To go to a job interview 28 weeks pregnant

[Pelly8]

A very good opportunity came up when was 16 weeks pregnant and I had to apply. Fast forward three months and the employer wants to interview me. I don’t know why it’s taken them so long to interview me but we are where we are.

I’m still going to the interview but there’s no hiding my bump! Any tips on what to say? I’m not sure they can ask me why I’m interviewing when pregnant but you you never know! Should I just be honest? Will they think I’m wasting their time and just get annoyed with me.

I want/need to go back to work after mat leave and this job is ideal - great benefits and v flexible!

If you intended to take a shorter maternity leave then I’d volunteer that. If not, you’ll just have to take your chances.

How long to you plan to take for maternity leave ?

So you'll be 28 weeks pregnant at interview. If you got the job it could take up to a month before you start, so 32 weeks, therefore could only do a max of 8 weeks before having the baby. Would you really expect them to invest in training you just for you to go on mat leave for maybe 6 months?

You're wasting their time in all honesty.

I don’t think I’d honestly bother, you’ve got 12 weeks left and then you’ll be on mat leave. It’s taken them 12 weeks to get to interview so they obviously don’t move quickly. You could have had the baby before you even start.

I’d explain to the recruiter so at least the door Is open when something else comes up within the organisations

I had a collegue who attended interview 3 weeks post partum. Her start date was deferred to give her about 4-5 months of maternity leave. She was a good enough candidate to be worth a bit of patience.

The worst that can happen is they choose not to employ you. It's still worth a try! Good luck x

@TestingTestingWonTooFree and @0rlaith if I was staying at my current place the full 12 months (I hate it there) but if I get this job I was thinking 9 months 😬

Sorry but unless you are bringing something that absolutely one else can bring to the role, you haven't got a chance.

I went for a job when I was heavily pregnant, albeit in the same company, not expecting to get it but use it as experience. Reader, I got the job! They never mentioned it in the interview, I had two weeks with them before I went on a year maternity leave. If they want you they will wait for you. If they don't then it's experience at interview. Good luck.

As much as I hate to say, you will not be given this job. You may have the baby and decide not to return. A lot can happen when a baby comes along.
I wouldn't bother. Sorry OP

I also wouldn't bother unless you have a skill that no one else is likely to be able to offer.

What have you got to lose?! Just go for it!! Ignore the people saying don't bother. I went for a job and got it on 16th Feb. Had my baby 20th April. Massively pregnant and still got the job because I was worth waiting for. I actually performed better in the interview because I was calm because I had nothing to lose!

@TestingTestingWonTooFree and @0rlaith if I was staying at my current place the full 12 months (I hate it there) but if I get this job I was thinking 9 months 😬

So you want to start in a year? (Genuine question)
That would mean the role is vacant for that time - is that realistic/possible in your industry?

Of course you should go. It's depressing that people think you shouldn't or wouldn't have a chance. If I interviewed you and you were perfect for the job I would look to fill the role temporarily until you could start. If the people interviewing didn't share this approach I wouldn't want to work for the company.

If they've offered you an interview after 3 months, they might not be desperate to fill a role. Possibly something new they are adding or expanding a team.
So if you could do a few months immediately then come back part time after 6m they may go for it. Chances are low but not 0.
Even 9 months would make it a lot more unlikely tho.

Buttonhead you'd have to be pretty special in a very niche field for an employer to hang around waiting for an indeterminate amount of time whilst you're on mat leave. In the real world, very few people fit that description. The cost of recruiting is high! Most people can't be so choosy when picking an employer purely based on their employment practices. Most people are just pleased to have a job!

I would go, chances are you won’t get it, but if you don’t try you’ll be forever thinking what if. And as PP said, it’s all practice.
I would ignore it unless they mention, and if they do make it clear you want to take mat leave but then are keen to get back to work, maybe even mention childcare etc to show you’ve covered all your bases.
Good luck!

I know four people who have been promoted or gotten new jobs while heavily pregnant...the most recent is a friend who interviewed at 8.5 months! It does happen...not often enough though. Wishing you luck in making those stats better!

If you're moving to a new company, would you even be entitled to maternity pay?

You should go - it's so difficult to even get a foot in the door so do not pass it up now.

It may suit them to delay your start date. And there's always a possibility that they will remember you for the next vacancy if you make a good impression, or ask you to cover for someone else's maternity leave.

But given your circumstances, you need to be clear what you are offering to the employer - if you got an offer, when would you actually be willing to start, and how would you manage the job with a very young baby in tow. Do you have realistic babysitting and feeding arrangements in mind already. Could you do some work from home.
Actually you need to answer those questions for yourself before the interview, to know how much you really want this job.

Good luck.

Hi OP

Do you have a notice period? Are you aware of any restrictions in your contract concerning paying back any maternity leave if you don’t come back (for payment well above SMP for example)? If you qualify now for any enhsnced maternity pay, are you willing to forgo it to take up the new job (if offered)? Just done things to consider.

When I first started reading the thread, I was thinking that you’d be wasting their time. However, as many people have 3 or 6 months notice (my husband has a year), that given the length of time it took to organise your interview, this may be the case in your industry of long notice period. So I have changed my opinion. Do go for the interview and good luck!

You won’t be entitled to stat maternity pay in the new company, you have to had started before your last period to qualify. Not to say they wouldn’t pay you enhanced pay fo they offer it. And you’d be entitled to maternity allowance if you’ve worked for the last year and a bit elsewhere.

Go for it! It's not a waste of time. If they waited this long to interview you then they've been managing with a vacant role so hopefully will have no problem with mat leave.

If it's a specialist job, most companies would rather hire the right candidate rather than just fill it.

My last 2 jobs were open vacancies for 10 months and 13 months before I arrived because they'd rather have the right candidate.

Good luck!!

Hello all

Thank you for your replies, it’s given me a lot to think about.

I think if it were a small company/business I wouldn’t waste their/my time because I know finances can be tight but this is quite a big organisation with a lot of resources so it’s worth a go at least.

It is quite a niche, specialist job and it’s something I know I have the right skills for so I think I have a chance at least. I understand the delay in the recruitment process has been due to someone going off sick so perhaps they aren’t in a rush. I also get the impression they are looking to hire a few people.

Like some of you have said, if I don’t get it, it will be experience at least!