35 weeks pregnant and considering a new job

[Anonymous]

I am an associate attorney at a boutique law firm specializing in IP law. I 35 weeks pregnant with my first child, and I was recently contacted by a recruiter for an in-house position at a VERY well-known and respected company. I am considering throwing my hat in the ring for this job, but its located in California, so there would obviously be some logistical issues with this. I also am interested in another in-house position at another very well respected company that is in the DC area.

My firm is paying me 12 full weeks of maternity leave. Does anybody with HR experience know if large companies ever pay for an new employee's maternity leave if they are stating after having a baby? Is this something I have a chance of negotiating?

[Anonymous]

Depends on the firm. Legally, you are only protected under the FMLA if you have been employed for 12 calendar months by the time the birth AND if the business has 50 employees. As a new hire you are not protected.

That being said, you could potentially time the start date for some point after the birth so that you have had the time to become acclamated to your new surroundings as well as motherhood before taking a new position.

Personally, I think the transition into motherhood in and of itself is very challenging - now throw a relocation AND a new job and I would have a very difficult time with it all

The only mothers that I know that have relocated to a new position and business shortly after birth already had one child (so knew their way around) and a husband that took a few months off of work during the transition.

[Anonymous]

This recruiter, I assume, doesn't know that you are pregnant and the hiring manager will likely freak out when you go to the interview and are showing that late in the game. It's not fair but I'd stay where you are until the baby is born.

[Anonymous]

Likely interviewing will be an issue, are the doing local interviews for the CA company?

[Anonymous]

I moved to a firm from government and interviewed for the job while on maternity leave. Problem is you aren't even on maternity leave and I don't think you can fly for interviews. Hard to say if you could make this work, but I don't see how it hurts to try.

Fwiw. I had bigger problems post-child where a DC recruiter asked me illegally if I had kids!

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's a good idea to entertain the position. Let them know you are interested and would be ready in a year or so to consider such a move. Give whatever work excuse you want - you are on an important project where you are gaining new skills, etc. Leave the door open.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for your feedback. I told the recruiter for the position in CA that I am 35 weeks pregnant and will be taking 3 months maternity leave, so I would not be available to travel for an interview for at least 4 months. She said they completely understand and they still want to move forward with a phone interview. I also submitted a resume for the other position, and was contacted for an interview, and told them the same thing before setting anything up. They said they want to fill the position ASAP, so my time frame does not work for them. Oh well! I had to be honest and upfront.