there for a year before qualifying.
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never hurts to look in the meantime. if you take a job pregnant, you might have to just be ok with the 6 weeks STD leave they might offer you, and not top off with FMLA.
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When we were TTC-ing, I got laid off. I didn't want to put off looking for a job or trying to have a baby since my age was a factor, so I continued with both. In the same week I got both a job and a BFP.
My position started out as a 6 month contract, so I didn't feel obligated to let them know any sooner than I would have normally. In the end it worked out fine, I was converted to permanent employee and 9 months after starting I took maternity leave.
But even though it worked out fine, I have no desire to do that again. It was TOUGH coming back. I felt an obligation to return sooner than I was ready, and then I felt like my work performance suffered. I also felt like I hadn't built up enough trust with my upper management because I hadn't been there that long.
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Looking back (LO just turned 1 year), I would definitely job search while TTC. In my opinion, it is so much harder to job search/switch jobs after having a baby! Since you already have one LO it may not be quite as hard, but I find myself wanting to stick with my current job's flexibility and "safety" rather than trying to interview and establish myself elsewhere before I feel like I can take sick days, telework, etc for illnesses & doctor appointments.
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@ShootingStar: wow both in same week! That's sort of my fear
I find it encouraging that everyone isn't saying no no no don't do that!
TTC is priority over job 100% so it's ultimately the one I wouldn't second guess.
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@peachykeen: yes! I do keep thinking maybe I need to keep my safety net where I work and know how they handle my pregnancy and child-related flexibility.
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i would look. You may get a job now that you stay in for years, or you may not get pregnant exactly as planned. Or you may get a new job and pregnant at the same time (I've been there twice!), and you just deal with it and everyone's life goes on.
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Why not? I'd go ahead and look. My answer would change though if you were pregnant. Pregnancy is not my friend and I would not be putting out my best work product, which is not good for a new job and making a good impression.
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I would, you never know what will happen.
I did. I found out i was pregnant when i accepted the job offer but unfortunately had to go in for a D&C the first week on the job. While it was a really hard time for me, i am glad it worked out the way it did. I got pregnant again shortly after and went on mat leave exactly a year after starting my new job.
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I thought about doing that but decided not to because my employer is very family friendly and I need a maternity leave benefit. I ended up getting pregnant again pretty quickly too so I think I made the right decision for me.
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I went on interviews which took a couple months and the DAY after I was given an offer, I found out I was pregnant. I turned down the job but used the offer letter to negotiate my pay and telecommute hours at my current job. Not being eligible for full maternity benefits was a big factor, and I had a tough pregnancy with my first so I didn't want to deal with the possibility of that at a new job/environment. I'm glad I interviewed bc it all worked out in the end!
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Go for it! I did. I applied for a job that I thought would be a great fit before I got pregnant, interviewed when I was about 5 months along (government hiring timelines!), and started when I was 6 months pregnant. I did take a shorter maternity leave than I might have otherwise. But in the end my new job was very supportive, and I'm so happy where I am.
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@hitchhiker: i had a similar experience and started a job when i was 7 months pregnant. i took my full year off for mat leave though and got my benefits from the job while off because i worked there just long enough to qualify. I know my employer didn't love it, but i had my dream job to go back to!
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There is no harm in looking. You might find a much better position (professionally and personally). Or you might find that you have it good where you are. Either way, interviewing can help you build your network and knowledge of other job options.
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I don't think there is any harm in looking or even starting a job and TTC. I was looking for new jobs while TTC and only stopped TTC when I actually got an offer, we put it off for 3 months just so I would be there for 12 months when I went out on leave. It worked out perfectly, started Oct 1 and am going out Oct 2
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I think it doesn't hurt at all! I considered finding a new job while ttc but ultimately didn't because I like the flexibility I had with doctors appointments (and I had a lot with infertility issues), had 4 months of maternity leave, got 2 weeks of pay in addition to STD, and health insurance through my work is stupid cheap.
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I would start both processes, then stop looking if I got pregnant. If I accepted a new job without a BFP, I would put TTC on hold for 2-3 months until my due date would be past the 12-month mark at the new job.
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I don't seen any harm in looking. But my TTC journey is different because I went through IF. Since it was more important for me to get pregnant and use my current job's mat leave benefits, I put off job hunting. I did job hunt and went through Fertility treatments and I was afraid of finding a perfect job and having to delay our TTC journey. In the end, having a baby and concentrating on going through IVF was more important than job hunting. Yeah, it took me 3 years to get pregnant and I could be at another job and on the east coast by now but I don't regret my decision. My current job has done very well and I have been able to afford IVF treatments because I stayed. I'm not sure if I could say the same had we moved back east. My industry isn't exactly doing well on the east coast. Anyway, to complicate things further, I'm the breadwinner in my family so I have to make sure I'm covered under FMLA.
If FMLA does not matter to you then I can see why you are looking.
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