Interviewing while pregnant « Hellobee Boards

Interviewing while pregnant

By avivoca Jul 11, 2013

Hi Bees! I am 27 weeks pregnant and have a job interview next week. Normally, I wouldn't be job shopping this late in the game, but some issues have come up at my current job and I've been casually looking for something a bit more family friendly. I had planned on searching more seriously after my leave was over, but this opportunity came up now so I jumped on it.

Does anyone have any advice for me? I plan on disclosing my pregnancy at the interview because I can't hide it and having an loose action plan for preparing for maternity leave. What else can I do to prepare besides company research and preparing my portfolio? Has anyone else been in this situation?

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26 comments

kiddosc
grapefruit / 4278 posts

Jul 11, 2013

I don't have advice, but wanted to say good luck!
avivoca
watermelon / 14467 posts

Jul 11, 2013

@kiddosc: Thank you! I'm nervous but excited.
MrsKoala
cantaloupe / 6869 posts

Jul 11, 2013

@evansjamie: I'm really glad that you asked this question! I'm 10 weeks and job searching. I've been worried that I will need to stop my search once I start showing because DH told me that no one will hire me if they know I'm pregnant. It'd be nice to hear some suggestions on how to handle an interview when I'm obviously pregnant.
avivoca
watermelon / 14467 posts

Jul 11, 2013

@MrsKoala: Good luck to you! From what I've read online, they can't openly say that pregnancy is why they won't hire you, and I've found some articles saying not to let it be a deterrent.
MrsKoala
cantaloupe / 6869 posts

Jul 11, 2013

@evansjamie: This is what I said to my husband! That it is illegal to not hire someone because they are pregnant but he just said that he'd come up with another reason not to hire a pregnant person. I'm going to look up those articles for a little confidence. Hoping that everything goes well at your interview next week!!
cmomma17
honeydew / 7811 posts

Jul 11, 2013

@evansjamie: I have no personal advice but I just wanted to say BE CONFIDENT. Don't apologize at all for being pregnant and don't downplay your abilities. You will be awesome at this job and they should hire you (repeat that out loud as many times as needed!).
You have my full support in your search for a family friendly job. I wish you nothing but the best of luck and can't wait to hear an update!!!
cmomma17
honeydew / 7811 posts

Jul 11, 2013

@MrsKoala: Pregnant women DO get hired all the time! Don't let it get you down! Be confident in your abilities and keep your chin up!
avivoca
watermelon / 14467 posts

Jul 11, 2013

@cmomma17: Thank you so much! I'm so nervous, but I know I can do this job well. I'll definitely post an update once the interview is over.
cmomma17
honeydew / 7811 posts

Jul 11, 2013

@evansjamie: I'll be thinking of you! Just be super prepared and knock it out of the park! Find a list of interview questions (college's have them on their career pages usually) and come up with an answer for every single one. You can never be too prepared!
Jellyfish
apricot / 334 posts

Jul 11, 2013

that's exciting, good luck!! I would prepare as you would for any other interview and be confident - if you feel like you are the best candidate for the job, pregnant or not, then that will come through!
Protectlove
cherry / 124 posts

Jul 11, 2013

@evansjamie: We have a lot in common between due dates in the same month and the unexpected aspect of job hunting/interviewing while pregnant. I am trying to ride it out at my current job so I am secure through my leave but I have not stopped putting out resumes and searching. If I got a call for an interview tomorrow though I might be a little frazzled. But honestly, pregnancy is very temporary and if an employer likes you and your qualifications/experience the fact that you are pregnant will not be enough for them to pass on the opportunity to have you join their team. Best of luck! Stay positive and be proud that you have an interview- they obviously like your skill set.
Cheers!
katsupgirl
nectarine / 2280 posts

Jul 11, 2013

Good luck! I have a friend who landed a job 7 months pregnant. Totally doable!
Sadieloo
kiwi / 726 posts

Jul 11, 2013

Good luck! Totally agree with @cmomma17 and @protectlove, your qualifications should speak first, not your pregnancy!
avivoca
watermelon / 14467 posts

Jul 17, 2013

I just wanted to post an update!

I think the interview went well. This is a newly created position, so it would be an opportunity to build something for the ground up, which is exciting. I definitely think I could handle it, and I would be working with a pretty good staff. Mainly, they want to streamline their communication within and outside the organization.

The perks are amazing and very family friendly; the salary is a bit more than I make now, but to supplement there is free tuition for any children I have (including extended care), school hours (7:30-4:30), any days that the students are off during the year, I would be off as well (fall, Christmas, thanksgiving, spring breaks, etc). In addition, two weeks of vacation AND two weeks of sick/personal time. Great benefits, life, retirement, etc. Basically, a dream.

I think my credentials and portfolio spoke highly of me. When telling them about the pregnancy, they were extremely gracious and I had a rough plan for how to prepare/cover while on leave. A lot of the scenarios they presented were things I work with on a regular basis.

Next steps are to whittle 15 candidates down to 3, and then meet with the head of the school, who will make the final decision.

Fingers crossed! I should hear something either way in the next week or so.
deactivated_account
GOLD / pomegranate / 3938 posts

Jul 17, 2013

@evansjamie: I'm so glad you are happy with your interview!

Just so all the Hello Bee'ers know, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act under federal law requires that pregnant women "be treated the same for all employment-related purposes . . . as other persons not so affected by similar in their ability or inabiliyt to work."
MrsKoala
cantaloupe / 6869 posts

Jul 17, 2013

@evansjamie: Happy to hear that it went well!! FX that you get it!!
Mrs. Pickle
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts

Jul 17, 2013

I hope you get the job!
cmomma17
honeydew / 7811 posts

Jul 17, 2013

@evansjamie: oh man, I really hope you get it! It sounds amazing! Fingers crossed for you!
Ginabean3
pomegranate / 3401 posts

Jul 17, 2013

Sounds like your interview went great! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
MrsKoala
cantaloupe / 6869 posts

Jul 19, 2013

Bumping this thread to ask a question: I'm only 11 weeks and I just got an interview next week. I'm not showing and I can hide it. I don't have to disclose that I'm pregnant until I get an offer, right?
avivoca
watermelon / 14467 posts

Jul 30, 2013

@MrsKoala: Sorry, I didnt' see this until just now! I wouldn't think so, the only reason I disclosed was because I was 28 weeks pregnant and couldn't hide it anymore.
avivoca
watermelon / 14467 posts

Jul 30, 2013

UPDATE: I heard from the interviewer today and I did not get the job. The person they hired is an alum of the school. She said that that was really the only thing that put that particular candidate above everyone else. I'm bummed, and also sad that I can't even have any ice cream to make myself feel better, but it's okay.
cmomma17
honeydew / 7811 posts

Jul 30, 2013

@evansjamie: I'm so sorry are you doing okay?
MrsKoala
cantaloupe / 6869 posts

Jul 30, 2013

@evansjamie: Awww sorry to hear this... what a bummer.
avivoca
watermelon / 14467 posts

Jul 30, 2013

@cmomma17: I'm okay. It was an amazing opportunity and I hope the new person can do it justice. It just kind of sucks that the only thing putting this person above the other 14 is the fact that they are an alumni of the school and have ties to it. It makes me wonder if they had them pegged from the start because of that? But that's me being bitter.
cmomma17
honeydew / 7811 posts

Jul 30, 2013

@evansjamie: I'm sure that's possibly. Schools love to have "alum" employees. I went to the school I work at but then transferred somewhere else to graduate ... but no one wants to hear that part of my story

I hope another great opportunity comes your way soon! Maybe keep an eye on that particular position though, maybe the person they picked won't work out and it will get posted again!

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