Among life’s greatest challenges, our careers and our children stand far above the rest of our concerns. But what happens when the two collide?
When Marissa Mayer became Yahoo’s latest CEO in the summer of 2012, she did so while she was a full five months pregnant, seemingly telling the world that job seekers should have little to worry about if they’re with child. If a woman could become CEO while pregnant, that should mean the rest of us can also get the job we’re after, too – right?
While Mayer and her recent high-profile appointment would seem to indicate that pregnancy won’t be treated as a barrier for employment in these modern times, results for the average mother-to-be in America – your results – may vary.
To that end, it might make sense to have a strategy in mind when you’re pregnant and searching for a job. Here’s a quick run-down of the do’s and the don’ts when it comes to job seeking and getting through interviews.
Don’t Advertise Your Pregnancy
I’d never tell you to be dishonest, or even to lie by omission. That said, you’ll thank yourself for not “leading” with the fact that you’re pregnant. This can include your cover letter, a phone call with a recruiter, and your face-to-face interviews. It should come up naturally in the conversation – not direct the course of the interview.
Depending on how far along you are, it may be apparent that you’re pregnant. Even if it’s not, though, make every attempt to keep your pregnancy from becoming the focus of your interview. Again don’t hide it, but remember above all that interviews are all about putting your skills and personality up front: anything else will just be a distraction.
Discuss Maternity Leave After You Get an Offer
There’s likely no bigger turnoff for a company recruiter than to have prospective new hires asking about time off and benefits right off the bat. In keeping with that, make sure you also steer clear of conversations about maternity leave – at least until the company has expressed interest in bringing you aboard. This is a topic best left until after you have an offer in hand.
Why? Because every new hire will typically engage in extended conversations, and perhaps even negotiations, about compensation packages. You’ll definitely want to do your research beforehand using sites like Glassdoor to help you “scope out” your potential employer’s maternity leave policies, but don’t tip your hand too early.
Foster Trust
The good news for pregnant job seekers is that there’s a suite of laws in place that protect expectant mothers in the workplace. For example: job recruiters are not allowed to ask you if you’re married, if you currently have kids, or if you’re expecting a child.
What this means is that you’re not required to disclose anything you’re not comfortable with disclosing. On the other hand, interviewing for a new job is an important opportunity to foster trust with your new work “family” – so disclosing your pregnancy may be a good way to score points on that front.
Remember: Maternity Leave is Temporary
Most employers have come to understand that maternity leave is not a permanent state: it’s a temporary absence that shouldn’t disrupt your new job in the long term. As a result, it makes a lot of sense not to stress about, or over-emphasize, your pregnancy.
If you’re worried about the reaction you might face when your potential new employer finds out that you’ll need to take maternity leave, remember your motivations in seeking a job in the first place: to provide for your newborn. Your employer should understand only too well where you’re coming from.
