Job interview whilst pregnant

[Adreamz]

Im 9 weeks pregnant and I have a job interview next week. At what point should I tell them I'm pregnant? I don't want to let anyone down! (especially as I know them)

[knittingirl]

I wouldn't tell them during the interview - they can't discriminate against you because of your pregnancy, but you don't want to give them the temptation, and you're under no obligation to tell them. Plus, you're not very far along, so would be working for 5/6 months presumably before going on mat leave. I would only tell them if and when you have the job.

[LindaMcCartneySausage]

Congratulations.

I wouldn't tell them before the interview. I assume you are not showing yet. You are only 9 weeks and probably wouldn't tell an employer until you were over the 12 week scan hurdle at least. I don't think you a legally obliged to tell an employer u til 20 weeks, although I'd check that. Go to the interview and show what you can do. You would only need to tell them when you have an offer (in writing) and you are comfortable doing so. It's not sneaky and you should be upfront and honest as soon as you are able to have a Frank conversation.

I got the job of my dreams when pregnant. I interviewed at 13 wks pregnant (DC2) and squeezed myself into my suit and tummy control knickers to get through it. Due to a variety of reasons (university academic role) they didn't actually offer me the role until I was 27 weeks, with a proposed start date when I was 34 weeks. They couldn't have been more supportive of me and deferred my start date until after my maternity leave. Have a lot of good things to say about my new employer.

[SucksToBeMe]

I had a interview in January, I told them I was pregnant. They were very good and it wasn't a problem. They said how surprised that I informed them upfront.
Been there a month now and v happy.
Congrats btw!!

[BeadyEyes]

I am going through the same thing and am 12 weeks. Luckily my last interview was on Skype so my bloated tum and partially zipped skirt was hidden off camera! I second what the others have said - I would not mention it until you are offered a job, or indeed not even until you have accepted the job and are past the first trimester. I'm sure anyone reasonable would understand not telling anyone before the second trimester anyway - but regardless, you have no legal obligation to mention it and it makes it all too easy for potential employers to discriminate against you. Good luck for the interview!

[Blobby11]

Just to add you don't legally need to tell an employer you're pregnant until you're 25 weeks

Good luck with the interview

[Adreamz]

Thank you. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one having an interview whilst being pregnant. To be honest if I get the job I'll want to go back from mat leave as soon as possible because it's something I'm really looking forward to doing!

[stylostar]

Go for it, your choice to be honest or not, its still early days and you're not legally required to declare nor can they legally ask ( or discriminate further down the line) for what its worth, I went for promotion at 40 wks pregnant and got the job- its being kept open for my return!

[perplexedpirate]

I had an interview at 5 months, went to it wearing maternity clothes.
I got the job and told them after I'd had my confirmation letter.
They weren't best pleased but I soon proved my worth and still work for the company 5 years later.

[Linsey85]

I interviewed for a job at 17 weeks pregnant I didnt tell them but got offered the job at 23 weeks pregnant in which I told them on my second day they was very supportive

[livingzuid]

I interviewed at 31 weeks so wasn't possible to hide they were great and waited for me for about 5 months. I discussed it with them prior to applying for the job. A good employer will take it in their stride and make accommodations. Yes there is discrimination which I also experienced at different places but many people are also very good. At your early stage I wouldn't mention it unless you were offered the job . Do what feels comfortable for you.

[butterfliesinmytummy]

Yep, did this. Applied for a job before I knew I was pg. I was on a fixed term contract so needed another job. Didn't think I stood a chance of getting my dream job, sat through the interview green with morning sickness "for the experience". Totally gobsmacked when I was offered the job and told HR straight away. They were a bit snippy about it but I stayed 5 years and worked like a demon.

[ColdCottage]

I interviewed at 12 or 13 weeks. Told them Friday after I started, had my 16 week scan that week.

Only told immediate family at 12 weeks and everyone else after I started my job. You never know who knows who.

It was only a 6 month contract so I felt fine about this. I would also be fine with a ft position at a big firm. I don't think I could do it to a small company due to the impact of recruitment costs, I would tell them upfront.

Good luck, know how hard this feels.

[Gennz]

That's very encouraging livingzuid ... I interviewed for a role last week (26 weeks pregnant), which I missed out on, though the actual interview went well; I didn't think being pregnant was neccesarily the reason for missing out on the job. I'm in the running for another job which would be interviewing in about 2 weeks, at which point I'll be knocking on 29 weeks - by the time offers would be made I'd 32, 33 weeks... Given my notice period is 3 months anyway, they wouldn't actually have to wait that much longer for me to start. I don;t know if I'm deluding myself, actually think it might be easier to sell yourself as a candidate in the later stages of your pregnancy, as then they just need to delay your start date and don't need to deal with your maternity leave.

A friend on mine is currently coming up to second round interviews for a senior role. She is 8 weeks and will be 11 weeks by the time the second interview round completes. She is planning to tell them the news after the interview but before an offer is made as she wouldn't feel comfortable not disclosing and feels that if it's a problem for them it's not a workplace she wants to join. She's very good at her job so I hope they see past the pregnancy and see what a great candidate she would be.

Another friend of mine joined a previous workplace of mine at 5 months pregnant (legal team for a large multi-national), worked for 3 months, took 6 months mat leave, but worked remotely between months 3 - 6). So it can and does happen!

[slightlyglitterstained]

As an interviewer, I'd much much much rather I did not know until after the interview, when I'd already been able to form my own opinion of your abilities without being even subconsciously influenced and could prove that.

Otherwise it puts me in an unpleasant position if I want to say no - I have to do a lot more work to prove it wasn't due to pg, in order to do the right thing by my company & not leave them open to potential legal action.

So I'd agree with the consensus above - let them know after interview.

Good luck!

[Judo123]

Do what 'feels right' for you. If you feel like being upfront then tell them. This would only be advisable if you can afford to risk them discriminating against you and not offering you the job. Of course they are not allowed to but they can still tell you that you were not suitable or they found another candidate that suited the role better. They will not be honest and say they didn't want a pregnant woman working for them.

So it is worth telling them if you can take that chance. That way if they do offer you the job you will know for sure that they chose you on merit 100%.

If you tell them after they offer you the job....deep down they will always feel a little bit cheated as if you concealed that. It may make them feel that you didn't trust them to be decent employers and judge you on merit. It implies that you thought they may not consider you if they knew. It might leave a sort of nasty taste in their mouths were you are concerned as they will know that you are happy to 'keep things under wraps' if it suits your purposes rather than thinking about the company as a whole.

Do what feels right for you.

If it were me I would be honest from the get go!

If they give me the job great. If they don't give me the job great! I would rather be upfront.....if you pardon the pun.

[slightlyglitterstained]

Judo, as a hiring manager you absolutely can't tell me what I would feel. I would not feel any of the things you're suggesting, I would be hugely relieved at how considerate OP had been not to put me in an awkward position. I would absolutely not feel cheated.

If a candidate felt they needed to make that kind of disclosure at interview about other protected characteristics: their sexual orientation, past mental health problems, their political views - it would be excruciating and I'd be very (hmm) about their motivation for telling me all this at that stage.

[Missingcaffeine]

I interviewed before I was pregnant, but had a long notice period (4 months) and found out I was pregnant two months before starting new job. I chose not to tell new employer until I'd been there a month and started to prove myself (was about 16 weeks then). They were lovely and supportive. I didn't want others to judge me before I'd started and I also didn't see the point before I'd had 12 week scan and got through the high risk bit. It was the hardest thing I've ever done though - start a new and demanding job in early pregnancy. I don't regret it now, but those early days were really tough when I was desperately trying to hide pregnancy and prove myself despite feeling really rough!