Pregnant and interviewing for jobs

I'm 25 weeks and looking for a full time job. I just graduated Magna Cum Laude with a engineering degree. I need to work so waiting until after the baby is born is not an option. I've decided to hide my belly until I can't anymore. My concern is that if I get a job, I will be fired once my pregnancy is revealed. Of course, they won't say that, but it happens. Especially since I won't be protected under the family leave act. The job I'm up for now is with a big company and is software testing which can be done until I deliver. I'm even willing to only take two weeks off once I deliver. My question is this. Has anyone been here? How did you handle it? What was the outcome?

I've looked online and found alot of stories about women having offers taken back and being fired once an employer found out that they were pregnant. I was hoping that someone here could counter that. Cause right now, I'm scared that if I make it through my last interview and get the job, I'm still screwed.

 

I got one job while being pregnant. The only job I could get....a cashier at a gas station. They manager there give me so much hassle (She hired me because my dads girlfriend was the Asst. Mgr.) and so many things to lift on and whatnot that I was scared I'd hurt my baby so I quit. I was also given screwy hours. Had to close one night (12 am) and then come in and open the next morning (7 am). I think that was all a ploy to get me to quit as she couldn't find a reason to not hire me.
I've tried getting on through a local temp service for the time being (I'm 30 weeks) and when I got a call back from a job they told me that I wasn't allowed to work there because I'm 'unqualified'. People with an IQ of 20 would qualify for that type of job, most likely it's because I'm pregnant.
But, goodluck with your job search!

 

I was job hunting while pregnant with my first baby, too. I got a fantastic job with great benefits, and told them on my first day of work that I was pregnant. "no problem" yadda yadda yadda. After the ninety day "probation" period or whatever they called it and I was out of work for "missing too many days." The only time I missed was for scheduled prenatal appointments, and I did bring in doctor's note every time.

 

I don't get why people have so much hate toward pregnant woman. That's how they all got here.

With the job I'm talking about, I wouldn't miss any days because you set your own days and hours as long as you work 9 hours a day, 5 days a week. So I could set my doctor's appts around my schedule or just miss them. I know it sucks but this is my dream job plus I'm a single mom and without a job, there is no money for diapers. I gotta pick the less of the evils.

 

I don't think they hate pregnant women.
They need someone to start work (now), get trained (ASAP), and get work done. That's why they are hiring now, rather than four months from now.

A pregnant woman may be a fine person, well educated, and a wise investment for the future. But in terms of getting someone on board now, she is not what they are looking for.

mamaboogie, even though you had good reasons, you weren't there. The work they wanted done wasn't getting done.

 

My friend just went to 3 weeks of CNA (I think) classes and got hired at a nursing home while she was I think 12 weeks along. She didnt tell them right away but when she did they were okay with it, so they say. Its a 3rd shift position so she doesnt miss time for dr's appointments or anything, but we will see what happens when she has to go on maternity leave, she's due in October. Her job is really in demand right now around here, so they will probably keep her around.

 

what's the difference between a me taking 2 weeks off to deliver and someone breaking an arm?

under the logic that a pregnant woman is not what they are looking for, neither is someone who needs to have surgery months after being hired only the employer doesn't have time to plot their termination because pregnancy is obvious and impending surgery is not. pregnant women can work now so I don't see the point

the reason that I say that there is hate for pregnant women is that, in my research, I have found stories of women being at a job for years and then being mistreated or fired after their boss found out (I'll provide links if you want). I have even seen employers stating that they wish they could not hire any women of child-bearing age period.

put yourself in my shoes....what choice do I have? If I try to find a job, they should be able to not hire me but if depend solely on the dad, I should be just as responsible as he for taking care of the baby?

Point being, employers are hiring people not robots. And people have issues in life that need to be worked out. It doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed to support themselves and their family

 

The job interviewer can't tell that a new hire is going to break their arm.

And yes, I have heard of employers who discriminate against child-bearing women, because they don't want to deal with either the interuption caused by child birth or the possibility that the new mother might not return to work. Interuptions due to kid's illnesses is another reason for poor attendance by child-bearing aged women.
I have also heard that studies show these concerns are overblown and that women in this age group are as valuable to a company as any other group.

If I were interviewing for a job, I would be careful how I explained to my prospective employer that I need to take a month off shortly after being hired.

 

You are protected under the ADA so an prospective employer can't descriminate against you for being pregnant. If they do, they are breaking the law. You also are not required to tell them you are pregnant. It is none of their business. I would not mention it unless they directly ask.

 

I, personally, think its shady to take a job without reveiling that you are pregnant. Think it borders on dishonesty. They are hiring you on good faith that you have been forcoming about all of the physical things that might keep you from doing your job effectively... and if you are going to be quiting/leaving in 6 months, I believe they have a right to know and consider that before hiring you.

I got a job when I was 2 months pregnant. I was up front with it from the start. I worked there until last week (i am now 36 weeks pregnant). I told my boss when hired that I was pregnant, when I was due, and how long I was planning to take off from work.

He still hired me, and is now awaiting my return to work.

 

To get to misfontella's situtation, I would recomend asking yourself,
"Why should they hire me, rather than an applicant who doesn't need two weeks off so soon in their employment. What can I do for them, that these other applicants can't." Having that answer ready, even if its just a spin-ladden advertisment rather than a serious evaluation of your skills, is better than making it up on the spot.

Recognizing their needs and how you will meet them would be better than appeals to fairness or (veiled) threats of legal action.

 

I have no plans for legal action or threats

I just wanna work. The job is perfect for me and I would excel at it. I'm smart and hard working. I just want them to see me and not just "the pregnant girl" or the assumptions that go with it. I'm not every other pregnant girl that they have ever met, I'm me.

 

I'm happy that you got lucky. I can't gamble with my family like that

 

My sister was pregnant and got fired for it. She went through a lot of legal threats and they ended up paying her a bunch to avoid court (it is illegal to fire you for that).

Most companies that don't hire pregnant women realize it can cost them money. They pay to get you trained and everything, then you leave on maternity leave. In that time, they have to give the other employees more hours, which could cause a lot of overtime. It may not be fair, but its simply business.

My work just hired a girl who is 7 months along. I suggest trying to go for jobs you have a lot of experience in that are "mom and pop" stores. The owners tend to be more understanding towards all people. In my experience at least.

 

I really sympathize with what you're going through, I went through the same thing.
I had to leave my job at a Tim Hortons after my OB came in and saw how busy it was and how much I was running around...and another employee fall on the wet floor (which happened a lot). He said, "you'd better quit that job now, your baby is in danger." I was so upset, as we barely had any money as it was, but I did not want to hurt my baby. So, before I quit, I set out looking for another job. I went to a gas station that looked pretty relaxed, and I tried to hide my belly with a bigger shirt. They didn't seem to notice when I was there, and told me that all they needed to do was call my references and I had the job. One of my references was from the manager at Tim Hortons, and was actually friends with this lady at the gas station....needless to say, once she found out that I was pregnant, I never got the job.
I understood all the buisness stuff, but I wish these places would wake up and realize they're not doing any women any good, as well as their babies. This country is PATHEIC, we value money over someone's well-being.
I never did end up getting a job, no one would hire me. By my 7th month, I gave up....I was already bigger than most women at full term and everywhere I went, the managers gave me sideways looks.
I wish that I could offer you more support.
Yeah, lying is dishonest, but what else are you going to do? I mean, this is where I was conflicted....at first, I could treat it as thought I just found out, even if I was already 14 weeks along. But as things went further along, and I told employers I was expecting, they would actually set up an interview and call me back 5 minutes later to cancel it, giving me some phony excuse.
Is there anyway you can go on unemployment insurance? In canada, you quilify for it after working consecutivley after one year.

 

that's total bull. I had more time on my hands at that job than any other I've ever worked. I was asking people to give me some of their work to help the time pass quicker, it was so dull and boring. I was doing the work of four typical employees there. They simply didn't want to give me the benefits (yes, even insurance and paid maternity leave kicks in on day one). I would schedule my doc appointments late in the day, and only missed an hour, maybe two, tops, once a month until it came time to see doc once every two weeks. The work they needed me to do was most certainly getting done, and getting done well. It was HR's decision, not my immediate supervisor (who told me I was the best assistant she had ever had, and cried when she had to tell me I couldn't stay).