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

[Anonymous]

Am a lawyer, not currently working because just moved back to the area for husband's job and I'm pregnant. Baby due in December and really don't want a new job until April or May. But have applied to a couple of federal government positions because I hear they have such long hiring processes. Of course, I sent an application to one place last week and got an interview request on Friday for two weeks from now. Now what do I do?

Do I call them in advance and tell them my situation and see if they still want to interview me? Or go to he interview and explain my timing situation in person? I'd prefer to do the latter because I think it will give me a chance to make a good impression even if they can't wait until the Spring to hire me and maybe they'd remember me for the next job. But I don't want to piss anyone off if they think I'm wasting their time. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Also: and I know they'll notice your pregnancy. I wouldn't bring it up until it came time to talk Timing. Imagine you were a man planning to take paternity leave or time off with a new baby. All part of the negotiation process.

[Anonymous]

I would go to the interview. I'm a federal employee and I actually wasn't hired for the first opening I interviewed for-- actually never heard back and it turned out they were waiting to offer me the next opening (a year later).

[Anonymous]

I would go. In fact I recently did this for medical job at 7 mo pregnant. I did bring it up early on in the interview. I emphasized that i thought the job was a really good fit for me and that I was interested in future opportunities as well. Funny thing is that they weren't interested initially, but i did get an offer this week. I had to tell them i am now 39 wks pregnant and that i would love to hear from them info the spring.

[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.

I disagree. Do you expect a diabetic or cancer patient to disclose their medical conditions before an interview? Pregnancy has nothing to do with who is the best qualified candidate and should not be a consideration in who gets the job. Certainly, if OP is far enough along to be noticeably pregnant, she should discuss availability but there's nothing dishonest or less than forthcoming about not disclosing it ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I disagree. Do you expect a diabetic or cancer patient to disclose their medical conditions before an interview? Pregnancy has nothing to do with who is the best qualified candidate and should not be a consideration in who gets the job. Certainly, if OP is far enough along to be noticeably pregnant, she should discuss availability but there's nothing dishonest or less than forthcoming about not disclosing it ahead of time.

Agree - calling in advance says "You might not want me, so I'll just tell you now."

Walk in there confidently knowing that you are the best candidate for the job, and that you are worth the wait. It's not uncommon to have a long time between your hiring date and your start date in the Federal government. It's just something that needs to be negotiated.

[Anonymous]

You should tell them your timing (not pregnany) before the interview. Generally companies are looking for immediate hires, not 6 months from now. It's a waste of their time to interview if your timelines don't match up.

[Anonymous]

I would go, but tell them early on in the interview. I have been on both sides of this equation. I had a job interview when I was newly pregnant. I told them, and I got the job, anyway. I had some skills that they really needed. In fact, we negotiated some great maternity benefits on the spot. If they want you, they'll hire you.

On the other hand, I worked at a firm where a new hire announced she was pregnant when she showed up to work (she clearly knew, but didn't let on, when she was offered the job). I didn't see any retribution against her, but not telling definitely poisoned the well at that firm for her in terms of advancement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I disagree. Do you expect a diabetic or cancer patient to disclose their medical conditions before an interview? Pregnancy has nothing to do with who is the best qualified candidate and should not be a consideration in who gets the job. Certainly, if OP is far enough along to be noticeably pregnant, she should discuss availability but there's nothing dishonest or less than forthcoming about not disclosing it ahead of time.

It does if it affects the performance of your job. My wife has to travel a lot and we waited until she was at a new job for at least a year before getting pregnant. At my old job we had a person who got hired and immediately had 2 children back to back, never made a sale and in the end didn't do anything. Granted this is not the norm, but if you can't perform your job due to your physicall condition then it is important. You aren't going to let a blind person drive a delivery truck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I disagree. Do you expect a diabetic or cancer patient to disclose their medical conditions before an interview? Pregnancy has nothing to do with who is the best qualified candidate and should not be a consideration in who gets the job. Certainly, if OP is far enough along to be noticeably pregnant, she should discuss availability but there's nothing dishonest or less than forthcoming about not disclosing it ahead of time.

It does if it affects the performance of your job. My wife has to travel a lot and we waited until she was at a new job for at least a year before getting pregnant. At my old job we had a person who got hired and immediately had 2 children back to back, never made a sale and in the end didn't do anything. Granted this is not the norm, but if you can't perform your job due to your physicall condition then it is important. You aren't going to let a blind person drive a delivery truck.

There's a huge difference between a blind person driving a truck and a woman being pregnant. Even having two kids back to back would not prevent someone from traveling or making a sale - that is a performance issue, not a pregnancy issue.

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

They are presumably looking for a long-term relationship with an employee, while your pregnancy leave would be a relatively short blip in the overall timeline. Go to the interview and do your utmost best without opening the interview with a discussion of your pregnancy. I would bring it up at some point at the end of the interview, so that they can see you are someone who is direct, open, with a plan, and able to address potentially thorny issues head-on. How you handle it might even become a plus in your favor!

[Anonymous]

Go to the interview! My office hired a woman who was pregnant with twins, sometimes they will not care.