Looking for a new job while pregnant?

I'm almost 6 months pregnant due with my 2nd child in December.

I want to find a new job closer to home; more flexibility regarding working from home; better vacation etc. I've started looking online just to see what is available within 20-30 minutes from home.

I'm not sure though if it makes sense to apply to these jobs NOW? or wait until I'm at least home and on maternity leave and able to actually accept a position within 4-6 weeks. Is sending my resume out now and possibly being called for an interview wasting mine and the employers time? I know it's illegal to discriminate due to pregnancy; but I'm sure if I go to an interview pregnant they'll just find a different candidate. Will that mean I will have difficult applying for another job at the same company?? Sorry for all the questions!

Re: Looking for a new job while pregnant?

Personally, I'd wait until you're out on maternity leave. If you find another job now, you will not have worked long enough to qualify for paid maternity leave, so you would likely only have 6 weeks of unpaid FMLA. I'm not sure what your current circumstances are, but I'd still with your current company, get paid out for your maternity leave, and start looking while you're out. Chances are you'll go back to your current job, but by then you should have momentum and be interviewing, on your way to a new job. And then you don't have to worry about not being hired b/c you're pg.

While it's illegal for them to not hire you because you're pregnant, let's be honest....any company would probably not want to invest a whole lot of time to bring you on board, begin to get you trained and up to speed, and then have you leave for a few months of maternity leave.

Good luck! I'm sure you'll find a new job soon. Plus, if you're due in December, budgets renew at the beginning of the year, and companies are often looking to hire then.

Looking for a new job while pregnant?

Thanks!!! I'm holding on to the fact that I only have 3 more months and then I'm out on leave!

I'll be able to go on interviews easier when I'm home too rather than trying to figure out going around my current work schedule.

Re: Looking for a new job while pregnant?

I would wait. Not to sound morbid, but you also don't know what could happen with your pregnancy.

God forbid you end up on bedrest or something....

Re: Looking for a new job while pregnant?

Definitely start looking after the baby comes. You don't want to forfeit your maternity leave eligibility that you surely have at your current position.

Also, let's be honest here: who would hire an obviously pregnant woman? So, even if you did get an interview now, it would be a completely wasted effort.

Message edited 8/20/2014 1:58:49 AM.

Re: Looking for a new job while pregnant?

P.S. This is JMO but I think this could be part of the hormones talking.

I know when I was pregnant I had this desire to change jobs. It was so strong.

I've heard many other women say the same, it even comes up as a topic on blogs and such where they are following their pregnancy and what they are feeling.

I have actually since changed jobs, but as a new working mom, it was actually for the best that I didn't leave my old agency in a hasty decision.

Re: Looking for a new job while pregnant?

I actually was 5 months pregnant when I start looking for jobs, I had interviews but you couldn't tell I was pregnant. Now you can, I am 7 months.
Anyway, i didn't disclose to anyone during my interview I was pregnant. I did disclose when i was offered a job that I am at now. I had to leave my company since we bought a house 2 hours away. The company was so understanding and offered me unpaid FMLA of 12 weeks.

It's doable with the right company.

Looking for a new job while pregnant?

Thanks so much everyone!! I definitely plan on staying put here at my current company at least until my maternity leave. Like a previous poster mentioned; It wouldn't make any sense to leave and loose my benefits that I'm granted with my current company.

I guess I'm wondering how long does it really take to find a new job these days? 2 months? 4 months? 6 months? In a perfect world I will start sending my resumes out in November; have interviews in January/February and have a new job accepted by March. but we know that is just a dream! I just want to make sure that by March/April I have something new lined up. I don't know how quickly companies fill positions or respond once a person applied to a job. I haven't seriously looked for a new job since 2006!

Re: Looking for a new job while pregnant?

There's really no way to know how long it will take to get a job. It depends on your industry/field, number of years experience, flexibility on salary, how specific you are in what you're looking for, etc.

But you'll get something for sure!

Re: Looking for a new job while pregnant?

I work for the NSLIJ health system.

I have found they really only tend to hire people they know.

And with that, and someone pushing for you on the inside to get through HR, the process still takes a good 2-3 months.

Applying to places blindly with no contacts there at all, I have found you are lucky to even receive an email acknowledgement that they got your resume.

Re: Looking for a new job while pregnant?

NSLIJ is difficult to get a position with and I interned with them and still its hard. I have given up trying to get a position with them

I have connections with NYU langone but I am not up for that type of travel

Re: Looking for a new job while pregnant?

Yeah, I just used that as an example because I know it's one of the largest employers in the area.

I have several colleagues who have been looking in general for the past few YEARS and there's not a lot out there.

Especially if you have a lot of experience.....I think that a lot of places are doing away with middle management type roles.

So it's either something basic and entry level that you can't make ends meet on, or some regional director role that is impossible to obtain.

There's middle ground jobs, but one may not want to do them either based on all the responsibilities!

My advice has always been, and will always be, to network like crazy. Even put it out there on FB that you are looking....you never know who will have a contact....friend of a friend and all that.

Looking for a new job while pregnant?

Thanks!!!! I will definitely start networking and seeing who I can reach out to see who I know that works where!

Re: Looking for a new job while pregnant?

I lost my job in March and I started a new one in July, so it took me about 3 months to find a position. I agree with the others who say to wait until you are on maternity to start interviewing, etc.