Job hunting while pregnant

[jeminijad]

Unfortunately for me, I reached the breaking point at my work at 15 weeks pregnant. I'm beginning to show, but can look just chubby, too.

I need to make some money- really only need to take home about 1k a month to cover what DH's job doesn't. We will cut back some, but I can't force a total lifestyle change on my DH only because I detest my job and all of the people I work with.

Anyhow, I'm looking. I'm looking at both full time, comparable to my current position, and part time.

Anyone have experience with- and success in!- job hunting while pregnant?

[lunarlady]

I did that with DD 1. I was laid off when 12 weeks pregnant. My boss didn't know, since I hadn't told anyone yet, and felt really bad about it after the fact, but either way, i was expecting, soon to be out of work, and chocking on the cost of COBRA for the insurance I needed to keep since my pregnancy would be a preexisting condition and not covered if I went to private insurance.

I actually had great luck with my job hunt. I looked for both part time and full time work, and had a built in answer for why I was changing jobs that was both true and dodged the lay off topic. "I'm pregnant and looking for something that will allow me to spend more time with the baby once they are born.". I had several offers, but actually ended up back at my old job when a coworker unexpectedly gave notice, creating an opening.

I know times are hard, but most offices don't do paid maternity before one year, so they are actually just looking at paying your benefits only (if that) for however long you take off, so the leave is not that big an issue with most workplaces, and I think the honesty matters to them.

Good luck and let us know when you find something.

[smeep]

When I was pregnant with DS I successfully found a job when I was 5 months pregnant. I was still able to pass for chubby (and, honestly, if you wear the right clothes most women can pass for chubby or at least, "Is she pregnant or fat? I better not ask..." ). I told them a couple weeks later that I was pregnant and they were totally supportive and had no ill toward me for not telling them in the first place. 

This time around I haven't found anything... but I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I can no longer work retail (honestly, it hasn't really been working well at all since I went back to work after DS, but now it's not an option in any way)... so, while I can get almost any retail job due to having such massive experience in it, it's a lot harder to find a 9-5 M-F job with only retail experience.  So I don't think it has anything to do with me being pregnant. In fact, in most of my interviews I've just looked chubby, not pregnant.

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by smeep 

This time around I haven't found anything... but I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I can no longer work retail (honestly, it hasn't really been working well at all since I went back to work after DS, but now it's not an option in any way)... so, while I can get almost any retail job due to having such massive experience in it, it's a lot harder to find a 9-5 M-F job with only retail experience.  So I don't think it has anything to do with me being pregnant. In fact, in most of my interviews I've just looked chubby, not pregnant.

I have zero experience working retail, but I'm applying for jobs right now that I may not look like I'm qualified for at first glance, so I've been looking at the actual things I've done in the jobs I've had that correspond to what employers are looking for.  So when you look at job postings, look at the responsibilities, and find examples of things that you have done before that make you qualified to fulfill those responsibilities. 

It will take some thought, but I'm sure you've done more than just sell things to people.  And even that can translate into LOTS of different things - communicating with people of all different backgrounds successfully as one example.  Think OUTSIDE the box.

And, as far as the hours you need - are there any retail places that would hire you for those hours?  Think places that are only open during business hours.

Gotta go.  Good Luck!!!

[One_Girl]

I had a job as a home health aid (lower than CNA) when I was pregnant and it worked out well but the hours weren't full-time.  I switched to a job with an agency that worked with adults with developmental delays in their homes when I was almost 8 months along.  IME, the low paying jobs that people tend to go through quickly are very willing to work with moms who are pregnant, need time to pump, or need to take time off for family related reasons.  If you can hold on until you give birth though you will be able to take your 12 weeks of FMLA time and that is not something you can do if you switch jobs because you have to work for at least 12 months at the job before they have to give it to you.

[jeminijad]

I've got a couple of things in the pipeline... one slot, EDI coordinator/warehouse order management/several other things is a strangely good match for all of the random things I have done at my current employer. They responded to my resume with an email questionnaire... waiting to hear back about a face to face interview. If I can get in there, I can sell them on myself.

The issue of tell or not tell is still unresolved for me!

And sticking around my current job till May, which seemed absolutely impossible a week ago, may be the right thing to do after all.