Should I Have Bit My Tongue?

I would have told them too. Will you get the job? Probably not. But, that doesn't mean it's the end.

Many years ago, I went to an interview and really hit it off with the HR lady. I was a good fit for the job too. Towards the end of the interview, I told her that I was pregnant with my first and had only found out after I had applied for the job. I told her that I understood if she didn't want me to move on in the interview process, but I didn't think it was fair to conceal my pregnancy. She thanked me and asked for me to contact her after the baby was born, which I did. A few months later, she called and offered me a part time, contract position in their legal department. Eventually, I was offered a permanent part-time position and worked there for 4 years.

I still think that honesty is the best policy. Good luck to you!

Updated

I would have told them too. Will you get the job? Probably not. But, that doesn't mean it's the end.

Many years ago, I went to an interview and really hit it off with the HR lady. I was a good fit for the job too. Towards the end of the interview, I told her that I was pregnant with my first and had only found out after I had applied for the job. I told her that I understood if she didn't want me to move on in the interview process, but I didn't think it was fair to conceal my pregnancy. She thanked me and asked for me to contact her after the baby was born, which I did. A few months later, she called and offered me a part time, contract position in their legal department. Eventually, I was offered a permanent part-time position and worked there for 4 years.

I still think that honesty is the best policy. Good luck to you!

You probably wont get hired.
Which is a huge bummer.
Is it right? Nope!
Is it fair?! Nope.
But they will probably hire someone that they can train and will stay on, not take maternity leave.
BUT....if you DO get hired than they are going to seriously appreciate that you told them the truth before hand.
L.

V. Rae:

Companies cannot discriminate against you because you are pregnant. Does it happen? I'm sure it does.

You were honest and up-front with them. Many employers appreciate that.

Will you get the job? I don't know. There's a possibility you won't. Oh well. Don't dwell over it and move on. Keep looking for other positions. You will find one that works for you.

What can you do about it? Nothing. You send your thank you note and tell them you believe you will be a valuable member of the team and are looking forward to hearing from them.

However, you are making assumptions about what they THINK - did they get rude or snotty with you after you told them you were pregnant?

You are under NO obligation to tell any employer that you are pregnant. They can't ask the question - your marital status, sexual orientation, number of children you have, etc. - taboo questions for a potential employer...for future interviews? I would continue to be honest and forthright.

There's a reason it's illegal to ask you if you are pregnant, married, or planning on starting a family in job interviews. Don't beat yourself up about it, but keep your mouth shut the next time around. Once you are hired, there are federal guidelines to protect your job (assuming it's a big enough company), but there's nothing illegal about them not hiring a pregnant person who will be taking 8-12 weeks leave in a matter of months.

Lots of these call centers are very strict about their employees taking any time off. One of my son's former daycare ladies took a job with AAA in their call center, and they fired her because she took off work when her grandmother died. She begged them to understand, offered to show them a copy of the obituary. Didn't matter.

I'd be really worried about taking that job because you'll need some flexibility with your pregnancy. Unless you have a lot of support from friends when the baby is sick, you may find that they let you go because of needing to take off work.

I know that's not an answer to your question, but I thought it is important enough to tell you.

What's done is done. Next time, keep it to yourself. You're under no obligation to tell them. It's a courtesy. In the future, tell them when they make the offer. Say you would love to accept and can start right away, then let them know about the pregnancy. That way, if they rescind the offer, you'll have some legal recourse if you want to take that route (it's illegal to not hire someone only because they are pregnant).

Follow up with them tomorrow. Tell them how excited you are about the opportunity and how good you felt about the interview. If they see your excitement, it may help sway them toward hiring you anyway.

What's done is done. I am not a big fan of "should've, could've, would'ves.

It's obvious you were excited about the job prospect and your pregnancy. Who wouldn't be?

But you were honest and their reaction speaks volumes.

Whatever happens next is supposed to happen. Send a letter, reiterating your interest and move on.

Chalk it up to a learning experience.

Absolutlely should have kept it to yourself, because if they didnt seem happy, they most likely will not hire you. Really not much you can do about it, because all they will tell you is they found a more qualified candidate. Better luck next time.

In the future, keep your mouth shut. As harsh as this might sound, your pregnancy is none of their business, especially if you aren't yet an employee. The only people who need to know is your HR department, so that appropriate accommodations can be made.

It is always best to be honest. BUT they didn't ask!! I would not have told them. I hope that it doesn't matter though, and that you get the job.

No way to know. They can't deny you the job because of it. Considering te requirements for the job, pregnancy is not a hindrance. Also, the job has a high turnover, being pregnant isn't an issue.

I suggest that telling them doesn't matter.

Later: I definitely would not call them doing so only emphasizes an issue that is best ignored. As Mommy of 1 said, this is really a non issue. Keep that in mind if you have more interviews.

BTW will you even get insurance with this job? And if so, pregnancy may not even be covered. No worries. I suggest you just need to stop thinking about shat can't be undone.

it is never wrong to be honest.
that doesn't mean you have to vomit up unnecessary minutiae. but your pregnancy isn't something 'private' and it is important from your employer's perspective.
i hope it doesn't cost you the job, but you still did the right thing even if it does.
khairete
S.

Did you offer or did they ask what your plans are after the baby? If you are planning on staying then it might not be too bad, if you think you would stay home, then it's a waste for them to train you. for 8 months unless it is a high turn over job.

Probably, yes you should not have said anything. It has nothing to do with anything and is our legal right to be pregnant and seeking a job. However, the company might see it as a negative due to time off and expanding insurance costs.

Next time, say nothing. Then once you get the job - oh, by the way, I'm expecting.

If you really want the job, call the person who interviewed you and explain your situation. How you are worth training and how you will be coming back for certain.

Best of luck with your pregnancy (and the job hunt).

I worked at Sykes for a couple of years and it was my number 2 worst job of my life. The customers are mad when they call because something is not working. My average windows call was over an hour. When I switched to MAC support my call time went down to less than 15 minutes. MAC is so much easier.

The staff is all about reaching quota's and they don't really care about personal issues. Many women have baby's while working. They spend this time training you then you go to work. You would continue to work until your doc said you need to stop working. Then you go back to work after 6 weeks. That's the youngest an infant can attend child care.

It's never "wrong" to be honest.
Technically, in a perfect world, it wouldn't have nearing on your hiring.
Turning it around, NOT telling them could seem like lying to some, I guess.
In any event, it's water under the bridge now.
You'll just have to wait & see.
Good luck!

I guess there is nothing you can do about it now. If I were you I would have weighed the pros and cons of telling them you are pregnant BEFORE the interview. That way if you decided you wanted to put it out there you could have come up with exactly how you wanted to say it and how you wanted it to come across.

I would not have told them. Did/does your husband/partner tell his prospective employer? It isn't their business. MHO. Discrimination is real. You will never know why you may not have gotten this job but I'd be suspicions.