Job interview tomorrow: do I tell?

[Catz]

I'd really appreciate some advice...

I've got a job interview tomorrow for a great job (the kind of job I've been working up to for 10 yrs and one I could happily be in till I retire...). I'm coming up to 21 wks with my first. I've sorted out what I'm going to wear and I reckon it looks a bit suspect if you know me but if you didn't you'd not notice. I was planning on not mentioning at all (I know you don't have to legally).

However... the job is to start in October when I'll hopefully have a 10-12 wk old baby. Obviously I want to be on maternity leave then and the job specification states that they'd pay me maternity pay if I'm currently entitled to it with my current employer. All sounds good but they're likely to ask if I can start in October... my current boss reckons I'd (morally) have to tell them that I could but I'd be on maternity. However I'm paranoid that'd put them off employing me (not that they'd give that as a reason but that it'd put a dampner on my application). There's really fierce competition for this job so they're not likely to be short on great candidates who can start straight away...

should I tell them if they ask??

i don't think i could not say, but it is your choice.

can't you say that you can't start in October, and maybe negotiate a later start date if you do well?

If you got the job....when would you plan to tell them. They would know that you were pregnant at the interview as most can add up. They may be planniing training or change over of staff for when you join, so you should consider them in that respect.

I would declare it only when the job is offered and request a start date in January, so you will have had your 6 months maternity pay from your previous employer. I think legally you owe your current employer notice of intention to take maternity leave [in my workplace it's 23 weeks' notice], and they would declare that you have requested it in your references (if that makes sense).

Thanks for the replies. I'd planned to tell them if I got the phone call offering me the job. Knowing how things work in my sector they'd probably call the person that evening/the following morning to tell them. I know that they'll need someone to do the job from October so if I do get it they'll have to get someone in as maternity cover/cover until I start the job (so requesting a later start date would also give them a headache - current person leaving in October).

I'm torn between telling them and risking it damaging my chances and not telling them and risking everyone being p*ed off with me when I eventually start 'cos they feel I wasn't upfront.

I don't know why I'm worrying about this... should be worried about swotting up for the interview instead! [self-doubt emoticon]

Technically they cannot withdraw the offer if you declare a pregnancy - it is up to the employer to consider your request for maternity leave as part of your accepting the post. Of course if they absolutely need someone in October, and cannot recruit a temporary replacement, they might reconsider the offer - it depends on the nature of your job. I'll admit I'm doing something risky too (accepted a job at 5 weeks PG, still haven't told them, starting in September). I'm going to take legal advice next week, to find out exactly how to play it when I do declare it. It might be worth asking for a few days' grace if you're offered the job, allowing you to take legal advice.

I can see this from your viewpoint, but if I was the employer and I offered a job to someone who then told me they were 5 months' pregnant, I would be a little narked! It doesn't give a very good impression of your honesty! Depending on the field you are in, this may or may not matter... I can understand that this is your dream job and there is a worry that it will put them off.

Personally I think it is better to be honest up front and then if they really want you, they can work around your start date etc and everyone knows where they stand. But it is a risky strategy... If they ask you directly (which I think is unlikely as such questions are very dodgy in interviews!) I don't think you can lie as you can't pretend you didn't know later on...

Thanks again for the messages (and good luck Mrs Mar and Toadstall). I've thought about it some more and I think I won't tell them unless put in a position where I'd otherwise have to lie. After all, it is illegal for them to take it into account so all I've done is not informed them of an irrelevant consideration. They might be irritated but if they are irritated then it's an indication that they would have (illegally) considered it if they had had the chance so means I was right not to tell them!

The bit that they really need doing would take about 4-5 hrs a week so I might pop in and do that for them on a Sat anyway....

It really is the kind of job that people stay in for 30-40 yrs (hardly anyone ever resigns) so a few months shouldn't be a problem....

Good luck Catz - very intrigued as to what the job is!

How did you get on, Catz?

I'm probably a bit late here, as the interview has already taken place, but you do not have to declare that you are pregnant, nor should you feel you were being dishonest for not telling them prior to interview. If they offer you the job, and then you tell them, they would need to have a very good operational reason to then change their mind!

Officially, where I work, you have to declare you are pregnant before you get to 25 weeks.

I applied for 2 jobs recently whilst pregnant. The first I miscarried the week before interview, and the second I was about 10 weeks pregnant. I wasn't offered either, so it wasn't an issue in the end.

I then decided it wasn't a good time to change jobs (and that my bump might give me away!), so will wait until I return from maternity leave (which I also feel bad about since I will have been paid 6 months full pay + a further 3 months on SMP) to only return for a short spell... But the rules state I only need to return for a month (any less and I may have to pay back my maternity pay) so I am entitled to do that if I want.

Hi Catz, just wondering how you got on? I've found out that my employer was prepared to postpone the job I was interviewed for (actually it's a traineeship, just for me, so no cover required) which is a perfect solution, so I'm hoping you have been just as lucky!