To go to an interview knowing I am pregnant

[SpunBodgeSquarepants]

Applied for a job on Monday, discovered I was pregnant on Wednesday. Today I was offered an interview. What do I do? Go to the interview and tell them straightaway? Wait till they offer me a job then tell them?! Help!! This job is so perfect for me, I can't believe how bad the timing is.

They are by law not allowed to take it into account, so do not tell them or you will put them in an awkward position!

Don't tell them

Go to the interview. Take the job if offered. If you’re the right candidate then you’re the right candidate and long term your maternity leave will be a blip in what could be a long successful career. Don’t put your life on hold for a pregnancy. Not to mention, you literally just found out - if it came to it you could tell a little white lie and pretend that you didn’t know when you got the offer. But hopefully it’s a grown up company and you won’t need to resort to that.

Why would you tell them? Many women don't know they're pregnant straight away and many pregnancies are sadly miscarried early on. The only thing is you may not be eligible for extended maternity pay but don't let that put you off. Good luck for the interview!

As an employer hiring someone who has a baby and some time off is a lot less convenient than the young guy who comes in hungover all the time, or the older employee who’s a carer for elderly parents, or the employee with mental health issues, or the employee who is a functioning alcoholic. Basically EVERYONE has their stuff. And HR departments know it.

No don’t tell them. If you do take the job, you may not qualify for their maternity pay. My old company didn’t give you enhanced mat pay unless you’d been there for longer than a full term pregnancy.

Less inconvenient!

You only found out the other day, don't tell them anything until you've had your 12 week scan.

I wouldn't be forthcoming with the information that you're pregnant. Just go along with the process and see where you land. That said, I'm sure someone will be along shortly to lambast you for the role you're playing in setting women back in the workplace.

If you’re early pregnant I’d keep quiet. Good luck at the interview!

I had this exact same scenario and agonised over it. I went to the interview thinking I might not get the job and was then offered it. I didn't know whether to accept, I eventually decided to but I suffered a miscarriage before I started there so it worked out okay from that point of view. I had only just found out I was pregnant so it was a very early miscarriage but not nice all the same. I completely understand your dilemma as I was trying to work out what to say to my new employer about being pregnant once I had started.

I thought 'keep quiet' would be the advice I'd get. I just feel incredibly guilty about it.

Dont feel guilty! If you get the job it is because they think you were the best candidate. Having some maternity leave in 8 months time is not the end of the world.

The thing is, I'm a single parent. I don't think I'll be able to return after maternity leave, I won't be able to afford the cost of childcare for a baby under a year old and after school club for my DS who will be 6 by that point.

Ok I'm going to go to the interview tomorrow and obviously not mention it. Part of me is hoping that they won't offer me the job, but then if I miscarry.... Oh I don't know.

Go for it and don't feel guilty. If you get the job just try to be the best employee you can while you are there. You may eventually choose to come back part time. Who knows. Or it could be something good for your cv for the future.

Are you currently working. You may be better off staying where you are for benefits.

No, not currently working. Only just started jobhunting as DS is 4 and started primary last month. This job is perfect as it's 5 min drive from his school and also within school hours!

You won't qualify for statutory maternity pay if you start a job pregnant. You should be able to get maternity allowance.

Go to the interview and see how it goes.

The thing is, I'm a single parent. I don't think I'll be able to return after maternity leave, I won't be able to afford the cost of childcare for a baby under a year old and after school club for my DS who will be 6 by that point.

This throws a spanner somewhat into the works. Does the job have scope for future growth, promotion, increased earning potential? Because if so it would be worth working for a 'net loss' for a few years whilst you get experience and show your talent whilst your dc become school/nursery age. If it the job doesn't offer any of that then you'll need to reconsider your options wrt how you could make the best possible life for you and your children. Does the job offer any sort of flexibility? How are you managing at the moment?

I wouldn’t. Really poor form.

spongebodgesquarepants#
Where is the father? Why isn‘t he stepping up?

Hmm now you have posted that updated I am not sure I personally would interview for a job I would only be in for 7 months. What would be your reasons for such a short term move? Barely enough time to get into the job and learn the ropes. It is hard for employers also, I work in a clinical environment, public sector and we have people interview knowing their pregnant but not saying then by the time they start they are unable to perform clinical duties so we have to pay for their salary plus additional cover for them. It is really tough but saying that if we knew someone was pregnant we would still employ them in the hope they would come back after maternity leave.

I can understand why you would feel guilty but at the end of the day you need to do what is right for you.

@applewine What do you mean, 'stepping up'? How can he help with this decision at all??

As it is, I've decided to turn the job offer down if it should come. I can't have them training me and basically wasting their time when I'll be leaving in 7/8 months. I can't take the guilt. I'm hoping I just won't get the offer.

You should go for it, realistically anyone could take the job and leave in 8 months for a plethora of reasons; but it will be fab for you! Great for the CV for when you do go back to work in the future, and if you complete 6 months there you will be eligible for Maternity Allowance. Also good for them as if successful at interview you will be an asset to them for the time you are there Plenty of women decide not to go back after maternity leave, and to be honest unless the training is thoroughly extensive it will give someone else a chance.