Job interview

[Icanonlytry]

I applied for a new job a few weeks ago and just assumed that because I hadn't heard anything from them I hadn't been short-listed.
Then I got a voice message this afternoon to say I had been short-listed and they wanted to see me for an interview.
Problem is I have just found out I am pregnant (due in May) and don't know if it would be wrong for me to go for the interview and take the job if it was offered to me or if I should ring them back and explain my situation and not go for the interview.

I have been waiting months for a job like this to come up and would be really disappointed to miss out.
What would you do in my position?

Don't tell them. Legally, they can't take your pregnancy into consideration when deciding whether to hire you or not but in reality they would. It may be morally 'iffy' but if you really want the job, go for it!

I think you should definitely go for the interview and then make the decision when/if they offer you the job.

If you feel you want to tell them before accepting the job offer at least they've already decided that they want you by then!

There's no way it's even morally iffy if you're at the stage of not being "public" about the pregnancy anyway. If you're not telling people, then you're not telling them, full stop.

Think Lucieloo had good advice too.

Yeah I agree - no matter what people say 'legally' they cant discriminate because your pregnant - but they are human at the end of the day and why pick you and have to replace you after 8 months for Mat Leave when they could take the easy option of someone who isn't pregnant and just saying they were better suited for the role.

Just don't tell them - tell them if you get the job at the point when you legally have too.

Just be careful in the sense that with most companies you will have to be with them for a certain period of time before you will be entitled to the company maternity pay and could end up on just SMP throughout mat leave.

I was recently in this exact same position. Although i only found out i was pregnant after my interview. I called the company and pulled myself out of the running. I will be getting full mat pay with my current employers.

What made it more difficult though was I would have been working with my friend who had just found out that she was PG. Would have been that we would have been due within 3 weeks of each other. I couldn't take a job knowing that both of us would have been going off at the same time.

Don't quote me on this, but i think companies only have to offer you an enhanced mat package if you have been with the company for 26 weeks the 15th week before your DC is due.

Only you can decide whats best for you. I personally don't paln to go back to work full time after the baby's born so my currently employer can offer the flexibility I'll be looking for.

Good Luck :)

Each company has its own regulations on their maternity leave so you'd have to investigate iwth the school (assuming it's a school) or whoever.

For example, my employer gives employees the full "extended" mat package no matter how long they have been employed there ie even brand new staff get it.

In first 12 weeks especially, I act as though I didn't know about the pregnancy. So unless you find there's a difference with benefits or your rights to other benefits if you're out of work, then do what you would have done if you didn't know about the pregnancy.

I've been there with this one (and am currently in the middle of a sex discrimination case as a result.

I found out I was pregnant after I'd been invited for interview but before I went. The job was one I really wanted; I was only six weeks at the time and took the view that if there was a problem with the pregnancy and I lost the baby, I'd also have lost the opportunity for my dream job if I didn't at least try.

After thinking hard and taking advice from a lot of people, I went to the interivew. I didn't tell them at the interview for the reasons Chelle and CanI said; I was successful and they offered me the job, at which point I told them I was pregnant. They withdrew the job offer.

So...my advice would be to go for the interview and accept the job if they offer it to you (and the finances work out; I don't think you'd be entitled to SMP, but if you're currently working you should get Maternity Allowance)...but don't tell them you're pregnant until you have a confirmed job offer in writing, just in case (and make sure that they've agreed your references are ok before you tell them too - that's what they're arguing is the reason they withdrew their offer to me...complete nonsense).

Good luck xx

I was in your situation.
I went all the way through the process and told them right at the end of the final interview. I wanted them to make a decision on 'me' - rather than disregard me (even sub consciously)before they got to know what I could do.
But I didn't think it was fair to trick them into offering me the job without knowing everything that is going to effect my ability to do it for the first year. (And I wouldn't want to work in a position that didn't suit my whole life, iykwim. I know it doesn't necessarily make any difference to my work, but I don't like to have to separate my work and personal lives. Its all the same life to me!!!)

I was in the same position only a month ago. It was with the same company that I'm with so I didn't have to worry about continuity of service re mat leave. But I had the first interview on a Tuesday, found out I was 5 weeks pregnant on Wednesday and had the second interview on Thursday at which point they offered me the job. I didn't tell them there and then, but went home to worry about it.

My current boss is a VERY nice guy and so I approached him for advice. His advice was to wait a couple of weeks before telling them (by all accounts I was so early in the pregnancy I might not even know yet...), let them 'fall in love' with the idea of me, then tell them. As others have mentioned, I wasn't legally obliged to say anything, but I personally didn't want to deceive them. Especially as the job will require a lot of training and investment in me before they'll start to see dividends.

Anyway, when I told them they literally leaped across the table to congratulate me and started to re-plan my training to suit my 'situation'. I couldn't believe it! I start the role in October and am due in March.

I know that I'm lucky in this situation, but just goes to show that you never know...

Hi

I was also in a similar situation 7 months ago. Found out I was 5 wks pregnant and got shortlisted for an interview, perfect job for me but I was also worried they might not take me because I'm pregnant. I also suffered severe nausea and headaches and I wasn't sure if I'd be myself/manage to pull myself together for the interview.
So I got my husband to call them 4 days before the interview and told them that I'm pregnant and due to my early preg symptons I'll be withdrawing my application...I was gutted but I couldn't even get out from the flat...

Then 5 mins later they called me on my mobile and said that they're okay with me being pregnant and asked would I want to attend interview later on the day (my interview time was 9am)if its better for me.

I was taken back and I said yes I'll attend.

Managed to go through the interview process and they called me next day to offer me a job!

So I'd say its really depends on the company and how you feel.
If I wasn't suffering from morning sickness I would've of attended the interview and if they offered me a job I would tell them.

Good Luck!

We had a lady join our team last your who was 5 months pregnant at the time. She didn't disclose at the interview and the only reason my boss was miffed was that she never said anything when asked if she had any planned leave coming up. She was the best interviewee and even if they had known about the pregnancy, she still would have got the job as the interview was scored. (NHS and my boss goes very fluffy for pregnant people!)

The guy she would have been working most closely with was fuming however! In his eyes, she shouldn't have been hired as she wouldn't be much use to him until she returned from Mat leave. Luckily, it wasn't his decision to make and any time he mentions it, he gets told off by all the women in the team!

Go to the interview and say nothing and make the decision about whether to tell them if they offer you the job. I think that if you get offered the job and intend to take it then you should be up front and tell them when you accept the offer. They can't discriminate against you due to your pregnancy.