This and the next series of articles are targeted towards the ladies who are unable to decide whether to go (back) to work or how to start the process of searching for it.

Join me in my ramblings on how I got from that question to a job. I sincerely hope that at least one person will find it useful, though it is not a “one size fits all” experience.

 

Making the decision- the longest and toughest step.

The desire to go to work strikes some women suddenly. However, they may hesitate to move forward due to multiple reasons. Circumstances, mostly relocation after marriage, and children, may have compelled them either to have not worked at all or to resign their earlier jobs.

Growing up in an environment where my parents believed that women should work outside the home, I eased into the work force after graduating from college and marriage. I was fortunate in India with a live-in nanny and both sets of grandparents visiting often to be with their grandchild.

After moving to the U.S. I could not work due to visa issues and taking on the role of full-time homemaker, I soon found myself quite comfortable in it. One night I suddenly woke up with a terrible fear of the future with the question, “what if…” looming in front of me. That catapulted me into action.

My husband readily encouraged me to return to the work force but I was bogged by a number of questions, and fears. So he asked me to put all my thoughts down on paper making sure to include everything that could possibly go wrong; because they will!  That would clear my mind.

I wrote down all the “pros” and “cons” of working outside the home and to find out if it will be beneficial or counter-productive.  

The list included but was not limited to

Monetary benefits and extra expenditures such as

  • Retirement funds
  • Health insurance
  • Children’s education
  • Cost of childcare
  • Eating  out
  • Transportation
  • Dry cleaning

Social and emotional benefits, drawbacks, and how it may affect

  • Personal time
  • Family
  • Vacations
  • Sickness
  • Festivals
  • Guests
  • Children’s activities
  • Housework

Despite finding solutions for the issues raised I was reluctant to leave my comfort zone. My main concern was the children’s health. Common sense convinced me that the frequency of them falling ill would reduce as they grew up and I told myself not to lose sight of the long term effects in the process of focusing short term inconveniences.

My husband gave me the freedom and liberty to quit if taking on a job does not work for me. However, he strongly advised me not to quit without trying. Countless hours of ruminations later I was convinced and finally gathered the courage to return to the world of work force!

Please join me next week to find out how I got started…