What job advice do you need to know when you're interviewing while pregnant?

Pregnancy is a major personal milestone for women, but it can also be a confusing time for job seekers. 

  • What do you need to know when you're interviewing while pregnant? 

  • How should you prepare to make the best possible impression on employers? 

  • Should you disclose your pregnancy? 

  • What legal rights do you possess when you're interviewing for a new job while pregnant?

In this article, we'll offer some tips you need to know to get yourself ready for interviewing while pregnant, including advice to help you decide whether you should disclose that pregnancy. We'll also provide some insight into how the law protects you when you're pregnant while interviewing.

Related reading: Answering “Why are You a Good Fit for this Job?”: Key Tips and Mistakes to Avoid

Prepare for the interview while pregnant

There's no getting around the fact that your pregnancy and upcoming birth will eventually affect your job and employer. The degree of that impact will depend on your position, the size of the company, your and your baby's health as you go through the pregnancy and delivery, and the timing of your maternity leave.

A company with thousands of employees is likely to have procedures in place to cover your absence during prenatal medical appointments and family leave. On the other hand, a company with only 10 employees may have a harder time managing without you because you represent 10 percent of its workforce. Keep that in mind when you're choosing potential job opportunities.

Before any interview, you need to decide whether to disclose your pregnancy to employers – and when to do so. Some women who are interviewing during the early months of the pregnancy may not be thrilled with the idea of disclosing their status before they've safely made it to the second trimester. You may need more time to figure out the logistics of what your work life will look like after the baby.

Related reading: Crafting Your Answer to 'What Motivates You?”

Interviewing a pregnant candidate: an employer's perspective

When looking at the situation from the employer's point of view, there are two main concerns:

  • How will everyone manage your absences due to prenatal appointments, the possibility of bedrest in late-term pregnancy, and maternity leave?

  • What are the chances that you won't return to work after your maternity leave?

The challenge is that employers are limited when it comes to what they are allowed to ask. Conversations about pregnancy and maternity leave can be challenging due to legal liability risks. The good news is that you aren't likely to be asked illegal questions. What's not so great is that the employer's unvoiced concerns may impact their decision.

So, if your pregnancy is already visible – or if you have made the choice to disclose a less visible, earlier-term pregnancy, be prepared to address the employer's potential concerns, whether they are voiced or not. You don't have to go into the specifics of how you will structure childcare or what you would do in the event your child gets sick, but you should be prepared to provide reassurances.

To do that, make sure you come prepared with a plan for minimizing the impact of any absences, whether that involves documenting project status, cross-training team members, working remotely, etc. This is your opportunity to highlight your resourcefulness, commitment, and flexibility. Once you've provided those reassurances, turn the conversation back to your experience, skills, and qualifications.

Related reading: 20 Hard Interview Questions and Answers

Make sure you're considering your own needs too

Of course, it's always important to remember that interviewing goes both ways. Sure, the prospective employer is evaluating your fit for the position, professional potential, and technical qualifications. However, you should also be evaluating the company and role to ensure you're making a choice that's best for you over the long term. 

As a result, you need to pay attention to signs the company might not be a great place for you. Be honest about any accommodation you will need during your pregnancy and after you return from any absence. Consider the cost of childcare and whether the company provides any flexible or hybrid work schedules. Would a part-time arrangement be a good fit for a few months, and would you be able to manage the partial loss of benefits like healthcare?

Be sure to carefully read the benefits package, including the conditions for taking paid time off and maternity leave. Some companies have length-of-service conditions on certain benefits. Keep in mind that smaller companies of fewer than 50 employers fall outside the FMLA, which means your position isn't protected by law once you are out on maternity leave.

That doesn't mean it's impossible to negotiate maternity leave with a smaller company, or that you won't be able to benefit from maternity leave because you've been with a company for less than one year. Both are possible, but you will need to rely on your relationship with the decision makers and the trust you build in the first few months at your new job.

Related reading: How to Answer “What Can You Bring to the Company?”

Should you disclose your pregnancy?

Some say you shouldn't bring up your pregnancy in an interview, especially if you aren't showing. That position does make sense. After all, pregnancy is a temporary condition that isn't relevant to your professional qualifications. The job should simply go to the best candidate, pregnant or not. 

However, others believe it's best to provide full disclosure during the interview and hiring process. That's a more honest approach and also offers your prospective employer an opportunity to observe how you manage a tough conversation, which could actually improve your odds of getting an offer. Besides, if the employer is resistant to hiring a soon-to-be mother, it may not be the right company for you anyway. 

Finally, there are some who advocate for the middle ground. Don't volunteer the pregnancy during the interview process, instead bring it up before accepting the offer. This path gives you the added advantage of having an opportunity to review the benefits package and better understand the flex time, maternity leave, and child-care options you'll have if you choose to accept the position.

Related reading: How To Prepare for Company Culture-Fit Interview Questions

What does the law say?

The legal basics of interviewing while pregnant are pretty simple.

In the United States, The Pregnancy Discrimination Act makes it illegal for companies to discriminate against you based on pregnancy. Theoretically, pregnancy shouldn't be a hiring consideration unless it clearly prevents you from doing the work. Moreover, you aren't legally obligated to tell your prospective employer that you are expecting, and they aren't allowed to ask about it.

However, it's important to remember that these provisions don't apply to companies with fewer than fifteen employees. Obviously, that's something you'll need to consider if you're seeking employment at a smaller company.

The bottom line is that you may have legal recourse if potential employers refuse to hire you based on your pregnancy. Still, real life is more complex than legal theory – which explains why experts disagree when it comes to the right course of action for those who find themselves facing this type of discrimination.

When should you disclose pregnancy in a job interview?

Ultimately, the right time to disclose the pregnancy is when you feel comfortable doing so. Turn off the voice in the back of your head that tells you to feel guilty about interviewing while you're pregnant and remember that pregnancy is a natural part of life. Unlike a catastrophic illness or an accident, both you and your employer get several months of notice about what's coming.

Focus on your commitment, your value as a member of the team, and your potential to affect change. If you can do that and effectively highlight your qualifications for the job, the right companies will see your potential and be more than thrilled to bring you on as a member of their team.

If you're still unsure about what you need to do when you're interviewing while pregnant, check out our interview-coaching services today!

This article was originally written by Natalia Autenrieth and has been updated by Ken Chase.

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