{"id":109557,"date":"2019-07-26T09:13:14","date_gmt":"2019-07-26T13:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/109557\/yes-you-can-job-hunt-while-pregnant\/"},"modified":"2025-02-25T13:16:14","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T18:16:14","slug":"yes-you-can-job-hunt-while-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/109557\/yes-you-can-job-hunt-while-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"Yes, you can job hunt while pregnant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This article originally appeared on InHerSight, a platform that uses data to help women find female-friendly companies where they can achieve their goals. Click here to<\/span><\/em> anonymously rate your company<\/span><\/em><\/a> and join the conversation. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter the reason you\u2019re looking for a new job, it\u2019s a truth universally acknowledged that job hunting while pregnant can be riddled with uncertainty. There\u2019s no reason you <\/span>can\u2019t<\/span><\/em> find a better gig, though. Whether you\u2019re a new mom or you have another child on the way, here are some tips for finding a new job to make the transition easier.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to look for on the job hunt<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First off, you want to be mindful of your schedule. Between doctor\u2019s appointments, job interviews, and keeping your current supervisor happy, you\u2019ll be juggling a lot. To help stay organized, make a<\/span> list of must-haves<\/span><\/a> you\u2019ll need from your prospective employer. Maybe you\u2019d like a shorter commute or want to be closer to a good daycare. No matter your wish list, you\u2019ll want to vet employers before and during the interview process.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do your best to research the health insurance and benefits offered by your new employer. Do they offer the coverage you need? Do they offer maternity leave? Unfortunately, many companies<\/span> don\u2019t have an official paid leave policy for parents<\/span><\/a>, so check to see if the organization will cover you under the<\/span> Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)<\/span><\/a>. FMLA usually only applies to companies who employ over 50 people, and oftentimes company policies require you to work up to a year or more before you are eligible for maternity leave.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The job interview<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve landed an interview or two, and now comes the tough decision\u2014to disclose or not disclose your pregnancy. Unfortunately<\/span> hiring discrimination against pregnant women<\/span><\/a> isn\u2019t always easy to detect.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, know that because of the<\/span> Pregnancy Discrimination Act<\/span><\/a>, you are not obligated to tell the hiring manager that you\u2019re pregnant, and it is illegal for them to discriminate against you. However, it is worth noting that it\u2019s harder to prove you\u2019ve been discriminated against if you\u2019re not an employee; that\u2019s an unfortunate reality prospective hires deal with.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to<\/span> Career Builder<\/span><\/a>, employers typically have two main concerns when hiring someone who is pregnant:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. How much time will you spend out of the office?<\/strong> Usually hiring needs are immediate, and between doctor\u2019s appointments and maternity leave, managers might be concerned that you won\u2019t be able to provide the company the support they require.<\/span>

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  2. Will you be committed to your new position?<\/strong> Hiring and training someone new is a time-consuming and expensive endeavor. The person interviewing you may be concerned that you will decide not to come back to work after your maternity leave is over.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    While some people argue there is no reason to disclose your pregnancy during an interview, others argue for transparency, but the bottom line is it\u2019s your choice. You\u2019re only obligated to share what you\u2019re comfortable sharing.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What to say if you decide to disclose your pregnancy<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Perhaps you\u2019ve decided to disclose your pregnancy to the hiring manager. What next?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To ease the concerns mentioned above,<\/span> career advice expert Amanda Augustine<\/span><\/a>, who is a mother herself, suggests preparing yourself for questions that might come up in an interview, such as the timing of your maternity leave or how you\u2019ll make sure your work is covered while you\u2019re gone. She also says that reiterating your enthusiasm for the job and your dedication to a long-term career at the company is helpful.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In the grand scheme of things, maternity leave is a brief moment in time compared to the time you\u2019ll spend working for your prospective employer. Reminding hiring managers of this and then shifting the conversation back to your qualifications is a helpful way to reassure them that you\u2019re the perfect person for the job.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Advice from women who\u2019ve done it<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re new to this, know that you\u2019re not alone and that there are many<\/span> women who have successfully secured a new, dream position while pregnant<\/span><\/a>. To read stories from real women who\u2019ve done it, check out<\/span> this story<\/span><\/a> from <\/span>The Cut<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And remember that it\u2019s your body, your child, and your career, so don\u2019t be afraid to ask the tough questions and to keep hunting until you find the perfect position.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What employers can do to help<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    As an employer, you want the best possible talent working for you, regardless of parenthood or pregnancy status. According to<\/span> Ovia Health<\/span><\/a>, at any organization, it’s likely that<\/span> a quarter of employees<\/span><\/a> are either thinking about starting a family or already have one, and when those employees don’t feel supported and turn elsewhere for better job opportunities, it costs<\/span> an average of 33 percent of their salary<\/span><\/a> to replace them. The two most important things you can do to recruit and retain parents and parents-to-be at your company are to:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Make sure candidates know that your company has a family-friendly culture<\/strong> and supports the working parents that help make your organization great. Share specifics about how your company culture is awesome, talk about the ways you prioritize work-life balance, and provide materials about all of your benefits, including maternity & family benefits.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Actually have a family-friendly culture and support working parents!<\/strong> Offer great maternity & family benefits, flexible scheduling, and make all of your employees feel supported and empowered to achieve their work and life goals<\/span>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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      Read more<\/h5>\n\n\n\n