Applying for jobs when pregnant

[Lazylou]

Following on from my 'advice' thread, I have decided to apply for an alternative nursery job. Only issue is my pregnancy and the likelihood of anyone actually offering me a position.

The position I have applied for is that of a Nursery Nurse. What do you reckon the chances are of me actually getting it? I am more than qualified/expereinced for the position and I feel the only stumbling block will be my pregnancy as the baby is due at the end of May, meaning I will only be at work for something like 3 and a bit months before I have to leave for maternity leave.

Assuming I was good enough the be offered the job, would you employ me?

That was meant to say: Assuming I was good enough to be offered the job...

I have employed pregnant staff before - knowing they would be with me for a few months and then would come back. Loyalty in these cases is important. If you are in a sought after industry and well qualified people apply who are pregnant, I think you should give them the benefit of the doubt. (I didn't work in nurseries though).

Is there a chance of discussing with them the possibility of taking you on a temporary contract and then re-employing you later on (as an alternative?) I don't think you'd get maternity paid leave anyway would you?

Maternity pay is not happening now, which tbh, I'm not overly worried about. I think your suggestion about temporary contract is a good idea actually and if I manage to secure an interview, I might mention it and see what they say. Nursery work is badly paid, long hours, high responsibility and these places cry out for qualified staff, but my concern is obviously being knocked back again. Money is too tight to keep being rejected and I need to be bringing something in before the baby is due. Added to that, DH is struggling to keep us all and it's getting a bit much.

Thanks for your advice, I will definately look into that possibility if I am successful in getting an interview

Just be positive - you know you can do the job. Be the bright sunny person they are desperate to and be flexible. If you say 'look I know you might be unsure because I'm pregnant - how about.....' and offer alternatives. Say you really want to work with them and that you can make a real contribution both before and after baby and hopefully that will do the trick. Good luck.

Thanks WMMC. I am trying not to get too excited but I am also trying to stay positive. My friend just reminded me that nurseries need graduates in them by 2010 (which I will be) so I can tempt them with that and it shows I know about up and coming developments. Will have to wait and see but she has advised me that my degree will definately be a selling point, if done correctly.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question, I'm feeling a bit more positive about the whole thing now!

There is no need to mention the pregnancy ahead of an interview i reckon. You will clearly discuss it there but it might prejudice chances of interview if you mention it at application stage,.....

Yes, this happened to me just recently actually. A friend of mine applied for a managerial job at a nursery round the corner from me, but this was months ago. She didn't hear anything else from the nursery so applied elsewhere and got another managerial job, although she put my name forward for the first one. The owner phoned me last Saturday night (which to me sounded as though they were a bit desperate). I thought I would be honest and tell her about the baby etc and she seemed all happy on the phone, said we would arrange an interview and she would call me on Monday.

Monday came and went, so out of desperation, I phoned her on Tuesday and she said that the job was not for qualified staff but for a 17/19 year old trainee for minimum wage. I said that would be fine. I would work for minimum wage, being qualified saved her the trouble of training someone up and she said she didn't think I would be suitable. Made me laugh how I could be considered unsuitable for a trainee position when I have been qualified for almost 3 years.

I strongly feel it was because of my pregnancy that she changed the goalposts and to be honest I was pretty mad. The nursery isn't even that nice, it was just handy because it was local and a possible senior role. Plus there was the thing of just earning money which we desperately need atm.

So, in this instance I have decided to remain silent about the pg and will obviously talk about it at interview if I am fortunate enough to get one. I just odn't want to scupper my chances before the owners have had a chance to meet me and consider my application properly.

Hello!

I'm in a bit of a tricky situation and could really do with your expert advice!

Basically, since I told work that I was pregnant, they have been quite funny with me (I don't want to go into too many details obviously) and I know have taken the decision to leave. I've been signed off by my GP for pregnancy related illness recently, but am now fit enough to return to work. Trouble is, I don't think I could go back to where I was.

I applied for another job closer to home last week and received a phone call from the proprietor on the Saturday night. I explained my circumstances to her and she said she would ring me on Monday (just gone) to arrange an interview. She didn't phone back on the Monday, so on the Tuesday, I called her at the nursery and asked her what was happening. She then said that she hadn't meant to mislead me but the job was actually for a 17-18 year old trainee on minimum wage. I was gutted! This job is in a perfect location for me in terms of distance from home, I'll be able to do the school run in my lunch break etc. Plus its in the area so I can continue receiving funding for my course.

Anyway, I opened the classified section of the local paper today and found an ad in there for the following positions:
Manager, Deputy Manager, Qualified and unqualified staff.

I am really angry about this and feel that my application was dismissed without a chance because of my pregnancy. I don't see how being pregnant will affect my ability to carry out the role of a Nursery Nurse. I headed straight to the nursery to speak to the manager about it but fortunately, the proprietor wasn't there which, in hindsight was a good thing, as I was really annoyed.

Is there anything I can do about this? I'm sure there has to be someone I can speak to about it but not quite sure what to do or where to go. Any suggestions?

.

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Anyone around with any advice today?

Hi, post this under 'employment' Flowery is excellent and she will hopefully be able to help you.....x

Hello!

Lazylou you could bring a claim for sex discrimination in the Employment Tribunal - you can do this even though you are not employed by the company. It's difficult to say how beneficial the outcome of a successful claim would be to you, in terms of what your actual loss has been, iyswim, but that would really be something you would need to talk to a solicitor about.

My first suggestion would be to contact your local CAB and talk them through it, they may be able to recommend a solicitor if you would like to go that route.

HTH

Have a read of this, might be helpful, doesn't say about pregnancy specifically though.

This is quite helpful, about the process should you decide to make a claim.

Thanks again Flowery! That is two issues you have started me on the way to resolving so thank you so much!

Lol Flowery....I sometimes think that myself! To be honest I recommend you to others and then think "shit" Flowery will go mental!! As if you're not busy enough!!

However, I would like 20% as without me recommendations, you would be less stressedbored!

20% it is then