How to Conduct a Job Interview When Pregnant

Whether or not you are physically showing, it can be difficult to conduct a job interview when you're pregnant. For many women, it is a moral dilemma as to whether or not they should inform potential employers of pregnancy right away.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet Access

Prepare Yourself Mentally

1. Spend several days mulling over your decision whether or not to disclose your pregnancy up front in an interview.
2. Decide how much information you wish to share—it's all up to you.
3. Use friends or loved ones to rehearse how you will communicate your information about your pregnancy (if at all) to potential employers.
4. Be aware that while some employers are hesitant to hire pregnant women, there are many family-friendly companies who will value your skills enough to work around your family needs.

Communicate Your Needs

5. Don't make the interview revolve around your pregnancy. Instead, focus on your skills and qualifications to make yourself a more attractive candidate.
6. Ask about maternity benefits when the time is right. You will need to know when they kick in, how much time you will have off and whether time off is with or without pay.

Seal the Deal

7. Sincerely thank your interviewer for his/her time at the end of a meeting, even if you decide that this company is not right for your needs.
8. Follow up your interview with a handwritten thank-you note. Use appropriate stationery without designs and make sure your writing is legible. Cursive is fine as long as it is clear, and black ink is preferable.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider the maternity benefits of any potential job. Some companies offer mothers multiple weeks off with pay, while others adhere only to the state or federal minimum standards. Benefits may not apply for the first few months in a new job, so be sure to inquire about this also.
• An online search of employment sites can produce a list of family-friendly companies to which you may want to apply.
• Under U.S. federal law, it is considered discriminatory to ask if you are pregnant during a job interview. Companies can outline the demands of the job, though, and deem you unqualified to perform certain duties, so keep this in mind when applying.

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