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Job searching in the time of Covid and newly pregnant
Like many of us, I was furloughed back in March. I reached out to my company recently and they currently do not have an update for when I would be returning. I'm pretty doubtful that I will be, so I've started applying to other jobs. In my job search, I am looking for remote work only and for positions that don't list that I want to be able to have an open and honest conversation about that position being full remote going forward. I have just started to get traction in having interviews, which has been a step forward from barely hearing back on automated rejections for the last few months. I also am early into my pregnancy (too soon to even announce it to friends and family). Is this taboo to say in an interview? Will that just be an automatic write off? How do you tell a potential employer that you don't feel comfortable when the offices potentially reopen in January (though I doubt they will) without giving them a solid reason? I do think that office reopening are just going to continue being pushed off until a vaccine is available, which keep in mind, the fastest vaccine to currently be developed and approved was mumps and it took 4 years. However, many old school thinkers are looking for the first green light to put their employees back in an office.
*EDIT* I think it may have been missed in my original post. I am not interested in a position in an office period. I was remote prior to covid and have no interest of restarting a 4 hr RT commute into NYC again - there is just no quality of life with that- pregnancy aside. So, my question is how to have a conversation of a role becoming fully remote if it isn’t stated as a “remote” position.
MoneyCareerMotherhood
Smart financial decisions for work & home
175
08/22/20 at 12:59PM UTC
If working in an office in the future is a deal-breaker for you, I'd definitely bring it up to discuss in the interview process. Not in a, "the only way I'll work for you is if you let me be remote" kind of way of course, but for you to get a general feel for the company culture. It's a waste of your time if you go through the process and find out in 6 months you're looking again because of something you knew you didn't want. I would still consider jobs that are not fully remote going forward (if you have to) if the company seems flexible, because sometimes it's easier to negotiate once you're already in the role.
As for the pregnancy, I highly recommend you consult an attorney. Family leave requirements are dependent on the size of the company, as well as how long you're with a company. Understanding your rights, as well as company's obligations, may help you in your company search and in formulating questions in interviews to understand how the pregnancy impact your position. Either way, it's my understanding you're not obligated to disclose. That said, I know multiple people who have interviewed pregnant. One told the company, two did not. All of them had favorable outcomes - in each case the companies were happy to have them because they were the best candidate for the job. Just wanted to share that sometimes, the best really does work out. Congratulations on your pregnancy & best wishes!
Mara FahlContent marketing professional
72
08/20/20 at 6:53PM UTC
At this point I would definitely not mention your pregnancy while job hunting - focus on positions that meet your needs and where you could be a standout candidate. If you're the right fit for the role, and if they're eager to hire you and if they are decent they'll handle it appropriately when you do tell them. If you're still job searching in a few months or beyond, you may consider being more open but legally you certainly don't have to.
Krystin MorganRecruiting Leader & Résumé Writer in Seattle
436
08/18/20 at 9:49PM UTC
I think so many people are considering remote work now that it would be totally normal to express that is what you're looking for and ask if it's possible. If you truly will NOT consider something in-office, period, I'd ask up front or at least after the first conversation if it's something they're open to. If you would potentially consider an office requirement for the right role, it may make sense to wait until further in the process, like at the offer stage, and try to negotiate remote work.
Krystin MorganRecruiting Leader & Résumé Writer in Seattle
436
08/18/20 at 9:50PM UTC
And congrats on your pregnancy!
Anonymous
08/18/20 at 9:56PM UTC
Thank you, Krystin! I think I’m on the same page as you with my approach. It’s interesting to say the least. One company’s recruiter straight up said “our owner is very old school, doesn’t believe in WFH, and if you are looking for a job with “tech job benefits” then we aren’t the one for you.” I was like oh, okay we can end this convo then (in more professional terms of course)! And yeah, my commute into NYC at a minimum is 2 hrs each way- It leads to a very unhealthy work life balance as well as makes you dislike your job more. I saw an interesting figure once that was something along the lines of “for every 20 minutes of a commute” you are x% more unhappy with your job. I wasn’t a super fan of my last company, but I was fully remote and I succeed in more role because of how happy remote working made me.
Erika SpodenUX Researcher & Writer
62
08/18/20 at 8:28PM UTC
Under absolutely no circumstances should you mention that you are pregnant in an interview; although it is illegal to be asked about this in an interview setting, a company's non-discrimination policy doesn't usually kick in until after you're officially an employee, and discrimination against pregnant women is alive and well in the US. They have no right to know, and as it's too early to tell your family and friends, just extend that policy to potential employers. In these economic times, it seems best not to hand people an easy reason not to employ you. Get the job, and then you'll have time to get to know your new team and those you work with, and then you can let everyone know when you are comfortably established- in the role as well as your pregnancy!
As to coming in beginning in January, the latest that I've heard is that there isn't much evidence to suggest that pregnant women are any more susceptible to COVID than anyone else, provided they have no underlying risk factors for COVID. If you do have to go in in person in January, wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, etc., and use the same caution that by then will likely be routine. Best of luck!
Anonymous
08/18/20 at 9:41PM UTC
Thank you for the advice! I had a feeling there is definitely discrimination against pregnant women. I also updated my post, I’m not interested in a non-remote position, so it would be more so how to have the conversation of staying remote post-covid if that position wasn’t remote prior (my career is able to be done remotely and isn’t office dependent).
Rachel F.Here to support women.
97
08/18/20 at 4:46PM UTC
Hi,
I think it would be best to just focus on what skills you have to offer the job. I wouldn't get into what the position will look like down the road (remote work, etc.). They wouldn't even be able to answer that for you, really. Just try to be present. I wouldn't mention the pregnancy this early on, either. You just need to focus on why you are the right one for the job. Hope that helps!
Cara HouserCoaching + Digital Courses for High Impact Women
1.93k
08/18/20 at 4:49PM UTC
YES to all of your comments. If there's one thing COVID is teaching us, it's that rapid change (and the ability to adjust nimbly) is the new norm.
Anonymous
08/18/20 at 4:49PM UTC
Thank you, Rachel! That's kind of what I was thinking. Based on the interviews I've had over the last week, the question seems to be coming up of "will you be willing to come into the office once they open?" So, for that, I'm just unsure how to approach it as it seems to be a common question right now : /
Amanda LordyExperienced Leader/Proven Marketer/ Strategist
44
08/18/20 at 9:23PM UTC
I think Rachel gives a lot of great advice here! My two cents on the re-opening question is to acknowledge how fluid this situation is and give a tentative yes. You could say something like "If things continue to trend in this positive direction, I would likely feel comfortable especially once I know more about the protocols in place at the office." If you get the job and ultimately aren't comfortable going into the office when they open (understandable given the pregnancy - congrats btw!), you can address it with your manager then. And by the way, addressing it shouldn't include bringing up the pregnancy unless you're ready to do so! As you said, it may not even be an issue if they decide not to open as planned. Good luck!
Anonymous
08/18/20 at 9:44PM UTC
Thank you, Amanda! For me, saying tentatively yes would be a lie- maybe we could call it a white lie, but I have no interest in going back to commuting (my commute before my remote job was 4 hours round trip and due to my field, jobs are either remote or in NYC, not really outside of it). I think I made that clearer in my edited post! I guess it’s more so a question of ethics if I were to tell someone I would tentatively be okay going in an office post-covid.
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