Pregnant & Showing: how to handle interview (maternity leave, non-profit, degree)

[joyeaux]

Young woman has asked me if she should go on an interview with her due date 3 months away. It's her dream job (entry level admin) & matches her 2 year degree in child development. She is currently in a non-profit accounting office which has helped her office skills but has also confirmed that she should finish her child development education (BA). New job is in a non-profit program for children with disabilities.

She knows her days are numbered in the current position due to a new supervisor & having too many differences in work approach. She's barely keeping it together but can't afford to quit. She doesn't expect that they will let her go since so many others have recently quit due to the new management style.

So what does she say to a perspective employer when she knows she will be out for 2 weeks at least? How does she sell herself to the new organization? Thanks!

[katestar]

Focus on the skills and don't worry about the pregnancy. Don't bring it up. Wow them and they won't worry about her being out for some time. In the scope of things, the 6 weeks she might be out with a new baby is really nothing.

[Hemlock140]

It would be better if this was winter and she could wear a coat during the interview, that happened to us once, years ago and the person went on maternity leave two months later while still on probation. While it's illegal to ask about her condition or to discriminate based on her pregnancy, the fact is that unless she is far better than the other applicants, they will use the old "we selected someone better qualified" to avoid a lawsuit. We actually hired someone a couple of years ago who was 8+ months pregnant, but she was so much better than the other interviewees, that we made the offer with a starting date 3 weeks after delivery.

[joyeaux]

Thank you both. I have passed on your viewpoints -- she's still undecided if she will interview.