Job hunt during pregnancy

Question

I just lost my job unexpectedly while I am 7mo pregnant. Is this a good time to begin a new job hunt or should I just take a break until the baby is born. My fear is it will be difficult for both me and the new employer if I ask for a maternity leave right after joining a new job. Any suggestions?

Kim LeBiavant · Answer

Congratulations on your up coming baby!  This is such a wonderful time in your life, enjoy!  I have two pieces of advice:
One is what I hear from lots of other people:  if you think you lost your job and your pregnancy was in any way a factor, seek legal advice (this is illegal) .  The Lawyer referral service thought the State Bar Association where you live can refer to a lawyer for a low cost or free consultation to find out if you should seek further legal aid.  https://www.californiaattorneyreferral.com

2. You now have to weight the needs of your new baby and the needs of your career.  This is very difficult to do and the answer is not always clear or the one we want to hear.  Also the answer depends heavily on what industry you work in and what your role is.  It will be very difficult to find and start a job and get up and running in less than 3 months when your baby is due.  Also you can't predict how your pregnancy will play out (will you deliver early, will you need bed rest at some point in you pregnancy, etc).  So unless you are in a very special niche in your profession and really find that perfect job that you are a unicorn for that role, employers are not going to take the risk of on-boarding someone that needs to be replaced temporarily in a few months.   
I cringe as I write this, because as a single parent I have experience so much discrimination in my career, even from other woman and non-single parents.  
****Parenthood is honestly the ultimate career sacrifice, and the most IMPORTANT and difficult job you will ever have.

I got pregnant unexpectedly as  nurse practitioner graduate student.  The 1st consult
 I sought was with my women's health and obstetric department heads and mentors.  My women's health advisor sprang into action to create a plan and give me some pointed advice on how to get through the program before the baby comes.  But the Midwife obstetric department head told me that I should not pursue the midwifery program at all.  The realities are that if you have a new baby there is no way you are going to be able to be on-call at all hours of the day and night to catch other peoples' babies and do hospital rounds.  I was shocked, I expected that the one place I would get support would be from the midwifery program.  But I listened to their sage advice and went on to a very successful career in medicine and feeling successful as a parent.  
There is no shame in choosing parenthood as your new MOST IMPORTANT job.  There is no reason you can't find a job later after you are settled into parenthood.  Our culture is so focused on being the career women and the status it brings that we don't honor the very important role of being a parent.  
Have faith you will make the right decision and you have a community of other parents around you to support you as a parent and in your career.  
I would love to hear other women's take on this as I have always struggled with this as well.  Thanks for posting!

Anonymous · Answer

This is a great question, and one I'm feeling right now. I'm also 7 mo. pregnant, and on the verge of being terminated (I'm basically one misstep away). This is particularly scary (aside from the fact that I've never been fired before), but also because of losing my job = losing my health insurance and benefits. My husband is looking for a full-time job as we speak, but nothing secured as of yet.

Thank you for recommended seeking legal advice if I do get terminated.

It's hard to NOT be stressed about this during such an exciting and joyful time, especially because stress can harm the pregnancy. Any advice there?

Anonymous · Answer

Congratulations!

Are you in an industry where jobs are plentiful and you could reasonably have an offer within days of interviewing, and the ability to start the next day? In my industry, it can take months to go from initial contact to start date. Either way, start searching now. You can also explain to recruiters that you're not looking to start until  after the birth, if that is an option. Legally, most companies are not required to offer parental leave unless you have been employed for a year, so you would not have the opportunity to 'ask' for parental leave, you would just be on leave without pay.

The interview experience may also tell you quite a bit about how a company supports new parents. Some may drop contact after they meet you. Others may want to work with you to determine the best onboarding path.

Nirupama Raghavan · Answer

Sorry about the job, but congratulations on the new addition to your family.  I will share my thoughts from the employer side.

I don't think that it's necessarily a horrible challenge that you're going to take maternity leave soon after starting.  I have learned the hard way that having the right person in the job in more important that filling the position quickly.  Sure, during the months that the position was open, I was essentially doing multiple jobs and it was brutal, but finding a star performer was worth it.  How well do you think you can differentiate yourself in your role? Also, since you are 7 months pregnant, I assume you are showing, so your leave won't come as a shock to the employer.

One thing to consider--the physical toll of the job search.   I remember once that a lady who was 7-8 months pregnant came for an interview.  She was a strong candidate on paper and I was surprised and disappointed at how ambivalent and lacking in energy she seemed in the interview.  A colleague asked me if it's possible that the candidate was just tired due to her pregnancy.  I honestly don't know if that was a factor, but it occurs to me that the job search can be strenuous.  I have had interview events for which I had to meet  8-10 people in a single day and maintaining a high-energy, focused demeanor can be hard!  What is the job search like in your field?  Are you feeling strong and healthy and ready to engage in the interview process and in onboarding/training assuming you get the job?  If not, then it might be better to wait.  A stranger has to judge you by what you bring to the interview.  If yes, then go for it!

Job hunt during pregnancy

You're invited.

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