Potential Job Interview @ 34 Weeks Pregnant WDYT?

[Deleted]

So let's say you had a job interview when you were 34 weeks pregnant, what would you wear?

At 32 weeks you can still fit into some pre-pregnancy clothes, like so:



and on other days you wear maternity clothes and look super pregnant:



You really want this job but you may not have a lot of notice of when/if the interview will take place.  There's a place that rents maternity suits but it's $$ and can take 5-7 days to get to you.

www.minefornine.com/

You can fit into a pre-pregnancy suit jacket and just not button it, paired with maybe this skirt:

www.motherhood.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=935490060&MasterCategory_Id=MC7

The ONLY maternity store where you live is Destination Maternity.  You're not 100% having the interview but if you are you'll probably only have three days lead time.  What do you do (wardrobe portion of the question)?

Elephant in the room question

Standard MM advice is to not acknowledge pregnancy until there is a job offer and that's fine.  But say you got offered the job, when could you start?  Giving two weeks notice to your current employer would put you at 36 weeks at least.  You can then theoretically start New Job and work at least two weeks, maybe four before going out on leave.  BUT you'd lose six weeks free maternity leave from Current Job.  Should you try to negotiate start date for after your leave or not push the issue because it would mean not starting the job for potentially 4 months after the offer?

NB: It's a government job so as long as they want you they'd probably let you take the 12 weeks of leave time you have saved up because that time would transfer over from your Current Job.

So say theoretically they offer you the job, how would you approach the start date issue?

[vanillacourage]

At 34w, I'd wear a dress and blazer, not try to hide or minimize the bump, and address it in the interview. At that point in a pregnancy it's the elephant in the room (no pun intended!) so it's best to meet the interviewer's unspoken question head-on.

If they're not going to be able to accommodate a certain start date or grant maternity leave, better to have it out in the open.

Now, I interviewed at 10w and did not disclose until final offer was in writing. But third tri is a different situation IMO.

[Deleted]

I agree you would need to talk about it in this case. I have hired a woman who was 7 months pregnant, so it happens. You just need to hope you can work out the timing.

I think a dress and a blazer would be fine as long as this is generally a business casual work environment.

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2013 11:05:00 GMT -5 carrotsmakemefat said:

Is this a fed to fed job? I don't think it is a big of a deal but if you are moving to another agency then it make take up to a month or 6 weeks for leave to transfer. Same agency would be NBD from my experience.

I also think you would wear a dress with a blazer, and heels. Be honest about a start date and if they want you before you go into labor then do it. I imagine they will just know you'll need mat leave, but if you want more than 4-6 weeks then be up front about it,

and yes, address the elephant in the room

Heels?  Oh man, that was my next question - if I could wear black wedges that sort of look like heels.  I wore heels a few weeks ago and it was fine but I'd prefer not to.

H doesn't think I have a dress that's formal enough.  My most formal (I think) is this one:



You can see it a little better in this picture although it is from months ago and I look dumb.  It's cotton though.  Is cotton not formal enough?



I've never worn a color to an interview though.  I'm strictly a blank skirt suit with a white shirt type person for government interviews so the idea of a color scares me a little.  I also have this dress in several colors (just imagine a bigger bump):



I never pair them with blazers because blazers look terrible on my big boobs.

As to your other question, I'd be going from one branch of the state government to another, from an exempt position to a civil service one.  I have a bunch of colleagues who have made this leap recently and I know all their time transferred over but I didn't think it could take a while for it to do so.  I wonder if sick time would be affected in the same way that vacation would be.  I guess I'd have to ask.

So you think I should go into the first interview (sometimes there's only one before the offer) and go through the whole why I want the job spiel and then say something like "this job sounds like a great opportunity for my skillset.  I am very interested in working for XYZ agency.  My only concern is that I'm due to have a child within the next month or two and would be taking some time off directly afterwards.  Do you think that is an issue we can work with?"

I mean civil service jobs are notoriously flexible with family stuff so I'm thinking it won't be a HUGE deal if they want me (they're only allowed to interview three candidates) but I don't want to say the wrong thing.

I don't actually know the office dress code.  I imagine that the above outfits are totally fine for a regular day but that most candidates would dress up more on interview day.

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2013 11:40:47 GMT -5 carrotsmakemefat said:

Yes, my experience has also been that govt jobs are very family flexible.

I think the blue and black combo isn't bad, but yes...you need heels. Or a combo with a darker color and a black blazer. The green doesn't look interview appropriate

I have the green dress in blue too.  I might like it better than the other blue one. I can take a picture of the entire ensemble but I haven't showered today.  I still have some time before I hear about this but my fingers are WAY crossed for this opportunity.

So no one thinks I need to rent an expensive maternity suit?  That's a relief.

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2013 12:15:34 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Would you be protected by fmla or is the agency considered a different employer?

My cursory research says yes.  I've found something that says "all state service" but it was in another context.  There is also something that says 30 days notice must be provided but, if you can't provide it, it can be applied retroactively.  The forms may be a PITA for someone, but hopefully not me.  LOL

[Deleted]

I interviewed at 36 weeks and wore maternity pants and a non maternity jacket (that was the same material as the pants b/c both were from AT loft) and a long, loose shirt. I said nothing during the interview. I suggest erring on the side of looking heavy versus pregnant and addressing the issue if you're offered a job.

[mesop]

Apr 28, 2013 12:28:01 GMT -5 BirdGirl said:

I interviewed at 36 weeks and wore maternity pants and a non maternity jacket (that was the same material as the pants b/c both were from AT loft) and a long, loose shirt. I said nothing during the interview. I suggest erring on the side of looking heavy versus pregnant and addressing the issue if you're offered a job.

I agree with this.  In a perfect world, they wouldn't care you are pregnant and will be out for a while after they hire you, but you never know who's going to be doing the interviewing, and if they won't be able to see you, your skillset, etc because all they can think of is "she's pregnant" "who knows if she'll come back" "we need someone to do this job now".

[dr.girlfriend]

I would just wear a nice maternity dress. I'm always impressed by the line of maternity dresses at Target...it's like every time I like a dress online it's a maternity style!

I *really* don't get why someone who is obviously about to bust out a baby wouldn't address it in the interview. We had this situation and it was so awkward. Obviously it's going to affect things, I'd rather just discuss it openly than be in the weird situation when we both know the candidate is pregnant and yet have no details about what her plan is. I can get holding off if you don't look pregnant or could pass it off as a beer belly or something, but at your stage I think that ship has sailed.

[mesop]

You look pretty good in the first picture. Maybe best to address it.

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2013 13:25:27 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

I would just wear a nice maternity dress. I'm always impressed by the line of maternity dresses at Target...it's like every time I like a dress online it's a maternity style!

I *really* don't get why someone who is obviously about to bust out a baby wouldn't address it in the interview. We had this situation and it was so awkward. Obviously it's going to affect things, I'd rather just discuss it openly than be in the weird situation when we both know the candidate is pregnant and yet have no details about what her plan is. I can get holding off if you don't look pregnant or could pass it off as a beer belly or something, but at your stage I think that ship has sailed.

LOL I don't really know.  That's just has always been the advice I've seen on here.  I was thinking of not bringing it up because I didn't want to shift the focus from my resume and interest in the job to my Special Snowflake demands before I even have an offer.

[dr.girlfriend]

Apr 28, 2013 13:45:15 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Apr 28, 2013 13:25:27 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

I would just wear a nice maternity dress. I'm always impressed by the line of maternity dresses at Target...it's like every time I like a dress online it's a maternity style!

I *really* don't get why someone who is obviously about to bust out a baby wouldn't address it in the interview. We had this situation and it was so awkward. Obviously it's going to affect things, I'd rather just discuss it openly than be in the weird situation when we both know the candidate is pregnant and yet have no details about what her plan is. I can get holding off if you don't look pregnant or could pass it off as a beer belly or something, but at your stage I think that ship has sailed.

LOL I don't really know.  That's just has always been the advice I've seen on here.  I was thinking of not bringing it up because I didn't want to shift the focus from my resume and interest in the job to my Special Snowflake demands before I even have an offer.

If it were me, near the end of the interview I would just say something like, "I understand that it is fairly obvious that I'm pregnant.  I'm not sure if it's premature at this stage, but I'm happy to discuss my plans for leave and return to work if there's anything you'd like to know.  I am aware that the first few months in a new position are critical for training and a smooth transition, so I'm planning on taking X weeks of maternity leave, and returning to a full schedule by x date.  Our childcare arrangements are all finalized, so I don't foresee any difficulties," or whatever.  I mean, they're going to assume you're taking leave and returning and all that, so any additional information would only be reassuring from my perspective.  Unless you're planning on taking half a year or something, in which case I wouldn't be wasting everyone's time job-searching right now.

[ECB]

Apr 28, 2013 13:45:15 GMT -5 @notquiteblushing said:

Apr 28, 2013 13:25:27 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

I would just wear a nice maternity dress. I'm always impressed by the line of maternity dresses at Target...it's like every time I like a dress online it's a maternity style!

I *really* don't get why someone who is obviously about to bust out a baby wouldn't address it in the interview. We had this situation and it was so awkward. Obviously it's going to affect things, I'd rather just discuss it openly than be in the weird situation when we both know the candidate is pregnant and yet have no details about what her plan is. I can get holding off if you don't look pregnant or could pass it off as a beer belly or something, but at your stage I think that ship has sailed.

LOL I don't really know.  That's just has always been the advice I've seen on here.  I was thinking of not bringing it up because I didn't want to shift the focus from my resume and interest in the job to my Special Snowflake demands before I even have an offer.

I agree w dr.girlfriend. Honestly, if a woman 34 weeks PG was interviewing w me, I'd feel she's DEFINITELY coming back and if I liked her, I'd hire her regardless.

I'd focus on your skills, etc, and follow their lead. But then towards the end, address your pregnancy. More as a "oh, one last brief issue to discuss"