Would you mention that you had children at a job interview?

[GetOrf]

This subject came up in another thread.

I have never said that I had children in an interview - I had a 4 month maternity gap which I just left as that - a gap - when I applied for a job after having dd.

When I had been at that job a few months I applied to go on the company's training scheme - I still didn't say I had a baby because I was afraid that they would disregard my application if they knew I had a 9 month old baby.

I have moved jobs a lot and have never mentioned being a mother in interviews. I have always mentioned being a mother casually several months in.

That said - I have always worked in a very male-dominated environment, I know that I would have been unofficially written off if I said I wsas a mother. Has anyone else spent their career doing that?

Also, someone said on the other thread that they always take their wedding and engagement rings off at job interviews as well, I have never done that (am not married and only been engaged a couple of years so it has never came up as an issue).

It's very sad, but I know it has been necessary in my own case.

Oh yes GetOrf. When DH went back to work after his 6 years as a SAHD he got nothing but admiration from his colleagues and the interviewers. He regularly swans off early to pick up DD whereas little old me, who works on the "in early out early" concept often gets dirty looks from those who didn't manage to drag themselves in before 9:30 as i walk out the door at 5pm sharp.

(Mind you, I earn more than him )

tribpot, ephiny - sorry been shopping, I'm not actually sure. It may have been worked out as you suggested but my mum was a school secterary and the posts were in the school so most applicants were known if they had children either through the school or church.

Maybe the question is "Should you mention you have children at a job interview if you honestly believe that this might affect the way you could do the job"?

Just imagine you apply for a job that requires you to be present from 9 to 5 for 5 days a week but you know this will pose difficulties with childcare and you have a sick child that needs frequent doctor's appointments.

You have the right not to take the job if those are the conditions because you know they will pose difficulties so would it be not be dishonest and unfair to the employer to not mention your circumstances at the interview?

And, as regards carreer gaps - if the reason is maternity leave then it's not unreasonable for an employer to expect a potential employee to tell the truth.

Lying at an interview cannot be right and presumably would be grounds for dismissal if they later found out.

If you don't think you can meet the specified demands of the job, or if you think you'll need special arrangements of some kind to do so, then yes of course you should say so. Whether it's because of childcare responsibilities, or some other reason.

If however you can do the job, then it's none of their business whether you have no children or ten.

I don't think anyone has said career gaps should not be explained, or that anyone should lie .

GetOrf, I was made redundant a while back. I think that I was chosen out of all the other people in the same team because I worked a 30hr week due to childcare commitments rather than the 37hrs-plus-overtime that other people worked. Trust me, I wasn't seen as a hero there for being a father involved in childcare, I got dirty looks when I left the office at 4:30 and I was regularly pressured by my boss to do more hours.

I'm starting work very soon at a new place and it may well be that my inability to work overtime at the drop of a hat could seriously affect my chances there as well.

I did.

I posted on the other thread saying I don't wear my wedding or engagement rings for interviews, and I wouldn't dream of mentioning DS. It's partly because I married very young, and I work in a male-dominated field, so thought seeing my rings would set off loud alarm bells for anyone interviewing me.

It's all about being sure that, if they reject me, at least it's not because they know I'm a married woman with a baby. I can't be sure I won't get rejected for being female, but there's not a lot I can do about that!

i woulddnt mention my children.no its my private life.and when im working im not mum,im the professional.so its not relevant.

In the past I've deliberately not mentioned DD interviews for fear of discrimination. I have no employment gaps, and excellent childcare so no need to mention her really.

My most recent interview was slightly different as it was for a job at DD's school, so there was no escaping the fact

(I got the job )