Job interview while pregnant

[MommyandRN]

Hi everyone,

I have 3 months to go with this pregnancy. Little guy coming in July. I have other children at home and I decided recently that working weekdays isn't ideal for me and maybe would like to work weekends again. Was going to wait until the fall to job hunt but I saw a listing and applied... now going on an interview next week! I was caught off guard with the phone call so I didn't tell them I am pregnant yet. Obviously they will know when I go in.

Here's the thing... I am an experienced/qualified nurse and believe I could get this job... maybe. Would they not hire me bc I am pregnant? I am willing to start by June and orient etc and then take 6 weeks off. Would this be a problem? Would you as a nurse manager NOT hire someone because they would need to take a meternity leave so soon after starting?

Am I crazy for even going? Maybe I should cancel and just not think about this until the fall.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

To answer your question as a NM I would not hire you. There are too many variables with pregnancy/childbirth. I would not spend resources to orient someone that may decide to become a SAHM or have a child that needs more care than they expected. I would wait until the fall if you can afford it. Hope it works out for you :)

[hopebewild]

legally not hiring because you are pregnant is discrimination however they might find some other reason to not hire you. i say go for it because you never know!

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Very true to what the pp said... It is discrimination to not hire you b/c of being pregnant, but lets be honest, many employers do turn down potential employees b/c of it. It is really sad. Pregnant people need jobs, too! I personally would wait until after delivery to apply, just so you don't have the big belly anymore, I feel you would be more likely to be hired, unfortunately.

[GM2RN]

I disagree with waiting. The worst that can happen is they don't hire you, which is the same result as waiting. On the other hand, you just might get the job. I say go for it. Even if you aren't hired now, if the hiring manager likes you otherwise, he/she still might hire you if his/her first choice doesn't work out. It happens. Good luck!

[klone, MSN, RN]

Are you obviously pregnant? ETA: sorry, I see you said you have three months to go - when I first read the OP, I though you had written that you were three months pregnant. Seeing as how it would be illegal to not hire you based on pregnancy status, my kneejerk thought would be that I would not mention the pregnancy at all during the interview.

[tony vavzz]

Hello, as a former NM, I would have some hesitations, not because you are pregnant,it would be the weekend commitment, I have had no positive experiences with parents who work every weekend, one question I would have to think about is , is it every weekend and what type of child care would you have, I know I wouldn't be able to ask the child care question even though it would the big concern. I would wait and see how your recovery goes before applying.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Pregnancy, age, and physical disability: all protected under the law, but discriminated against time and again in hiring decisions.

I would say try to stay in your current job and apply for FMLA for your post-partum period. Then, when the belly is gone, go on a job hunt while in your current position. It's always better to get a new job before you quit your other one, so DON'T resign prior to landing a new job.

Good luck to you.

I would not spend resources to orient someone that may decide to become a SAHM or have a child that needs more care than they expected.

I think we should just have women sterilized or have women sign a contract to not become pregnant for X amount of years after hiring. That way, wasting precious training resources will never be an issue with the breeders.

/sarcasm

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Pregnancy, age, and physical disability: all protected under the law, but discriminated against time and again in hiring decisions.

I would say try to stay in your current job and apply for FMLA for your post-partum period. Then, when the belly is gone, go on a job hunt while in your current position. It's always better to get a new job before you quit your other one, so DON'T resign prior to landing a new job.

Good luck to you.

I think we should just have women sterilized or have women sign a contract to not become pregnant for X amount of years after hiring. That way, wasting precious training resources will never be an issue with the breeders.

/sarcasm

Yes, use that FMLA if you can! I think it is pretty unfair to women in general to have attitudes like that. Who is to say someone isn't going to be a sahd when their wife delivers?

[Spacklehead, MSN, NP]

I applied to and got hired for a job when I was 9 mos pregnant. There was absolutely no hiding it and I did tell them up front that I could not start until 12 weeks after my delivery (I was staying with my old job to use FMLA and get my vacation time paid to me). The new job did not mind putting my start date on hold; however, it was several years ago when many hospitals were begging for experienced nurses and were handing out sign-on bonuses like candy. Now that times have changed, I don't know how willing a new position would be to hold it for it - but you never know. There is no harm in trying for it.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

I would say try to stay in your current job and apply for FMLA for your post-partum period. Then, when the belly is gone, go on a job hunt while in your current position. It's always better to get a new job before you quit your other one, so DON'T resign prior to landing a new job.

Good luck to you.

I think we should just have women sterilized or have women sign a contract to not become pregnant for X amount of years after hiring. That way, wasting precious training resources will never be an issue with the breeders.

/sarcasm

I answered her question honestly. Sorry if it offends you. Pretending that administrative staff don't make these decisions everyday does not help the OP. My hubby and I are planning a family and I will be taking off from my CURRENT JOB WHERE I AM TRAINED AND THEY LOVE ME to have my baby. There is a difference between that and training someone that will be gone in 6 weeks. Also, you must be employed for 1 year for mandatory FMLA. The sterilization comment is just lame so I'll leave it there. The fact is women carry babies not men and I like it just fine that way. :)

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

Yes, use that FMLA if you can! I think it is pretty unfair to women in general to have attitudes like that. Who is to say someone isn't going to be a sahd when their wife delivers?

What kind of attitude ? An honest answer to an honest question? If you were hiring a man and he told you that he was pretty sure he could work for a couple of months and then he would be gone for at least a few weeks and then maybe be back would you hire him ? I'm sure many will say it isn't the same thing and just attack me but that is reality. Pregnancy and childbirth are unpredictable. Thats what makes it exciting and stressful. And if a man has a pregnant wife at home no one knows unless he tells them. The OP is 6 months pregnant and doesn't have that luxury. Everyone who claps eyes on her will know.