Job Interview Request While Pregnant - Tell them in Advance I'm Pregnant?

[Anonymous]

OP, 2 things. I had a similar interview situation a few years ago and felt insecure and told the recruiter for the government agency and she said that it was not a problem. You can just show up.

Secondly, depending on the job, it may take several months to actually start on the payroll: 2nd interview, 3rd interview, security clearance, etc. I know someone who got an offer quickly, but could not start her job for several months (4-5 months) waiting for them to do paperwork.

[Anonymous]

My suggestion is this: Go to the interview. When they ask you if you have any questions, first ask your substantive questions. Then tell them you are pregnant and ask them what timing they were looking for. Let them know when you will be available to start and ask them if that could work for them.

[Anonymous]

I know this is a very old thread but how'd it ever go, OP? or anyone else? 31 weeks pregnant, and I'm going through the process. Should I start before I give birth or after?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be honest, I'd just show up. Don't talk about it until you talk about when you can start. Even though they're interviewing it doesn't mean they have the ability to have you start right away. I don't think you're being honest - what do you say when you call? "I'm pregnant... Do you still want to interview me?"

The only thing your pregnancy affects is your potential stating date. If I interviewed for a job, but couldnt start until march because of a deployment or previously existing circumstances that couldn't be changed - then that is part of the negotiation process.

Just be honest about the earliest you would be willing to start.

Good advice, except she wants to start a YEAR from now. That is wasting the hiring committee's time. Government hiring can be slow, but a year? Even with a security clearance I started my federal attorney job less than 3 months after the interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They can't legally refuse to interview you because you're pregnant; they can make a decision, though, that you were not forthcoming prior to the interview and that for that reason, they don't want to hire you. So, call and tell them. The worst that can happen is that you don't get the job (even if the subconscious or conscious reason is because of the pregnancy). The best is that they respect you as an honest, forthright employee who has the whole picture (for everyone) in mind from the fore.

Good luck with both the search and the new addition!

No. This may be well meaning, but bad advice and not legally true. You cannot be discriminated against for being a female, and being pregnant is something only a female can be, so it is considered gender discrimination to not hire someone who is pregnant unless it can be proven that pregnant person cannot reform essential tasks of the job. This doesn't qualify. Would a man feel the need to disclose that his wife is pregnant? No.

If you are not interested in being employed until after the baby is born and you have taken some time with the baby, then that needs to be disclosed. But if you are willing and ready to work now, I would not bring it up until you have an offer in writing. Then you tell them. There is no legal obligation to inform them in the interview process, you cannot be deemed unfit to be hired because you didn't disclosed it. And they cannot ask you either.

[Anonymous]

When I interviewed for my Federal job (Dec) they didn't bat an eyelash at my request to start in March. They told me I could start anytime in the fiscal year. Start dates might be negotiable but often have to be within the current budget cycle.

[Anonymous]

I went on an interview at five month prego and did not mention it. The guy kept looking at my belly area but didn't ask. It's illegal for someone to reject you based on being pregnant. It's not a permanent condition. They must give you reasonable accommodation if you are prego.

I didn't get the job, which I was highly qualified for. In hindsight, I wish I would have brought it up during the interview, so I could have discussed how I was not planning on quitting after the baby came - I would have also like to see if he said anything discriminatory so that I could sue him for not hiring me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP - thanks for the responses. I'm very visibly pregnant, so the question is not whether to disclose, it's just whether I disclose in advance of the interview via phone/email or disclose in person when I go to the interview. If I tell them ahead of time, they might not want to interview me anymore if they can't wait until Spring.

Right now, I'm leaning towards not disclosing in advance and just discussing the timing when I get there. I'd like the opportunity to show my face and hopefully make a good impression and show that I'm interested in the job, even if they can't hold the position for me in the end. Anyone think this is dishonest and/or might make the decision-makers upset that I wasted their time?

are you very visibly pregnant to people who have never met you before and if you dress to hide it? I would hide it if you can. you can always tell them if you get an offer.

I hired someone who was pregnant (best hiring decision I ever made!!!)

[Anonymous]

y'all - it's a 6-year-old thread resurrected by someone trying to decide whether to apply while pregnant. if you're applying for jobs on a long hiring track (like anything government), go ahead and apply now!

anything else depends on your comfort level/options. i got conflicting advice myself about applying when visibly pregnant. lots of successful women i trust told me to go for it and apply right away if that's what i wanted but be ready to jump in and start working relatively soon. i ultimately decided that i just didn't want to be applying for new jobs then; my head was elsewhere and i wasn't sure i was going to be apply to jump back into a new job early.

[Anonymous]

You are early days pregnant.
You get the job offer first or at least until final rounds when they are pr asking for start date.
I know many many women (from my Mba circuit) who interviewed pregnant and were able to negotiate whatev r start date 3,6,9, 12 mos out.

It is a long term hire so fit is important. 3-12 mos will be a blip. In fact you could start now then take unpaid 3 mos and then return. If you find out this is an awesome position and team you might want to be flexible on "not working during your 49 week pregnancy."

[Anonymous]

40 week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a very old thread but how'd it ever go, OP? or anyone else? 31 weeks pregnant, and I'm going through the process. Should I start before I give birth or after?

You're kidding. You think someone is reading dcum daily for 6+ years!?!

Please.

[Anonymous]

Why leave your old job. You may want to Mommy track so why start something new now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To be honest, I'd just show up. Don't talk about it until you talk about when you can start. Even though they're interviewing it doesn't mean they have the ability to have you start right away. I don't think you're being honest - what do you say when you call? "I'm pregnant... Do you still want to interview me?"

The only thing your pregnancy affects is your potential stating date. If I interviewed for a job, but couldnt start until march because of a deployment or previously existing circumstances that couldn't be changed - then that is part of the negotiation process.

Just be honest about the earliest you would be willing to start.

Good advice, except she wants to start a YEAR from now. That is wasting the hiring committee's time. Government hiring can be slow, but a year? Even with a security clearance I started my federal attorney job less than 3 months after the interview.

No, she does not want to start a year from now. This thread was posted in October (and 6 years ago...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this is a very old thread but how'd it ever go, OP? or anyone else? 31 weeks pregnant, and I'm going through the process. Should I start before I give birth or after?

Es you have to bring it up. While selling yourself on why you're the best and how 3 mos is a drop in the bucket comparedd to the years of value you will create.