To not mention pregnancy during interview process?

[1Wanda1]

I am interviewing for a job I am really interested in, in quite a niche area where jobs don’t often come up. I’ve gone through 2 rounds and have been asked to the final round, with the big boss who is coming over from the States to interview the shortlist candidates.

Under normal circumstances, if I were to be offered this job, I would take it. However, I am 12 weeks pregnant. My dilemma is whether I should tell them this now, before the final round interview, or wait to see whether I am offered the job or not before saying anything. On the one hand, with my own experience of recruitment, it would be annoying for the employer if they had identified me as the favourite, offered me the job, and then I said great but I am pregnant. On the other hand, with my selfish hat on, I really want this job and if I tell them now, they might not offer me the job because of that. I know that would be discrimination etc etc but it is very easy simply to select another candidate and no one can prove the reason.

The first 2 rounds of interviews were very spread out, so when I first heard about the job, I didn’t know I was pregnant, and at the first interview I was only just pregnant. Second interview was then a few weeks later. From the interview process, I know that this team is going to expand over the next 12 months and I suppose what I have in mind is that it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that if they liked me, they might keep me in mind for a role after my maternity leave (and offer the job now to someone else). But I would need to meet the big boss to get that buy-in. And I might not get to meet him if I announce my pregnancy now. On the other hand, I might lose goodwill if I get to the end of the recruitment process and only tell them then. WWYD?

I would wait until you have the offer. Ask if you can have 24 hours to consider then email something like....

"Thank you for accepting my application, I am very excited about the role. With regards my start date, I do have a 3 month notice period with my current employer, which would mean my earliest start date would be X. I am due to go onto maternity leave on Y, and intend to take 6 months. Please let me know whether you would prefer me to start prior to my Maternity leave starting or whether you would rather hold off until "insert return after mat leave date".

You know you wont get mat pay if you start with them now though?

going against the grain here but if I were an employer with an open vacancy I'd be livid if I offered a job and someone then could only work for a few weeks before taking 6-9 months off. It's just wasting their time and they have to go through a full recruitment drive again just to get your cover. Even though you would be unlikely of get maternity pay as in probation so no cost as such I through its it's cheeky af. Wait for the next job

If you tell them you won’t get the job

^

This. Take it from me. I've been there. Don't be that woman.

I wouldn't say anything until you get offered the job, then I think probably on balance I'd tell them before accepting. I'd offer to have a "grown up" discussion about whether they want me now, and I'd be taking x months of leave, or whether they want to pass. I personally wouldn't ask them to keep the role open for you until second half 2019.. so much could change between now and then, would they honour the agreement with the same job? You might not even still want the job- who knows what could happen to their business between now and then which could make it less attractive. I'd say (in less ball-breaker terms) they either need to take you now and foot the cost of mat leave, or run the risk of losing you forever. But I'd give them this choice rather than accept the job without saying a word about he pregnancy and then turn up with a massive baby bump in a few months time. They will feel a bit deceived if you do that, and regardless of the fact that you'd be within yours rights legally, they are human beings, and if you piss them off they might hold it against you and who would want that sort of relationship with a brand new employer.

if I were an employer with an open vacancy I'd be livid if I offered a job and someone then could only work for a few weeks before taking 6-9 months off

^^

Yes, but we care about our pregnant op don't we? Not the big boss.

Look after yourself op, no-one else will.

It's just wasting their time and they have to go through a full recruitment drive again just to get your cover

Or you offer a temporary maternity cover role to one of the next best candidates applying for the same role, then the top candidate starts later. The op could end up working there until retirement. 6 months is nothing.

Also v good point from @NapQueen

You know you wont get mat pay if you start with them now though?

I know I won't get mat pay if I start with them in the next few months. That is a problem. I think the only way this could really work for me is if they do want to recruit again in the next 12 months and would offer me that job instead of needing me to start now.