https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 23:48:02 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-238383 Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:17:02 +0000 ladyfingers 238383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: That's ridiculous. That makes their motivation even more clear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-238203 Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:36:13 +0000 Adira 238203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: WTF - I don't even understand why it would matter where you live! How is that a reason not to hire someone????</p> <p>I don't think I'd apply again either if I were you. Those people sound like a bunch of wackos! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-238181 Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:24:21 +0000 jedeve 238181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>SOOOO. I just got off the phone with someone from their HR department? Verdict? It's NOT because I was overqualified. She told me I was a great candidate for the position and encouraged me to apply again with them.</p> <p>The reason I was turned down? "I didn't live in the city the job was."</p> <p>This is complete BS because I'm moving there tomorrow (technically I'm there now, I'm renting a place!) I made that clear to the interviewer, and the job doesn't start till September (which the interviewer made very clear to me), so I'll have been there for a while. She asked me once at the very beginning about when I was moving, and then proceeded through the rest of the interviewer without bringing it up again.</p> <p>The HR lady told me to apply again, but - yeah right. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-235264 Thu, 26 Jul 2012 10:06:10 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 235264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Its a crappy situation but I'm thinking along the lines of @Mrsbells: @highwire: That it's a combo maybe of both. Overqualified + Pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-235253 Thu, 26 Jul 2012 10:04:11 +0000 LindsayInNY 235253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Couple things...</p> <p>First, I think your career counselor was WAY off on advising them first. I'm assuming this is a regular job and not a temp or contract one. But, unless you're visibly pregnant, I would not mention it until you get a job offer. Because once they make the offer, they really can't go back on it. Since this was a phone interview, I wouldn't have mentioned it either way. When I was looking for a job when I was engaged (and even now married), I never wore my ring(s). I didn't want them to think the size meant I didn't need money or as high of a salary. And now married, I don't want them to automatically think I'm on the immediate mommy path.</p> <p>Second, I think it was entirely inappropriate for the interviewer to ask you about your pregnancy. See here: <a href="http://www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/forms/whatyoucanandcantasklongversionmay05.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.admin.mtu.edu/hro/forms/whatyoucanandcantasklongversionmay05.pdf</a> And I really don't know why the career counselor would have recommended you offer that information? Was she new/young? Maybe she didn't know?</p> <p>If all of the pregnancy stuff hadn't come up, I would've thought you weren't hired because you were overqualified. Despite your reasons for wanting the job, they may fear that you will leave slash not stay long-term because you're overqualified. It sucks, but one thing you might want to consider if you're finding yourself overqualified for a lot of the jobs that are ideal for life/parenting, censor your resume a little. Not ideal, I know, but sometimes a better approach. A friend needed a 2nd job after law school and no one wanted to hire an attorney for Borders, Starbucks, retail department stores, etc. so she changed her resume a little (not lying, just carefully editing) so she didn't appear as overqualified.</p> <p>Good luck! Let us know what you end up doing :)</p> <p>If I were you, I think I would not only send a complaint letter to HR of the company you interviewed with BUT I would also send one to the career agency you were working with. Even call the counselor's supervisor to tell them as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-234909 Thu, 26 Jul 2012 01:36:24 +0000 looch 234909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: me too. things started going down hill as soon as I announced my pregnancy. In the end, I knew why they did the things they did, but it still didn't make it any better, YKWIM?</p> <p>Jedeve: I agree on sending a letter. Even if you think it doesn't help in your situation, it could help someone else down the road. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-234879 Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:00:40 +0000 jedeve 234879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lozza: No, it's long term. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-234159 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:28:52 +0000 Lozza 234159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is it a short-term position?<br /> I work in a field that does a lot of data collection, and we often only need data collectors to work for a few weeks or a few months, but really need them to be available for the whole data collection period. In these cases, availability is a huge factor for us, and we probably wouldn't hire anyone who could not commit to being available through the entire data collection period.<br /> I'm sorry, I'm not saying it doesn't suck, but I just wonder if it's the availability issue and not the overqualification. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-234060 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:54:55 +0000 ladyfingers 234060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You know, the more I think about this, the more it sucks. I just read where you said she started spending so much of the interview on the pregnancy. I revise my opinion on why they turned you down. I would absolutely do something about this, though I completely understand if you wouldn't want to stress yourself out like that. I like @Maysprout's idea a lot. This whole thing is even more upsetting that a woman treated you that way. Ugh. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-234047 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:51:08 +0000 ladyfingers 234047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: Ah, that does make sense. I'm so sorry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233967 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:19:00 +0000 Freckles 233967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: I agree as well. The fact that she asked you to elaborate on the pregnancy could have been a factor in rejecting you for the job. It only would have been appropriate to ask once you're hired. It's discrimination...not sure how it works in the US, but it would definitely be qualified for a complaint in Canada. This is why interviews should be conducted with the HR person in the room, and not the hiring manager...drives me bonkers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233961 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:17:09 +0000 Maysprout 233961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: When I left I did everything off-record and the people I talked to were the wrong people. There was very little done.<br /> Within a year a woman was fired who was pregnant. She did a much better job at documenting harassment then I did. So then I sent written complaints to MANY different people, departments and so did she, and barely anything is getting done but more than happened before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233955 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:10:25 +0000 brownie 233955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: I like this solution. It doesn't mean she has to sue or anything but it also means that hopefully it won't happen again. I have been trying to think of something that would be helpful and I love your idea.</p> <p>I was the recipient of blatant pregnancy discrimination and I didn't do anything about it and wish I had now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233942 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:06:53 +0000 Maysprout 233942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would write a letter and file a complaint with their HR, office of discrimination or whatever so there's a record.<br /> In my experience HR did nothing and the office of discrimination took complaints much more seriously. But it's probably different at different places.<br /> It's hard to prove discrimination so putting a complaint on file for them to be able to see patterns is important. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233883 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:45:27 +0000 autumnlove 233883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>sorry to hear this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233880 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:44:44 +0000 hellobeeboston 233880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>that sucks! i also think it was probably a combo of things.... I have interviewed people in the past &amp; not wanted to hire them because they are over-qualified - in the past it has caused problems, but each job is different - perhaps they had issues in the past with this? </p> <p>But yeah, I think they probably also took into consideration you are pregnant.... not cool.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233868 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:40:31 +0000 MrsTiz 233868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Eek. That sucks, I'm sorry!! Jobs do not want to hire people who are over qualified because they expect to be paid more. (Don't mean that directed towards you, just from my own company experience) They want young, uneducated, or just barley qualified people so they can 1. pay them less and 2. train them how they want them to work, not have to deal with them already knowing how stuff is done, and it not working for the new company. </p> <p>Sorry you didn't get it!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233847 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:34:21 +0000 Honeybee 233847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry; your career counselor gave you really crappy advice. :( And that interviewer WAY overstepped her bounds by asking you to elaborate on your pregnancy during the interview. Completely inappropriate, imo, and definitely grounds for a discrimination case, if you chose to follow up with this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233843 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:33:24 +0000 oliviaoblivia 233843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry you didn't get the job. It sucks to be looking for work, and it must be that much harder as a pregnant lady. As bummed as you are, remember how that awful lady made you cry during the interview - she likely would make you cry as her employee. I've found that even horrible people try to make a nice impression during interviews, so if she was horrible then, she'll be worse as a boss. You might have dodged a bullet.</p> <p>Good luck with your search! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233839 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:32:30 +0000 Shutterbug 233839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: How do they know about meetings scheduled for way in advance already? (I'm assuming you're not due for a while?) It sounds like maybe that's not a good place to work if the woman was such a b*tch. Consider it a blessing in disguise - that you'll be free to take a different (better!) job when it comes along. I was unemployed for 8 months and I know it can be frustrating - I'm sure being pregnant only compounds that. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233821 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:24:56 +0000 jedeve 233821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: The career counselor recommended that I tell them right away to appear honest and not manipulative. Plus I realized since I was overqualified I should have an explanation for why I was looking for a part time job. It really would have been perfect for me, so it's a shame.</p> <p>The crappy part is when I tell people I'm unemployed they say things like "you should just get a job! take something you are overqualified for! work your way up!" But apparently that's not an option either?????</p> <p>@MrsLMA: Unfortunately FMLA is only for people who have been somewhere 12 months or longer in my state, so it doesn't do anything to protect pregnant women looking for work.</p> <p>I get the overqualified thing, but she really spent 3/4ths of the interview harping about me being pregnant, when was I due, well she would need me to work that week, there is a mandatory meeting a week before I was due, can I make that/ (I said yes) well are you sure? can you commit right now? yada yada yada.</p> <p>She went from being really nice about the pregnancy to really mean after she found out it was my first (she asked). She was so mean about it that I was crying by the end (it was a phone interview). The other thing with being overqualified though is that they open themselves up to a lawsuit by hiring someone who is less qualified (and not pregnant) or leaving the job open (it still is). Turning someone down who is qualified is one of the few ways you can prove pregnancy discrimination, so you'd think they'd just want to cover their asses! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233773 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:02:35 +0000 ladyfingers 233773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was going to say the same thing about being overqualified. But I'm sorry this happened to you no matter why it did. If I were interviewing, I might wait until I had a formal job offer so that I could make my leave part of the package. It's illegal for them to turn you down but it's almost impossible to prove, and you have no legal obligation to tell them up front! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233771 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:01:00 +0000 MrsLMA 233771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Overqualified or not, I can totally see why you're upset. Maternity leave isn't mandatory, but FMLA leave (if you're in the US) is guaranteed to any employee of a firm more than 50 people. </p> <p>Once you've cooled down (it would be a couple weeks for me), maybe you can call or email the person who interviewed you and ask for a more detailed explanation of why you weren't hired- I've had people do that to me when I was hiring for a position and they've framed it as wanting to know what they can do better in their next interview. Obviously no one is going to come out and say "it's because you're pregnant!", but you might get a little better feel for what they were thinking.</p> <p>Grrrrr to this situation.... you deserve some chocolate and a bubble bath! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233765 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:57:18 +0000 DillonLion 233765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: That is my guess, too. </p> <p>@jedeve: I forgot to say that I'm sorry this is happening! I hope you find something soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233763 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:55:15 +0000 Mrsbells 233763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think its a combination of both reasons (pregnancy + being over qualified) I agree that companies regularly reject job applicants who are overqualified, because they know you will be looking for something better soon and some managers are intimidated by people who have better qualifications than them</p> <p>It isnt fair or legal but usually if you tell them you are pregnant and are immediately asking for time off then they wont hire you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233752 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:49:07 +0000 jedeve 233752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was honest about why I wanted a job that I was overqualified for, though. I said I wasn't looking for something full time because I was pregnant and having a part time job with a newborn would be ideal for me. And that the job market was really tough and I was adjusting my expectations.</p> <p>The woman was a real b*tch in the interview about me being pregnant, too. So I'm pretty sure it was that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233746 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:45:24 +0000 sunshineandsushi 233746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My company will not hire someone who is overqualified for the position. They feel that the person would try to angle for responsibilities different from that which they were hired for and eventually become dissatisfied, quit, etc. </p> <p>Regardless, sorry that you didn't get the job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233741 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:44:48 +0000 Andrea 233741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could see turning down an applicant if they were overqualified. I would think that they would be bored and unhappy in the job after a short time and then quit on me. Sorry you didn't get the job ... hopefully being pregnant was not the reason! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233736 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:43:21 +0000 DillonLion 233736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: Companies don't like to hire people who are overqualified because they worry that they won't stay at the job very long... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/got-turned-down-for-a-job-because-i-was-pregnant#post-233733 Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:42:25 +0000 jedeve 233733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@highwire: That doesn't make any sense to me though. What harm does it do them if I'm overqualified? The job market is terrible so many applicants are going to be overqualified for anything they apply for! I don't get why a company would care about that. </p>