[Marivy22]

I need some feedback…

I just took my last section last Sunday, and I am debating the possibility of looking for a new job.

Currently, I am working as a financial analyst. I like the environment, and enjoy working with my team. The only downsize: no growth possibility. Before working here I worked with a Fortune 100 as an Accounting Supervisor, I really enjoyed the job, but they decided to move to Monterrey, Mx and offered me a position in Milwaukee……..I am from the Caribbean (do not like cold weather, just for vacations), so my answer was a big fat NO.

If you ask me, I enjoy accounting more that finance. I enjoy the transactional and reporting part of the account. I do like the forecasting and budgeting process of the financial analyst job, but hate the variances explanations when they are obvious…we didn’t reach the budget or forecast because blah blah blah….

I am 31 yrs old, married and with a 3 yrs old boy son…..wanting to have the 2nd next year. That little detail, having another baby, is what is making me think. The “what if” factor is driving me crazy. I do not want to start a new job and get pregnant immediately, but at the same time, if I don’t get a new job now I will have to wait +1yr to make the change…….10 months of pregnancy + few months until the baby is in daycare + few more months of getting sick, etc… (those things that happen with a little baby)

Ok, now I need your professional advice.

Done 😉
Class of 2012!!!!
Lots of prayers and hard work....

[pacific1]

Mari – one thing to remember is you have to have worked a minimum of 1250 hours to qualify for FMLA, I am not sure if that is an issue or not for you but that is one of the reasons I have been staying at my current location…that and I most likely will have more flexibility with my current employer rather than at a new job and with a little one flexibility seemss to be very important.

[kandisjoy]

Personally, I would wait. Only because of the baby thing. I'd just hate to start a job and then have a baby after only one year or so of being there. That's one reason I wouldn't even consider changing careers right now (because I want to start a family in the next year). It sounds like you enjoy the people that you work with, which is huge. Hating a part of your job seems like an okay trade-off to me, especially in this economy. For example, around 80% of my job is financial reporting. Having 8 months of “busy season” for quarterly financial reporting can be stressful, but I work with great people, my boss treats me well, etc etc. So I think it's worth sticking around for a while. Of course I have the potential for job growth here so my situation is a little different… Anyways either way I would stay where you currently are until after you have a baby. I have a feeling some people will disagree with me but you asked for opinions so.. there's mine. 🙂 Hope this helps!

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[Marivy22]

Tks!!! I know the baby thing is huge and will require lots of flexibility from my employer.

I really don't want to make a change and then feel uncomfortable……..Thanks again!!

Done 😉
Class of 2012!!!!
Lots of prayers and hard work....

[jenuno01]

Disclosure: I am a guy. Have no kids. No fatherly instinct.

@Marivy – I would look around… what if you find a great opportunity difficult to pass by??! Having a kid can always wait 😉 But then again, you seem okay where you're at…so may be worth staying as well.

Class of 2012

[kandisjoy]

@jenuno01 – I know you're a man and all, but you DO know that having a kid can't always wait, right? For women? lol Especially in your 30s. The longer you wait, the more risks you and your baby face during the pregnancy. More info here… https://www.webmd.com/baby/pregnancy-after-35

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[Anonymous]

@jenuno I like your disclosure. Seems obvious from your comment “having kids can always wait” 🙂

@marivy22 I would partially agree with jenuno that you shouldn't let a great opportunity pass if you find it. Having a new baby shouldn't stop you from going after your goals. You are close to being a CPA (I hope you passed REG) and you have experience so it should be no problem with an new employer working with you if you get pregnant. I know people who have gotten hired and gotten pregnant immediately. That is a part of life.

[pacific1]

@kandisjoy…thanks for that depressing link

[kandisjoy]

Sorry, I didn't mean to be depressing. It's just the truth. I know a couple of women who had kids in their late thirties/early forties who have kids with down syndrome. 🙁

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[jenuno01]

@Kandis that is a good point! Just thought I'd throw in the guy perspective 😉 I guess what I meant was waiting a year or two to have a baby will not make a difference… I think about it this way, if she gets a way higher paying new job this year, works maybe a 1 year, then gets pregnant… she'll offer her babies a better and more spoiled life lol

Class of 2012

[Anonymous]

wow!!! do you girls know that the Earth is over populated already? Seriously, just borrow someone else's babies….

LET'S SAVE THE EARTH PEOPLE!! JOIN ME! NO BABIES! anti-baby movement..who's in?

[kandisjoy]

@jenuno01 – Well to be honest.. a year or two can make a huge difference once you're in your thirties… but I'm not going to argue that point any more 😉

@CPATerminator – Haven't you ever seen Idiocracy? 😉 It's not exactly a good movie… but the beginning has a pretty funny story about how the entire population of the world is just going to be made up of total idiots in 30 years or so because the dumb people of the world are procreating at a much faster rate than smart people. Smart people think “ohh I should wait” and then wait too long, while the redneck hillbillies are pushin' out babies left and right.

In my humble opinion, people should be made sterile at birth and then when they are old enough to have children, they can take a set of mental, emotional and physical tests and then if they pass they will be given a special pill or whatever that will make them fertile. I know it's never going to happen but I seriously wish it could!

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[sbruce810]

I guess I will add an alternative male perspective (I have a 9 month old son at home). I think you should weigh your short term goals vs. long term goals. If you think having a baby will add more value to your life (and your financial situation isn't dependent on finding a better job) I would choose the baby. My wife basically beat the statistical odds of a successful pregnancy after age 30 (for the person above that thinks waiting 1-2 years isn't a big deal, an exponential decay graph is a pretty accurate depiction). Do want is best for you and your family.

AUD - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
REG - Passed

Done

[sharon]

I am a single parent of a 17 year old daughter. I have always been very career oriented but also I was solely financially responsible for my daughter so I had to work. We had a lot of problems from the ages of 7 to 14 and now at 17 she was able to tell me that it was because not only did she not have Dad but most of the time she didn't feel like she had a Mum because I was always at work. I am pleased to say we have overcome all of our issues now and we are very very close, She has just started a part time job of her own and is getting ready to continue her education to study to be a vet.

So the question I would ask is that by getting a new job will that bring new pressures and demands of having to put more hours in etc? If so I would stick with where you are and leave furthering your career till later. I am 38 and I am now just re -starting my life and career after a 3 year break of doing less demanding jobs that allowed me to mend my bridges and relationship with my daughter.

Speaking of which, I am a Recruitment consultant that specializes in medical/pharmaceutical/health as well as Financial/Accounting/Audits. I have just picked up a role for a Corporate Controller in Florida US and the client wants BIG 4 experience and I have no suitable candidates to offer so if anyone has any idea where I can advertise my role please let me know I would be really grateful 🙂

[misanthrope87]

No babies for me!

B 2/12 87
A 11/11 90
R 8/11 86
F 5/12 88

[Mom2two]

I just wanted to toss in my opinion since I am a professional and a mom 2 two (13 and 2). I got pregnant within the first month trying at 31 for our daughter so I never felt like I had to beat some odds to get pregnant at 31. Basically getting pregnant at younger 30's (less than 33) is no different than upper 20's at least according to the doctors I trust. I am now 34 and trying for #3. I am not letting statistics and fear rule my decision, whatever will be will be. I am working closely with my doctor on this one though as to timing, making sure I am taking the right supplements before getting pregnant, etc. And her advice is if we are going for #3 then I need to do it NOW because the risks do go up after 35. BUT it is not definitive so it's not like life is over at 35. Also it is more like 38 when the drop off the cliff happens as to getting pregnant, again, at least according to my doctors.

I went onto my next step up the ladder as an accounting supervisor while 2 months pregnant with our daughter; yes I knew and so did they. It didn't stop me. Life stops for no one so my advice is probably different than other people on here. You can have a career and be a mom. I wouldn't let the possibility of getting pregnant in the near future stop me from looking. What is the dream job is waiting? Honestly if you go into a place and have a child right away, like within a year and they are jerks after, they will always be jerks. We just moved about 5 months ago and I have been at my new place about 5 months. If all goes well I will get pregnant in the near future and could end up having a baby within my first 15 months. I am in mgmt where I am at and fully plan to keep my career going (hope to be controller next once the cpa is done) with the addition of another one. I will treat the company the same as anywhere else….nothing stands in the way of my family. I will be as committed to them for as long as the relationship is beneficial to us both. There is no loyalty at most places, at least anywhere that I have worked, so I have ZERO loyalty and no problem moving on. Now if I worked at Google…that would be a different story as to loyalty! 🙂 With that said it does not mean I am slacker, quite the opposite. I have worked very diligently at every place, sometimes up to 80 hours a week and do an excellent job. But when the relationship becomes one sided and I am ready for the next step (promotion, money), and the opportunity is not there where I am at, time to move on. Family and all, because like I said, life stops for no one, so don't let anything hold you back. You will kick yourself for not taking an opportunity if it is there at 30 when you are 45. I am somewhat lucky, I have a really supportive spouse and we are a TEAM for sure.

I know this is long winded but really I just wanted to offer you a different perspective. Yes you probably don't want a position that travels and will need some flexibility but that is not the end all, be all. The opportunities are there, you have experience and hopefully a CPA so you can look for the next place, have your career and still be a mom.

B: 81 (3X) May 2012
A: 76 (1X) Nov 2011
R: 86 (2X) Feb 2012
F: 64, April 2011, retake 10.01.12 - 75!!!!!!!!!!

[Author]

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