Would you mention that you had children at a job interview?

In the past I've deliberately not mentioned DD interviews for fear of discrimination. I have no employment gaps, and excellent childcare so no need to mention her really.

My most recent interview was slightly different as it was for a job at DD's school, so there was no escaping the fact

(I got the job )

i woulddnt mention my children.no its my private life.and when im working im not mum,im the professional.so its not relevant.

I posted on the other thread saying I don't wear my wedding or engagement rings for interviews, and I wouldn't dream of mentioning DS. It's partly because I married very young, and I work in a male-dominated field, so thought seeing my rings would set off loud alarm bells for anyone interviewing me.

It's all about being sure that, if they reject me, at least it's not because they know I'm a married woman with a baby. I can't be sure I won't get rejected for being female, but there's not a lot I can do about that!

I did.

GetOrf, I was made redundant a while back. I think that I was chosen out of all the other people in the same team because I worked a 30hr week due to childcare commitments rather than the 37hrs-plus-overtime that other people worked. Trust me, I wasn't seen as a hero there for being a father involved in childcare, I got dirty looks when I left the office at 4:30 and I was regularly pressured by my boss to do more hours.

I'm starting work very soon at a new place and it may well be that my inability to work overtime at the drop of a hat could seriously affect my chances there as well.

If you don't think you can meet the specified demands of the job, or if you think you'll need special arrangements of some kind to do so, then yes of course you should say so. Whether it's because of childcare responsibilities, or some other reason.

If however you can do the job, then it's none of their business whether you have no children or ten.

I don't think anyone has said career gaps should not be explained, or that anyone should lie .

Maybe the question is "Should you mention you have children at a job interview if you honestly believe that this might affect the way you could do the job"?

Just imagine you apply for a job that requires you to be present from 9 to 5 for 5 days a week but you know this will pose difficulties with childcare and you have a sick child that needs frequent doctor's appointments.

You have the right not to take the job if those are the conditions because you know they will pose difficulties so would it be not be dishonest and unfair to the employer to not mention your circumstances at the interview?

And, as regards carreer gaps - if the reason is maternity leave then it's not unreasonable for an employer to expect a potential employee to tell the truth.

Lying at an interview cannot be right and presumably would be grounds for dismissal if they later found out.

tribpot, ephiny - sorry been shopping, I'm not actually sure. It may have been worked out as you suggested but my mum was a school secterary and the posts were in the school so most applicants were known if they had children either through the school or church.

Oh yes GetOrf. When DH went back to work after his 6 years as a SAHD he got nothing but admiration from his colleagues and the interviewers. He regularly swans off early to pick up DD whereas little old me, who works on the "in early out early" concept often gets dirty looks from those who didn't manage to drag themselves in before 9:30 as i walk out the door at 5pm sharp.

(Mind you, I earn more than him )

I haven't been in this situation yet. I'm still at the same company I was at pre-children.

I would not mention it in an interview now but like MrIC my DH would have no qualms about mentioning he's a father. Even though he and I do 50% each of the childcare, it wouldn't occur to DH that he could be discriminated against for being a parent.

Ishani,

if you think you weren't given a job because you have children you do have a legal right to ask them to show that all other candidates were asked the same.

I have been asked about my childcare arrangement on numerous occassions. I'd love to turn around and say would you ask that of a man but I suspect that would be the end of my interview.

In my last interview I mentioned, in passing, that I had children. I didn't say that I was a single parent. As I'm a man they probably didn't even consider the possibility.

Bovril - has the employee said she will find this diffficult, or are you assuming it will be? Maybe the child's father can do pick-ups on those days?

I travelled and worked late on and off since DS was a baby, and DP and I shared our parenting equally. I would never assume anything about a male or a female employee, and have made flexible arrangements for both, while expecting all employees to be able to to the job required.

I've been asked once. I was not happy about it and asked if they would ask a male candidate that question. Having already decided not to take the job is offered I enjoyed the squirm that followed.

The last interview I attended it did come up. However, it was in the context of why I wanted a job that was both a step backwards in seniority and, more importantly, in salary. My response, apart from the challenge of learning a completely new system (I work in an IT related area) was that the job was very close to my home. At a pinch I could walk in so the travel costs would offset some of the salary drop and my dughter's school was nearby so I could walk her to school and still be in work on time. To be fair, one of the interview panel had worked for me in the past so the fact that I have children wasn't exactly a secret.

I have been a stay at home mum since having my first child! I would probably have to mention my children if I returned to work as my middle child is profoundly disabled and has lots of appointments!

I'm a self-employed artist/designer, so have never had to face this dilemma.

I have an older sister, and she doesn't mention her DCs in interviews, as she says it isn't relevant as to whether or not she can do the job.

"however, it would make no difference to me whether the applicant is male or female, i would ask the same questions regarding children/childcare"

by law you would be required to. It's illegal to ask only female candidates if they have children.

rainbow - agreed about maternity leave, you wouldn't put that down as a gap. It's where someone's been a SAHP and thus actually between periods of (paid) employment that the gaps are more obvious.

Hell no!
I count my maternity leave time as employed time as, officially I am still employed in that job. Gaps would be a total giveaway. If my last employer had known I'd had DCs they wouldn't have hired me.

Mollymole - why on earth as an employer do you ask? None of your business and possibly discriminatory (i.e. illegal) to ask that question.

Yes - my 'couldn't be arsed working' gaps would have fitted that model perfectly, actually. Would you write on a CV if you were part-time? Is it relevant? I don't put my age on my CV either, although you can have a good stab at it based on my years at uni / year of GCSEs etc.

In fact, the only clue to my gender is my first name, I might start taking that off as well! (When I review application forms, they have been anonymised in any case).

Anyone I know who has admitted that they discriminate in this way has said they do it based on age. I suppose you could tell from the CVs of many women because they will have explained gaps on CVs due to family responsibilities or have suddenly gone part time. But there must be a high likelihood of error.

I was thinking the same thing - surely people don't put their children/ages on their cv ?