Oops... Should have mentioned it earlier. What shall I do?

[EmmyLH]

So... I return from mat leave in just over a month and decided to look for a new job because I need a change. I have 2 interviews this week (yippee)! One interview is a result of a direct application. I didn't mention being on mat leave on my application but think this is fine? I can now just mention at interview. They are a really flexible employer so I'm happy to be 100% honest.

However, eek, I have another interview through a recruitment consultant. I failed to mention I was on mat leave when I interviewed with the consultant because honestly I was worried and now I realise this was a bit silly. What shall I do at interview? Not mention it?! Don't want the consultant to look silly. Was thinking of just saying I had a baby but not mentioning I was returning from mat leave. More 'being economical with the truth' than lying.

Oops! Have I done something silly? To be honest, it didn't really come up in conversation and I didn't want to make a big deal out if it as hubby will be looking after DS and I don't have childcare issues. What do you all think? Any advice welcomed!

I think you may be worrying about nothing.

They have to complete their interviews (possibly including a second interview for shortlisted candidates), decide who they want and make an offer. You then need to accept the offer and give notice to your current employer. This could well take more than a month, especially if you are on one month's notice, so you may finish your maternity leave before you are due to start with the new employer. Even if it doesn't, you don't have to take all your maternity leave. You could start with the new employer before you were due to return to your old employer.

If your current employer is paying you more than SMP check carefully as they may want you to pay some or all of that back unless you return. They may have a minimum period you must work after finishing maternity leave to avoid paying anything back.

Thanks for your response. I did check this when I had a sudden light bulb moment and pretty sure I don't need to pay it back! My point is more that I haven't told them I'm on maternity leave and that they might think it strange I never mentioned it and just let them assume I was working as normal?! Am I being over concerned?

I think you are. I have never asked an interviewee whether or not they were on maternity leave. I can see no reason to ask the question and plenty of reasons not to. I doubt the subject will come up.

Thanks, all. You were completely right (of-course) :-) Thanks for putting my mind at rest.

There is no reason for you to mention it - and every reason not to, to be honest! The only risk I can see is if they ask you to run through what you've been doing in the last six months or something similar. Bit unlikely - I've just done an interview where I talked through my experience to date, but none of the questions I was asked were specifically timeboxed in that way.

If you were asked such a question, you could either answer from your last six months at work, or at that point say you'd need to give an example from slightly longer ago because you've been on maternity leave.

You are absolutely not required to mention it, or what your childcare arrangements are. I was very careful in my interview not to mention why I returned to the UK some years ago (DH very ill) or why I needed to stay in my current area (ds at school, DH in the system here with health and social care). Might as well have just set fire to my CV in front of the interviewer I feel :) I think he guessed at least some of this but made no attempt to pursue my reasons when I said they were personal.