interviewing & pregnancy

dancingdays

I've been unemployed for a few months and I'm 14 weeks pregnant. I just had an awesome interview today. The interviewer said she would get back to me first thing next week with her decision. This job would be really great for me. I need to get out of the house and the income would be extremely helpful.... If I get offered the job is it ok if I wait a while to let my manager know that I'm pregnant? I'm worried that if I tell them right away they either won't offer me the job or they will see it as a bait-and-switch and it will color their opinion of me off the bat. 

Nericole

It is against the law for them to not hire you based on your pregnancy. Your pregnancy is also your business. I feel that the only reason you need to let your employer know is to warn them that you will be taking time off. You're about 3 1/2 months. If you told them after they hired you, that would be sufficient warning, in my opinion. It would be nearly half of a year.

islandtransplant

A little bit different of a situation, but I am also unemployed, since the end of April.  I was 14 weeks when I was fired and am 22 weeks now.  When first job hunting, I didn't have a belly to show, so I took this strategy - rock the interview and hope for an offer.  Should an offer come along, I would let them know about the pregnancy before accepting the job.  At that point, they have admitted that they want to hire you, and if they change their mind, you have a pretty good reason to claim discrimination based on the pregnancy.  Also, you are being open and honest with them from technically the very beginning, so it should not harm their opinion of you.  At this point in my pregnancy, I'm finding I have to change strategy.  I can still *barely* stuff myself back into my old non-maternity dress clothes, so I do that for the first interview.  If I feel the first interview went well, and they ask me back for a second, I let them know about the pregnancy at that point.  This has happened twice.  Both employers have claimed that "pregnancy doesn't scare them" and "they have hired pregnant women before."  I had two first interviews last week, and the seconds with both of them are this week, so we'll see what happens.  GL!!!

JoNi2010

If you're not showing, I would not tell them until they offer you the job.  Sure they are not suppose to discriminate, but you can never prove that.  I am 24weeks and very obviously showing now so I have to tell possible employers up front.  Some have just flat out told me to apply after the baby comes because if their no-taking-time-off during the first 90 days of employment.  It is very stressful trying to find a job while obviously pregnant!

bearkatjen

Do not say anything until they make an offer. They're not suppose discriminate, but plenty of people do, and it's on you to prove, which might be impossible to do.

this decaf life

I'd wait until after the offer/after you start working there. Your pregnancy can't affect whether you get hired or not so it's just easier to see if you get the job without telling them. I would be gentle when bringing it up though so it doesn't come off like you thought she'd screw you over if she knew you were pregnant. 

I'm transferring stores because we're moving and I did not let my new manager know because I didn't want that to somehow influence which store I ended up working in. I'll be 16 weeks when I start in my new store... I don't think it'll take long for them to figure out my secret. 

dancingdays

Good luck to you too! 

CatnipTrinket

I would say that it depends on what you're going to be doing at work. If you'll be doing a lot of heavy lifting, you may want to tell them a little earlier. If not, then I wouldn't personally worry about it for another month or two, if I were in your shoes.

I'm 22 weeks along and was 21 weeks at the time I was interviewed and hired at my new job. They can't take pregnancy into consideration during an interview or in deciding if they'll hire you, but for me, my bump doesn't show so well, so they couldn't even tell. Still, because this job requires heavy lifting, I went ahead and told my boss within the first week that I'm pregnant. They said it sucks that they'll have to lose me right at the start of the holiday rush, but they'll do what they can to work around it. 

gregnmelly

I hope they dont but if u feel like they discriminated against u because of your pregnancy speak to the Equal Employment Commission. i work there. Read up on it if u are not familiar with it...www.eeoc.gov

wph961

You don't need to tell them until after you take the job....BUT a big warning to you: the FMLA does not require that employers give you maternity leave until after you have been on the job one year. If you have the baby before you have been working there for a full year, you may not be able to take maternity leave. Some employers are more generous, so you will want to ask and make sure before you take the job. It is for this very reason that I'm waiting to interview until after I've had the baby.

angelsmile

I am facing this now.  Going in for an interview in the next 2 weeks (manager is currently renovating the new location) and I won't tell.  Until I work for them and will be taking off, it's none of their business...unless I'm doing something that pregnancy would prevent.  And I'm not. 

dancingdays

angelsmile:

I am facing this now.  Going in for an interview in the next 2 weeks (manager is currently renovating the new location) and I won't tell.  Until I work for them and will be taking off, it's none of their business...unless I'm doing something that pregnancy would prevent.  And I'm not. 

 I think this is what I'm going to do. I'm not showing yet and should have at least another month or so  before I need to let them know.