AAAARgh!!!! Think i've really fu*@ed up! HR people and regular interviewers what should i do?!?!?

[trixymalixy]

I was made redundant at end of June when I started mat leave, I'm due 2nd August.

I then saw the perfect job for me advertised and was moaning about not being able to apply as I am on mat leave. DH and others said i should just phone up to enquire with the recruitment agency and see if the company really needed someone to start straight away or whether they would be prepared to wait 6 months for the right candidate.

So I spoke to the RC and told her about my situation and she said to send her my CV and she would speak to them.

She phoned yesterday to say she had lined me up a phone interview with them next week but hadn't told them my full situation. She said that it would be fine and there would be no need to mention that I'm due in just over 2 weeks and that they were interviewing other people with similar start dates, but that she would mention it to their HR woman in a meeting tomorrow.

I feel very uncomfortable about it all and I'm not sure what to do. I really really don't want to burn my bridges with this company as there are very few employers in this area.

I'm now wishing I had never sent her my CV!!!

Would you:

1. Cancel the interview?

1. Do the interview as if there was no issue with start dates and deal with probems later?

1. Be totally honest and upfront about pregnancy and start dates?

1. Make them aware that I couldn't start until next year but not mention pregnancy and maternity leave?

Aaargh!!!!!! i don't really need this strass atm.

[trixymalixy]

I'm not overly impressed with the recruitment consultant either. I have asked her 3 times to mention it to them and she hasn't so far. I also pointed out that if they asked me back for a face to face interiew then it might be quite awkward. I really hope she hasn't totally messed things up for me with this company.

I'm glad you all agree with me that it's best to be upfront and honest and I think I'll mention it at the end of the interview as you say flowery. I had planned to say something at the start, but it might be better to leave it to the end so they don't write me off.

It is my second baby and I was quite relieved to get back to work after my first so I know I'm not cut out to be a SAHM.

[flowerybeanbag]

If she is going to mention it to the HR woman today, then why would you not need to mention it to them in your phone interview. Based on what she said, they will already know anyway?

The recruitment consultant doesn't sound brilliant if you ask me. All that stuff about lots of other people having similar start date issues and talking to HR about it makes me .

I think you should be clear with them if you can't start for 6 months. I wouldn't mention it at the beginning of the interview as you don't want them to write you off completely straightaway, but perhaps at the end or in a follow up if that's appropriate.

If you are going to let them know you can't start until next year you will need to tell them why, there's no hiding the pregnancy and maternity leave. I'm assuming they wouldn't offer you the job based on a telephone interview only anyway, so you will have to meet someone soon, and your availability for interview is likely to be also affected by your pregnancy or having a very tiny baby.

[HorsechestnutBlossom]

Be absolutely honest because it really is the best way. I'm the one who sifts through applications and tbh if your application shines through and you are totally honest you will be asked for an interview. The amount of dross compared to gems in the pile of applications is always mindblowing.

But you do need to think through if you really want a dream job just at the moment you are having a baby, many would consider that in itself a 'dream job'

If it's your first baby I would be mindful of the fact you may not want to leave your baby in childcare full time.

So I would go easy on yourself if I were you.