Job interview this week - just found out I'm pregnant - what to do?!

[JBrd]

I've been unhappy in my current job for quite some time now and recently decided that I am not only going to change jobs, but also careers. Did a lot of reasearch and have identified the area I want to move into, re-wrote my CV and have started applying for jobs.

I have been invited for an interview this Friday for a job with a company I would very much like to work for (have had my eye on them for quite a while now).
Then, last Friday, I got a BFP... It's all a bit of a rollercoaster, I had a mc in January and we had literally just started trying again. I didn't think I'd fall pg that quickly (but I also didn't want to wait because I can't put my life on hold).

So - what can/should I do? I will go to the interview, of course not say anything at this point, but what if they do offer me the position? Would it be advisable to let them know then, even if just out of politeness? Or do I keep it under wraps until what, 12 weeks?
I don't want to create friction or disgruntled-ness from a potential new employer, but ultimately, I do want this job, and I also want this baby.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation?
Am I worrying too much too soon?

[flowery]

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

I would advise you tell them at the point you would tell your current employer, which for most people would be after the first scan.

There's no reason to tell them immediately they offer you the position, because what value does that add? They can't withdraw the offer anyway and it's perfectly valid to wait until 12 weeks.

[slev]

Firstly, congratulations!

I wouldn't tell them, go through the process as normal and just see what happens. I once had an interview for a job in a company I really wanted to move to, it all went brilliantly and I was about to be offered the job when I found out I was pregnant. So I pulled out because I couldn't afford to go without maternity pay, and then subsequently discovered the pregnancy was ectopic - by which point the job had been offered to someone else. I've regretted it ever since.

Now I really hope for your sake you don't experience something similar, but my point is, at this stage, you have no idea what may or may not happen. I've also started a job newly pregnant (my timing with these things is terrible!) and you know what, employers deal with it because they have to. It may not be ideal but if you're the person they want to do that job, they'll still want you, even if you're going to be on maternity leave at some point - doesn't change your commitment or theirs.

[NoWayNoHow]

Firstly, congratulations!

Secondly, imho, I wouldn't go to the interview for a number of reasons:
(a) from your own purely selfish perspective, you would do better to stay in the job you're currently in (assuming you have been there long enough to earn some kind of maternity package) than to move to a new job where you will unlikely get more that SMP if you go off. After maternity leave, you can then make the decision about your career change, and it will feel more natural as you will already have had the break.
(b) I think it is extremely unfair to go into a job knowing full well you will be leaving that new employer in the lurch. Getting pregnant shortly after starting a new job is one thing. Going into a role knowingly deceiving them in terms of your ability to commit is another.

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

Go to the interview - you have no idea right now how this pregnancy will progress.

You have no obligation to tell them before week 25 of your PG, though of course most women disclose before that (would usually be obvious well before that )

Your maternity benefits will be affected - check out the affordability of the two options for you.

NoWay - the business might take OP on knowing that there's only a job for her if they maintain a current contract they are at risk of losing - if they lost it, they'd make her redundant using the legal routes open to them - if it's ok for them, it's ok for OP.

[bunchofposy]

I disagree with Noway's b) (esp at such an early stage of the pregnancy, but even if it wasn't) but think they have a point about a).

I say go to the interview and if it's the right job, and you are prepared to lose any accrued maternity benefits then go for it if you are offered it.

I have been in both situations, and would definitely opt for going for it over waiting, if for the right reasons, and I wasn't going to be affected too much financially. Life's short!

[bunchofposy]

ps congratulations!

[badguider]

How far pregnant are you? If you're just around 5weeks (having just got the bfp) then I would pretend to everybody including yourself that you don't know yet. If you get the job, give a months notice and start at the new place you STILL won't be 12weeks yet... and you don't have to tell till 25 weeks so you'll have plenty of time to settle in before telling them.

[BertramBertram]

Employers are not allowed to discriminate re pregnancy and nor should you (unless you decide you need to stay for maternity benefits). If someone is TTC then they could fall pregnant day 1 of employment.

I would go for the interview (good experience even if you don't get it) and then make a list of pro's & con's for you personally.

Good luck!

[JBrd]

Thanks all for your replies and sharing experiences. Some very good points have been made!

I'm just 4+2 now, so still very early days. Yes, it's a very valid point that at this stage I don't know how it will all work out with this pregnancy. After having had a mc recently, I am sadly very aware of this.
I realise that maternity pay would be affected - but I only had maternity allowance during my first pregnancy, so I know what it's like. Grant you, we didn't have the childcare outgoings back then, but I've done quite a lot of calculations on this, and I will have to use some of my savings, but we should be OK. I'm actually more worried about what salary they can/will offer, as it's an entry level position...

I have a very short notice period in my current job, so if all goes well, I could start very soon (hoping that this will be a bonus working in my favour...).

I will definitively go for the interview (as pointed out, it will be a good experience in any case), and then take it from there.

[JBrd]

Well, the interview went very well, they have offered me the job, and I have accepted!

[Frikadellen]

Congratulations

[littlemonkeychops]

Congrats! For what it's worth i think you did the right thing, if it's a longterm career change who knows when the chance would have come up again. By the time you have to tell them they'll already have seen how right you are for the job :-)

[Grumpla]

Congratulations on both your pregnancy and your job!

I was in a similar position to you a year ago, it has all worked out brilliantly for me. Went back after 6 months and from my employer's perspective it saved them a ton of money as I only qualified for MA and not their (very generous!) enhanced package. So I like to think that compensated for any inconvenience. I was treated very decently by them and this meant that I was really motivated when I did come back after having DS2. Good luck with it all

[Grumpla]

A year ago?!? No it wasn't, it was almost 2 years now. How time flies!