Should I disclose that I am currently on maternity leave in job interviews?

[CAS77]

Been on mat leave for 7 months. Got a couple of job interviews coming up and wondering whether I should or shouldn't volunteer the fact that I am on ML. I know I don't have to but think I would feel a bit like I was misrepresenting myself not to do so (i.e. that I have 7 months' worth of recent experience that I don't actually have). Also a teeny bit rusty technically and so thinking it might go some way to explaining that if it becomes apparent in the interview.

Or is it best just to steer clear as it might negatively colour their view of me?

You don't need to mention. And it is probably wise not to.

No don't mention it... I'm 99% sure I wasn't short listed for a job recently because if this, so I've learned my lesson! Although employers are not supposed to discriminate in this way, they find ways around it!

Not if you want to get the job, no.

In my last interview, which happened in the first week of returning to work after maternity leave I did mention that I had just returned to work. I still got the job. I didn't make a big thing about it, and made it very clear that I'm fully committed to working full time.

No don't do it, apart from the fact that you're on maternity leave, it also means you have a young child, will be absent from work every time they are sick, will have nos 2,3,4 in the coming years, will expect to leave early....of course it doesn't but it will colour perceptions and therefore best not to mention. There will be some employers who would take the chance if they wanted you enough, but in a close contest I don't think you'd get it.

I was advised not to put the fact that I volunteer with cubs on my CV (by a careers consultant) because it suggests I have children.

no, I wouldnt

I wouldn't mention it. It'll just give them a reason not to choose you. When are you due back to work/prepared to go back to work?

Well, I am due back to my original job in July but am looking at different types of role (still in the same sector) and would more or less go back now for the right job. Thing is, I won't be having any more children (I know people say "never say never", but, really, it's a never ) so I kind of think if I do mention it I could say "Look I'm coming back from ML but that's it,got my kids out of the way and no more mat leaves for you to deal with". Also have pretty solid childcare and back up plans which I could mention.

I know what you are all saying though. I would prefer not to mention it really BUT if they asked an open question like "tell me about yourself, where you are at in your career" I suppose I'd feel a bit like I was concealing something if I didn't mention it..and then it would look bad if it then came out later.

Also, if I managed to "get away" with not mentioning it, and I then got the job it would inevitably become clear once I started work that I had kids and I think I'd feel a bit awkward about the fact they didn't know.

Really, it's shocking that in this day and age we have to even consider things like this

Thanks though everyone, maybe I'll just play it by ear and not volunteer and just see what happens.