Would you interview for a new job when you're pregnant?

Under.the.Rose · February 2010

Here's my situation and maybe some of you can offer some insight...

I work at a university so I would technically still have the same employer if I go for this other job on campus. I'm early in my first trimester and haven't told anyone that I'm expecting. Apparently they're trying to tweak the job description before it gets posted so I'll get the job... and now I feel bad that they're going to such measures when I might not be in the job for very long before going on mat leave. This is a job I've worked in before and LOVED it, but I was covering a leave of absence and had to find another job on campus (where I am working now and don't like it).

Should I be upfront with them or should I interview and hide the fact that I'm pregnant from them? I'm afraid that they'll resent me if I hide it from them and make my life miserable before and after mat leave. I also hate being dishonest with people...

Any thoughts?

MrsT1209 · February 2010

I'm a firm believer in being honest if you know you are pregnant. I'd have a hard time maintaining the same level of trust in an employee if I knew that they'd hidden that from me.

As long as you are planning on returning after maternity leave, they shouldn't have an issue with it.

Mini_Mariah · February 2010

I've done both. When I was pregnant with DD I interviewed outside of the company and did not tell them I was pregnant. Layoffs were coming at my current employer and I wanted to ensure the other company did not consider my pregnancy in the hiring process. They did make an offer, but by then I knew my current position was stable, so I didn't accept. If I did accept I would have let them know when I accepted the offer.

Late last year I was contacted by a manger internally with a position she wanted me to interview for in a different department. As I knew her (she had been my manager previously) and I considered us friendly, I did let her know that I was expecting. She said right away that it didn't matter. I interviewed and was offered the position, which I just started this week. I still have to figure out how to tell my new team, but I figure the manager is the important part.

momofolivia · February 2010

i am currently interviewing (phone calls only) for a company and I am 2 months pg. If they offer the position, I will tell them at that time that I am pg.

mysticporter · February 2010

Normally I'd advocate telling them after you are offered the position, but this case is a little unusual in that you already have a pre-existing (good) relationship with them and it sounds like they are going out of their way a bit by tweaking the announcement. I would be upfront with them now in this case.

July_2009 · February 2010

There is no right or wrong answer here I think. Do you think your chances of getting the job could be jeopardized if you told them right away? By not telling them about your pregnancy doesn't mean you are being dishonest. You have to be politically correct in some situations. What is your university policy about pregnancy disclosure? Our company has a policy that by the end of 5th month, the manager has to be notified. It becomes no one elses business until then esp. given the market conditions. I hope I made sense. You are the best person to know whether to disclose now or later.

Meazman · February 2010

I was in a similar situation. I interviewed for my current job when I was 8 months pregnant! So, they knew! It was with the same employer, but a totally different job. They felt I was the right candidate and knew that they would wait 4 months for me to start! I didn't leave my old job at that time, just left that job when I went out on maternity leave and started the new one when i came back.