So gutted, been invited for an interview but timing is shite.

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I’ve been working somewhere for over 2 years just because the hours are good for school hours etc. Rubbish job and minimum wage. Applied for a role in the nhs at the beginning of last month but just assumed I hadn’t got an interview. I’ve just got a text to say I’ve been invited for one! But also just found out a couple of weeks ago that I’m pregnant. Feel like I can’t leave the stability of my job and maternity pay to go and work somewhere else knowing that I’m pregnant and would have to leave in a few months and it’d obviously be unfair to them. It would have been such a great opportunity. So disappointed. Dh says I should just go for the interview but I don’t think I should.

I’d still go

I did it.

Don't hold yourself back.

It is embarrassing but probably best for the future.

If the interview is in a different organisation, you may not be eligible for any enhanced maternity pay so I would check the details very carefully before you go for interview as it may not be worth your while financially.

@ChicCroissant that’s one thing I’m worried about. I know if I stay where I am I’ll get hassle free standard maternity pay. But no idea how it’ll work if I start somewhere now

I've done this twice - had interviews when I was in the early stages of pregnancy. The first time I got the job and didn't take it because I just felt there would be too much upheaval and risk involved in taking on a new job at that point. The second time I didn't get the job and ultimately I am glad I didn't (that baby is now three months old).

I would do the interview because you've got nothing to lose, but look into what would be involved in terms of the job itself, maternity entitlement and options for the future (flexible working etc).

Ultimately I stayed in my original job because it was really flexible and the money was ok. I'm glad I did but I'm also glad I gave the other jobs due consideration.

Don’t think just about the short term but where you want to go with your career. Are you planning to return after maternity leave? Which job would offer the best pay/opportunities/work-life balance in the medium to long term?

And don’t think about being ‘unfair’ to them. As long as you’re straightforward and honest, think more about yourself and what value you bring.

I found this online. A couple of years old but it looks exactly like the maternity leave I took in 2009 when working in the NHS in an Admin and Clerical role.

Sometimes it can take a while to get a start date in the NHS especially if you need to have a DBS come through. Just a heads up if you're counting weeks for eligibility.

Let’s say you got offered the role, how far gone would you be when you started? Assume it’d take a month or two for references etc. Google and check nhs maternity policy, I can’t remember how long you have to be in role before you get more than stat mat pay.
No harm going for the interview.

@PurpleCrazyHorse thank you that’s very helpful. @SRK16 I don’t think I would meet the criteria for maternity pay it looks like it’d be maternity allowance. Which I’m not too fussed about as my maternity pay last time was pants anyway. I think I’m 5 weeks now so would probably be 10-12 weeks. I think I’ll just go for the interview. I may not even be offered the job but atleast I can say I went for it.

Do the interview- if you get it you can decide what to do. If you don’t it’s valuable interview practice next time a role comes up in the future.

I’m not in the NHS but similar sector and I do shed loads of recruitment. It would be a minor inconvenience to me to recruit someone that goes on mat leave quickly. I really wouldn’t lose any sleep over it, I’d just crack on recruiting mat cover.