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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to consider applying for a new job one week before my due date?

38 replies

lizzie1180 · 17/03/2011 14:35

I am currently on maternity leave waiting for the imminent arrival of my first baby. I was bored and checking job websites. I have discovered my 'almost' dream job and am seriously considering putting in an application.I wouldn't want to start until the baby was 6 months old as I want time to enjoy being at home with my newborn.My DH thinks I am mad for even considering it, he thinks I will totally change my mind once the baby is born.

OP posts:

belgo · 17/03/2011 17:14

There's nothing sneaky about it if she explains the situation in an interview.

Do some of you think pregnant women shouldn't apply for jobs? What if they've just had a positive test and get a job knowing they will want maternity leave?

If a woman applies for a job planning to take it after maternity leave, her new employers won't have to pay maternity leave, this can be to the benefit of the employers.

LoveBeingKnockedUp · 17/03/2011 18:19

And if her child were 1 year old or 5 years old would you insist she told the interviewer about them? No, it's no different.

SauvignonBlanche · 17/03/2011 18:21

YANBU

onadietcokebreak · 17/03/2011 18:23

Go for it.

A friend had a job kept open for her for a whole year that she applied for. Was a inter council job in a skills shortage area.

Portofino · 17/03/2011 18:25

I so no reason why you shouldn't apply as long as you are serious about it, and maybe prepared to be a bit flexible. You might be their dream candidate! The worst that can happen is they don't give you the job.

stubbornhubby · 17/03/2011 22:21

i don't think the issue is being pg, or having children, the issue is applying for a job now, when she is not available to go to work for six months. It wouldn't be unreasonable for that to be quite a big deal for the company.

OP said she might be 'sneaky' about that. Her word, not mine. my advice is to be open about it; that's all.

Quenelle · 18/03/2011 10:56

stubbornhubby But they would ask about her availability at the interview. Or are you saying that she should mention in her application that she's pregnant?

Ciske · 18/03/2011 11:05

Go for it. Explain you are pregnant but got excited at seeing the post and you want to apply anyway. Evidence from posts above suggests it's not a hopeless endeavour. Worst case scenario is that you won't get the job, but at least you will not have to live with the regrets of never having applied for it.

Or give the company a call first and enquire after starting dates, that will give a good idea whether lengthy ML will be an issue or not.

It's a practical problem, not a moral one.

stubbornhubby · 18/03/2011 11:53

quenelle the OP said she was thinking about being 'sneaky' her word. She didn't say exactly what she meant by it... but whatever it was... I'm just saying don't be sneaky.

Yes, of course she should mention it.

If I was hiring for a job where I desperately need someone ASAP I would be rather if I shortlist someone, and get them all the way in for interview, and they arrive and say can't start till September. I'd think my time was being wasted.

I am just saying in a relationship between employer and employee 'sneaky' is rarely a good idea.

HappyMummyOfOne · 18/03/2011 11:56

Why not call them and explain the situation. That way if they need an immediate start they wont have to waste time interviewing you only to find out you dont actually want to work for at least six months. Its doubtful they would wait six months even if they had a start date of a month or two in mind though.

KidderminsterKate · 18/03/2011 12:05

I'm gob smacked at the responses here! Unbeleivable on a parenting website!

OP - def put an application in....sometimes there is a place on the form asking when you could start the post so as long as you fill that in ok then it should be fine. It could be close to 6 mths anyhow but the time they've shortlisted, interviewed (possibly 2 stages or more) and then you have notice (I have 3 months notice anyhow) then it'll be close to the 6 mths anyhow. If you feel you dont want to puruse after baby is born then you can decline an interview.

i would personally wait until after you have been offered the job to say when you want to start - unles they ask you specifically at interview.

Go for it!

JitterBug2 · 18/03/2011 12:06

There's no harm in applying for the job. Obviously you'll have to explain your situation if you get invited for an interview - that you won't be able to start for 6 months but plenty of people have long notice periods in their contracts. In my industry, 6 or 12 months gardening leave is not unusual.

In any case, a lot of companies are taking forever to make job offers at the moment. I have a friend who was verbally offered a job in Dec but has only just had the offer in writing and another who is still in discussions with a company which originally started in Nov.

I expect that will depend on the industry and level of role it is ie the more senior you are, the longer they will be willing to wait for the right candidate.

Best of luck!

mmsmum · 18/03/2011 12:08

The first thing I was going to ask was are you bored? But you already answered that lol

Unless you are confident that you make an amazing candidate, for example have a superb reputation or at the top of your game, then I wouldn't do it. The risk is too big for an employer to take as you may well change your mind in 6 months.

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