Tips for Getting a Job When Youre Pregnant

Tips for Getting a Job When Youre PregnantTips for Getting a Job When Youre PregnantBeing pregnant can be hard. Job searching can be, too. Combining the two makes for a uniquely challenging task. A pregnant job hunter may wonder if she should share the news with interviewers- and when. Simple tasks like finding an appropriateinterview outfitcan require hours instead of minutes, and meeting times may need to be coordinated around pregnancy symptoms. Tips for Getting a Job When Youre Pregnant Still, while it may require adjustments, being pregnant should leid stand in the way of a job search. If youre expecting, and either want or need a new job, heres what you need to know about successfully job searching while youre pregnant. Your Rights as a Pregnant Job Seeker Can companies choose to avoid hiring pregnant women? Put simply No. They arent supposed to. Legally, thePregnancy Discrimination Act(PDA) prohibits employers from discriminating based on pregnancy, childbirth, or rela ted medical conditions. But whats legally correct, and what occurs in practice, do not always match up. For instance,chances are youve been asked at leastone of these illegal questions during an interview. So, its hard not to suspect that some employers would- without saying a word- opt to avoid hiring a pregnant candidate because of conscious or unconscious bias. That can be especially true when your pregnancy is noticeable. One right you dont have as a newly hired person coverage under theFamily and Medical Leave Act(FMLA). Among other things, this act guarantees eligible employees the right to retain their position after going on maternity leave. The key word there is eligible to be covered under FMLA, the company must beof a certain size and the employee must have worked there for at least 12 months. If youre pregnant while interviewing, you are not covered under the FMLA. However, many companies have generous family-leave policies that go beyond the legal requirements. If youre pregnant (even if you get health insurance through a spouse) its particularly important to askquestions about the benefits package, including the companysmaternity leave policy, short-term disability coverage, health insurance options, etc. This way, youll be informed about what coverage you can expect while youre pregnant and beyond. You Can Choose to Tell Potential Employers Youre Pregnant- Or Not Should you tell potential employers youre expecting? The answer to this question is... it depends. While theres no legal requirement for you to tell employers youre pregnant, other factors may convince you to share regardless. As well as whether ornotyou should share, consider when to share the news. You dont want to explain yourself out of a job offer if the employer would hesitate about making one once they know youre pregnant. Here are some considerations to keep in mind if youre debating whether or not- and when- to disclose your pregnancy How far along are you?If youre intervie wing in your third trimester, it makes sense to mention your pregnancy proactively,before (or during) anyin-person interviews, since hiding your bump wont be possible. In earlier trimesters, however, you can dress to obscure your pregnancy. And, if youre very early on, you may not even be sharing the news with close friends and family, so youcertainly wouldnt want to tell an interviewer youd just met. Will it make a difference in the hiring decision?If you need a job and suspect that revealing your pregnancy will influence the hiring manager, avoid mentioning it during interviews. However, do consider what that says about the company and hiring manager. That brings us to the next question... Will not sharing cause a trust issue with your future employer?A company that wont hire you while youre pregnant may not be afamily-friendly place to work. Keep that in mind. If, however,the job isnt doable while pregnant (for instance, if travel by plane is a weekly requirement), its best to me ntion your pregnancy during the interview. That way you can see whether the company can make accommodations. Otherwise, when you share the news after accepting the job, your manager may feel betrayed and you could wind up with a strained relationship. Make Accommodations for Your Pregnancy During Interviews Perhaps you have morning sickness that strikes daily at 11 a.m. Or youre hit with a wave of fatigue every afternoon. Maybe you need to pee more frequently than ever before. All of these things- as well as the changing shape of your body- are something to keep in mind while scheduling and preparing for interviews. Make sure yourinterview outfitleise fits properly (and get a new one if necessary). Also,tryto schedule interviews for the time of day when you feel most alert and unaffected by pregnancy symptoms. When to Share the News If you choose to disclose your pregnancy during an interview (or if its not really an option to keep it a secret), be prepared Discuss your plan s formaternity leaveand transitioning back to work and how you will prepare coworkers for your leave.Keep the employers perspective in mind- theyre likely to be concerned about two things. First, that your leave will be disruptive at work. Second, that you will not return to work after your maternity leave. You can offer reassurances about both these concerns. But dont let your pregnancy dominate the conversation Be professional and keep the interview focused on your skills, experience, and how youll be an asset to the company. If your plan is to be with the company for years and years, your leave time will be just a blip compared to your total tenure at the company, and thevalueofyour contributions. If you do not disclose your pregnancy during an interview, its a good idea to share the news after the company makes an offer. (Note If you are early in your pregnancy, feel free to hold off.) Having a job offer opens the door tonegotiations- now is the time to ask for leave and any oth er accommodations. And remember, the company made you an offer because theyre eagerforyou to come on board. Telling your employer at this point also allows them to plan ahead so that any leave time you take is not disruptive to operations. Doyouhave more questions? Heresinformation on pregnancy and employmentfor both job seekers and employees, including the scoop on family leave, disability, and discrimination issues.