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Of Travelling Job and Being a Mom

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By Rena
This article is inspired by SimplyJesMe's recent article on how motherhood has changed her perception for travelling. It resonates a lot with me. Like her, I have a travelling job. Unlike her, I'm still in the travelling job. Unlike her, after having my first child, I am weary of my travelling job, but yet stuck my head in it, and had my second and third child while still in the travelling job.  Unlike her, I do not have the courage to quit my 9 - 5 to start a business. Go read her blog or support her business, she's an inspiration! (This is NOT a sponsored post. I don't know Jes, and Jes didn't even know I wrote about her.)

I'm not travelling now. Simply because I am having my 16 weeks of maternity leave, currently. However, my 16 weeks are going to be up soon (in just a few weeks' time), and I will be going back to my (travelling) job. Looking at my work schedule, I have yet any travels due to the coronavirus. Either the clients do not want us there, or we can't go there (e.g. China). The entire office is at low workload currently (not sure whether we will be asked to go for no-pay leave, or what'll happen if this continues). 

With three kids, I am thinking of what should be the best move ahead.

Staying in my current job or changing a job?

I won't be promoted for many years to come. I guess the 48 weeks of maternity leave in 4 years has an impact on my career. Also, there's some change in organization structure, and some power struggle going on top, which in short is not to my advantage. If I go back to work, I can cruise through. Except for the travelling which sucks -- my partner will need to care for 3 demanding kids and I'll miss them dearly. 

I can look for another job. To command a similar salary or even more, I'll likely be in the same industry, which again involves intense travel (except maybe for now). However, pay will be better, and perhaps better prospects. A new job will mean spending more time understanding how the company operates, the new standards they use. Apart from time away due to travelling, it will also take my free time away as I work beyond 9 to 5 to get up to speed. Not my priority now.

Look for a job in another sector? There's not a lot of things that I like. I can do technical talks, I can teach technical stuff, do technical calculations and engineering designs. But, I don't want to go into projects. Even if it's in Singapore, it's a lot of time at field, and on weekends. Not my priority at the moment.

I know, I am damn choosy. 

So for the near term plan where there is a reduced workload, I'll continue staying in my company, as long as they continue to employ me. However, this is only the short term plan. 

In the long term, extensive travelling is not sustainable for a home with growing kids. The best way is to have a new job that requires less travelling (And is easy enough for me to just work my 9 -5 and bring nothing home). But I am so choosy not only in the job but in the culture. I cannot work in an environment where I'm being micromanaged. I need an environment where I have the freedom to choose how to get things done to achieve the required goals while following the rules within the SOPs. I suck at jobs or environment where the boss tells you to do A, followed by B, C, D and so on. I hate unflexible work hours because I have been spoilt for years with flexible work hours (come anytime between 7.30 to 10 a.m.) and go home after 9 hours.

I want to work in parts of Singapore where you can rely on the cheap public transport (i.e. bus, MRT). This means, no deep inside Tuas South, Jurong Island and so on. I have spent my first part of my careers in such areas. These are not where I want to be. 

You know what? After listing all these above, I know what's my next move.

Tell you more next time.







 

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Comments

  1. Jes24 February 2020 at 21:53

    Hi Ms CEO,

    I like the title, everyone is a CEO of their lives indeed. Glad I manage to inspire you! It doesn't have to result in monumental change like a career switch. Just recognising that you are unhappy and need a change is the first step.

    To change a job and start all over indeed requires more effort, so probably you might need to travel more. Travelling allows you to command a higher pay and easier climb up the ladder so you have got to factor that too. Ultimately, where do you see yourself in 5 years time? Just remember that doing nothing is also a choice. All the best! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rena2 March 2020 at 12:07

    Hi Jes,

    Thanks for the encouragement! =)

    ReplyDelete

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