Interviewing for an internal role at 36 weeks pregnant

[heroineinahalfshell]

My line manager is leaving and I've applied for his role (after being encouraged by multiple colleagues to do so). I got an interview, which is next week, when I'll be 36 weeks pregnant. One of the panel members (my Head of Dept) is aware that I am planning to take maternity leave for a full year & come back on compressed hours (4 days per week).

I'm very much going into it with an attitude of "it's unlikely they'll hire me due to mat leave, but it's good experience/shows them I have drive/ambition". However, I still want to do my best at interview, and be appointable. I'm wondering how I pitch my presentation/answer to questions around team improvements etc., when it's clear I wouldn't be around for 12 months to implement any changes or ideas? Basically, should I acknowledge the impact my pregnancy would have, or just approach the interview as I would have done if I wasn't pregnant? Does anyone have experience of interviewing for new roles/promotions while obviously pregnant/close to mat leave?

Any advice gratefully received.

In my opinion it's out of order to interview for a position you won't be able to commit to for 12 months. The company will spend twice for recruitment of a maternity leave cover if they hire you and you might want different things after baby is born.

Oh tough one OP.
FWIW I think you’ve got every right to apply for a job and be hired despite your clearly madly selfish desire to continue the human race! 😉
I think you need to answer as if you won’t be on mat leave. I assume changes you’d like to make, the atmosphere on the team etc are all things you would want improved on a long term basis. Just say ignore the timing issue imo. So, perhaps talk about priorities in the order you’d approach them and how you’d approach them etc. The only exception is if you have a ‘day one’ task then that’s worth mentioning as it will set the tone for your tenure. I’d still talking about things like that as ‘day one’ tasks, like meeting all team members etc.
Good luck!

Thanks for your helpful response, but I didn't ask whether I should have applied in the first place. The shortlisting panel all know I'm pregnant and they've made the decision to shortlist and interview me anyway. That's their decision to make. As I said in my OP, I'm fully aware that if it comes down to a decision between me and another appointable candidate, they'll probably choose the non-pregnant candidate, and I wouldn't blame them. Pregnancy is a protected characteristic for a reason, and I shouldn't have to limit my career aspirations just because the timing isn't ideal.

Thank you @Onekidnoclue!

I would apply and respond as if you aren’t going on maternity leave as well.

Have you got your new working hours for when you return agreed yet, because you might find going part time isn’t agreeable in your employer’s eyes in the new role.

I've hired someone in your position and then filled the position temporarily whilst they were on mat leave. It's not unusual at all. Much rather have an existing member of staff end up permanently in the post and I'm all for encouraging progression in my teams. For the record, it's illegal to not appoint someone on the basis of their need for maternity leave . I would expect a mature, professional conversation when you are offered the post about how this would work. Good luck and answer the questions as you would in any interview. The panel are expecting to have to cover the role during your leave as they know you and know you are pregnant.

As PP said, answer questions as if you’d be there. I don’t think is out of order for you to apply, I think it’s great. They shouldn’t discriminate against you because you’re pregnant. I once had a boss say to me “you would have had that job if you weren’t pregnant”, to which I replied “you aren’t able to say no in the basis of my pregnancy”. I had to give her all of the discrimination information - I work in HR, so she should have know better. I got the job and went on mat leave a short time later. Good luck.

Thanks all, your replies have been really reassuring, particularly knowing that impending mat leave hasn't always scuppered a candidate's chances! It feels like a slightly mad thing to be doing given the timing, but it is an opportunity I just can't pass up! I have a great team and lots of ideas for development for them & improvements to our ways of working, so I'd love to take this next step in my career with them. Now to get working on my presentation.....

My friend had an interview for a teaching promotion whilst on mat leave, even took in her BFing baby for the day, and got the job starting on her return! Good luck

Yep! I applied, was interviewed for and was successful for a promotion when I was 7 months pregnant. They gave the role temporarily to another member of staff while I was on mat leave. This gave the other member of staff experience for the role for their own career development. Worked out for me and everyone else.

I wouldn't have the gall to apply if I was that pregnant. I might not even return to work!
However, they advertised the job knowing that if they waited another 4 weeks you wouldn't have applied so that would go on your favour

I got promoted whilst at a similar stage of pregnancy, with employer knowing that it would be a year later (I think anyway!) than the intended start date before I would actually return.

I did not expect to be given the job, but I think that took the pressure off in the interview and I spoke about how one of the other candidates, who I had been working closely with, was an excellent candidate. They actually promoted us both

If you are the right person for the job, it would be very shortsighted of a company to overlook you, despite the initial hassle of maternity cover.

Good luck!