By Justine Camacho-Tajonera
Being a mom and having a career at the same time is tough. There are days when you may want to throw in the towel and just stay home. That’s where you’re most needed, right? Unfortunately, with today’s economy and education costs, a two-income household is necessary to raise a family. So, when an opportunity comes your way to switch jobs, do you take it?
First of all, make sure to talk over this job switch with your significant other. If there is only one conversation you need to have before making this choice, it is the one you will have with your spouse, your partner. This is not only an individual decision but a family decision. Whatever you do will affect what he does and your family’s day-to-day activities. Below are some questions that both of you can talk about.
Dealing with Stress
Is the income increase significant? If it is, that’s great! But just remember that a job is an activity-based income. As they say with power: the more you have of it, the more responsibility you carry. An income increase also means an increase in scope and expectation. Can you take the stress level that accompanies any increase in salary? Can your health take it in the long term? This is actually the same thing you need to consider when you are promoted. A promotion is good news income-wise. But you also need to remember that it comes with more responsibility as well. If you are wise with your time and productivity, it doesn’t necessarily mean more work at the office.
Quality Time with the Kids
Will the quality of your children’s childhood experiences be affected by this job switch? Will it be better for them? Worse off? Or just the same? Being on the fast track in a high stress job may not be good news if your child is just a baby or a toddler. Consider the kind of quality time that you can still devote to your kids. Child care costs may not be an issue to you but maybe your priceless time might be compromised by a job switch. Or perhaps you are making the job switch so you can spend more time with your kids. Do the reverse and check whether the switch will significantly affect your cash flow. Can you adjust your lifestyle for this choice? A lifestyle isn’t built in a day. It’s one of the hardest things to adjust to.
Click here to read on about your happiness and self-fulfillment when considering to switch jobs.
Justine Camacho-Tajonera is the former web editor of SmartParenting.com.ph.
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wyxer
11
months ago
Please forgive me as I know this may not be the appropriate venue for my concern. Just breathing out some matters related to your topic. nnI'm getting a good salary from my current job as an IT manager. My wife work in the government and also receiving good compensation.nnBeing in IT, my main goal is to deliver improvements, facility stability, users' convenience, and company information security. All these rely in a past-paced and ever changing computing technology that I used to plan, design and implement. In the process, I have to stay longer in the office than the others. Actuallt, with my job, there is no difference among these words: weekdays, weeknights, weekends, and holidays. Rain or shine, I (with my team) need to be in the office whether there's a trouble or none. Simply said, 24x7 we need to be on top of every situation concerning the IT facilities at any hour of the day. Exaggerated, huh? Hell, no.nnIn case of troubles though, you would feel that users (in all three layers: management, middle managers, and subordinates) tend to blame me for all the shortcomings. Even if a fault was brought about by service providers from which we don't have any control: Telecomms provider, electric power, hardware/software vendors, sickness, and other emergency incidents.nnThe effective solution, redundancy. But the problem is, most implementations are too costly. Addition of manpower, equipment, and consultants means budget. So, we just need to work almost around the clock to atleast, minimize the threats above.nnI've been in the IT department for 8 years now. And I find myself too exhausted. My diabetes has worsen since 8 years ago when I was still in the less-pressured work. Not to mention that I have also a lot of shortcomings with my 3 kids and to my spouse. Where's does the quality time for my family goes?nnJust after graduation, 21 years ago, I was hired as an ordinary IT support personnel (technician). Then rose from the ranks and transferred to IT department to handle the tasks I know everybody wanted to do but hates to accept due to corresponding pressure.nnI love my work, the management, and the staff. But my will to pursue is now starting to fade away. I am now tired and sickly, and transferring to another company to work for a similar function is an option I am not considering. It is definitely better here in my current job in terms of consideration and respect among colleagues. Besides, who among the companies will settle for a sickly IT head?nnFiling a vacation leave for a week, a month, or even longer will, I think, be approved. And during such vacation, I could probably make myself improved or recovered. However, once I got back from my recovery period, it will be reverted again sooner or later. Worst, the company may opt to replace me instead.nnQuestions:n1. Do you guys have in mind of an appropriate work after IT for an IT professionals like me? teaching, farming, selling, n2. Do you think that filing a resignation is a good move?n3. Any general advice for this concern? nnI am right now confused, worried and afraid that I may no longer deliver the expectation of the management due to my ailing condition. Eventually, I may fail to serve the needs of my family, my main purpose in life. Thanks.
