October 2018 Moms
stephpl
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Job Interviewing While Pregnant
stephpl
member
I tried searching to see if this was discussed before, but didn't find anything. Is anyone else currently job searching while pregnant or have any insight/tips on how to go about it?!
I currently have a job that I'm perfectly satisfied with, but have recently been contacted to interview for a job with a company that I have been interested in for a while. The position would also be the next step up in my career. I have already done 2 phone interviews and they are scheduling a in person one soon. I was planning on mentioning in the last phone interview that I was pregnant, but the call got cut short and I didn't have time to comfortably bring it up while they were rushing off the line. I think I can dress inconspicuously for the interview to make it not obvious that I am pregnant, but I'm worried on how to bring it up and still have a chance at getting the position.
Any thoughts?!
I currently have a job that I'm perfectly satisfied with, but have recently been contacted to interview for a job with a company that I have been interested in for a while. The position would also be the next step up in my career. I have already done 2 phone interviews and they are scheduling a in person one soon. I was planning on mentioning in the last phone interview that I was pregnant, but the call got cut short and I didn't have time to comfortably bring it up while they were rushing off the line. I think I can dress inconspicuously for the interview to make it not obvious that I am pregnant, but I'm worried on how to bring it up and still have a chance at getting the position.
Any thoughts?!
Re: Job Interviewing While Pregnant
The fact that you’ve had two phone interviews and can hide it well enough to make a quick impression before bringing it up is good. That’s how I went about it. Charmed them first. Impressed them with my experience. Then when she gave me a chance to talk, I was kind of like “I do want to mention that I’m expecting.” I explained that I wanted to ensure that wouldn’t be an issue and that I was looking for something long term, so I fully intended to come back and stay with the company for the long haul.
The job didn’t work out for me, but I turned them down. Not the other way around. If they’re impressed with you and they want you badly enough, they’ll make it work.
I think I am going to mention it during my in person, as there’s no hiding this bump and I want them to see me as transparent. I also want to assure them that I 100% plan to come back to work after maternity leave (mortgages and all...). I realize I’m in a lucky position where at least my FML benefits/ protections, annual and sick leave will transfer since it is another state agency.
I’m hopeful as it’s a step up to director level, pay increase, less overnight travel and will cut my commute for 45-90 minutes down to 15.
TTC since 2016
Due: October 12, 2018
Location: Ontario, Canada
He said, like @HoosOnFirst mentioned, that he wouldn't want to know if he was interviewing someone who was pregnant, and that's something for HR to work out after the fact if the offer is made and accepted. He says that I am way too accommodating and not aggressive enough, and that it has hurt me in terms of career hunting. We are just super different personalities when it comes to this topic. (Not complaining, we make a good team.)
That said, I just read a NY Times article about how pregnancy bias is rampant in the workforce. It covered everything from women who worked hourly jobs to a woman that was an established stock trader. A lot of it was really blatant, like refusing to give pregnant women reasonable accommodations (but providing accommodations for various injuries) and calling out pregnant women as having something wrong with their brains in front of their peers, but it also covered the huge pay gap between spouses that emerges after a woman has a child, and how mothers are seen as being unable to be both dedicated to their jobs and their children, but fathers are often given raises because they are providing for a family.
I think it's really hard to know what to do, but go with your gut. I understand both sides of the coin, so just try to make the decision that you feel most settled with, and stick to it.
I'm currently applying to nursing school and meeting with academic counselors myself and I ALWAYS get side eye when they see my belly, like a big life change can't be done while being pregnant. If anything, it just shows how strong of a woman you are. Kudos!!
I’m totally nervous about the interview, benefits are slightly better at my current place, and I have 4 years here so some good will built in for the next year. I would regret not trying though, I know that for sure. I had a colleague advise not to address the bump, but I think that honesty will serve me best in this situation, especially because my bump is huge lol.
@melbo444 I 100% agree. There is still a ton of bias about women in the workforce and having a family. It is still seen like women can't do both, but so many families don't have that option. It is too easy for a pregnant woman to end up jobless in some roles especially in at-will employment states. The US does not favor the working mom in any way from the moment she gets pregnant.
It may not be legal but it still may be in your best interest to talk to them about it.
@mygoodlucycat that's really good to know! That's what I was afraid of that people would feel like i started out on a deceptive foot if I didn't disclose!
@dash83 I'm in the exact same boat! I was just invited to a 5 hour in person interview next week. I think I'm going to plan on wearing something that doesn't make it obvious and spend enough time speaking towards my skills and mention at the end that I am expecting but am willing to work with them and be flexible on leave to make the transition work.
Luckily the company I'm interviewing with seems very family friendly. They actually offer a fully paid 4 months of maternity leave, which I'm not sure I would get off the bat, but shows that they are amendable to supporting family planning. The downside being that the job I'm applying for is specifically to run a project starting up at the beginning of the new year, so it might not work right with their project timeline. I'm excited to see how it goes and glad to know other people are going through the same thing!
My experience is a little different in that I had previously worked for my boss and there was some background knowledge there on my situation. When I was approached about my current job, I was in the middle of of my IVF retrieval cycle and mentioned to the hiring manager/my ex-boss that staying in my position I held at the time was probably best given the status of things. I certainly wouldn't have been so forth coming if it was a job I had actively sought out with someone I didn't previously know, but at the end of the day they didn't care and they were willing to work with me. I made the transition and they accommodated scheduling time to do the transfer and have been super supportive of my pregnancy in general. The one downside is that my STD kicked in 2 weeks after I got pregnant, so my leave is unpaid. That's sort of balanced out by the pay bump I received when I switched jobs though, so it was still worthwhile.
I also have some experience here, though not so great (my own fault).
I was maybe 10 weeks pregnant with DS and had a job interview come up. I had actually applied for the job way before getting pregnant but (also a state agency!) it took so long for them to do interviews that I had almost forgot about them.
Anyway, I went through 3 interviews and then was offered the job. But, knowing that I had a LO on the way, there was some flexibility and benefits that I knew I needed (parking... semi-flexible schedule... time to take off for dr appointments... all things I had at my current job). So, instead of just being honest, I went back and forth negotiating all of these things and kind of shot myself in the foot. I eventually told the hiring director I was pregnant, but things had already kind of fallen apart.
I totally think if I had just been honest up front, it would have made a huge difference in the outcome.
It all worked out in the end because I told my current job while I was negotiating to see if they could match the salary, and although they said no at the time, they were super accommodating with my schedule and time off, and then offered me a promotion a year later but that is just an aside.
So, moral of my story is, better to be honest for your own piece of mind. Even so that you don't have to worry about time for dr's appointments, or knowing your maternity leave options. You have a lot of things happening in your personal life right not, and you want to feel comfortable and reassured about all of it.
Good luck!
When it came time time to mention the pregnancy I was nervous, but they truly didn’t seemed phased and congratulated me! I was so relieved. I rehearsed what I was going to say, it went something like this:
I will find out mid July if I’m successful with the position, and am really glad I was honest and it seemed to be received fairly.
I was hoping to talk to the hiring manager about being pregnant and he was one of the 30 min interviews, but it went by so fast that by the time we were wrapping up the next person was already in line to talk to me next so there wasn't any time