It is illegal for an employer to ask you about marital or family status on an application or an interview. If you decide to volunteer this information, you have put your prospective employer in the awkward position of having information they are not entitled to, and not allowed to use in a decision (no matter how much they want to). Should they decide not to hire you, you have no way to prove it was related to your pregnancy (illegal) as they will give another reason. It also shows ignorance of the laws designed to protect you if you volunteer this info, which may not be looked highly upon.
For those who suggest it is dishonest, my guess is few have gone through professional interviews and understand the laws that are designed to prevent discrimination, or they are employers themselves who would like to circumvent those laws. This is your personal business, and legally, any prospective employers have no right whatsoever to knowledge of it until after you are hired. You may think it is noble or chivalrous or whatever to tell them, but don't kid yourself. Follow the law. It was designed to protect you.
Hi Sharon,
I was in a simliar situation, but was 6 months pregnant. I know others have said not to 'lie', but when I was upfront about my pregnancy during an interview, I wasn't called back for a 2nd. The interviewer told me to never reveal that you're pregnant during an interview. It's illegal to fire someone for being pregnant, but there's nothing to prevent them from discriminating in a job interview. They'll just say you weren't a good fit.
On my next interview, I didn't 'lie', but didn't reveal I was pregnant. I needed insurance. My husband couldn't even buy insurance because I was pregnant and that was a pre-existing condition (if a father would have to put a baby on his plan, the insurance company wanted nothing to do with either). I had to protect my family, so I didn't mention the pregnancy until right after I got the offer.
Really, what's 6 or 8 weeks with unpaid leave to them? If you are dedicated before you deliver and after your short leave, it doesn't make a difference in the long run.
Also, 9 years after my first pregnancy, I found a new job and got pregnant 2 weeks after I started that job. Life doesn't run like a movie and it never will. Don't listen to people who tell you to be 'upfront'. You're not there to talk about babies or marriage or things you'd discuss at lunch with the ladies. If your job doesn't involve your personal life (which I'm sure it doesn't), then that topic doesn't belong in an interview.
My employers at both jobs weren't enthusiastic that I was pregnant so soon into my employment, but I did a good job and caught on quickly.
Do what's right for you, but I wouldn't reveal anything about your personal life at any point in the interview process. If you get the job, accept it and then inform them that you'll need to take off x number of unpaid leave in the fall or whenever. I qualified for short term disability after working in my job for only 6 weeks, but it was only a hundred dollars a week.
Good luck with your interview. If you want to chat offline, feel free to drop me a line.
The fact that you got pregnant without having a job was your choice. Why you would want to create a problem for someone else is beyond me. The employer has nothing to do with you getting pregnant. They just want the best possible employee who will work hard during the business hours they described to you. You are pregnant and know it, so there's no way you can be the best possible employee because you cannot fulfill your end of the deal by working the hours they are describing to you now.
And you know this.
Tell them as right away. While you're right that it may affect their decision, it is dishonest to withhold this information from them because one reason they may be offering it to you is because you can start right away. If they offer and you accept, then you tell them, they will have a very good reason not to trust you in the future. If you tell them and they want you, they'll work around it.
Basically, you know something isn't right with this, or you wouldn't be asking. Do what your heart tells you to do -- NOT your mind. Your heart will live easier without any added pressure of deceit.
By the way, Susan B's answer is totally selfish. Employers are hiring people to do a job. While your personal life in general has nothing to do with your job, this part of your personal life will most certainly affect your job so it should be disclosed. If you know you will not be able to do the job as requested, you should tell them. Anything else IS DISHONEST.
Thank you to everyone for your responses! I decided to tell them at the 2nd interview about my pregnancy. My thinking was that if it made a difference to them, that it wasn’t the right job for me. When I told them, they said “Congratulations” and “No problem, we’ll work around it”. I have been offered the position. I have not accepted yet, because I am waiting to hear the cost for insurance and if there is a waiting period to be eligible for the insurance. If there is, it may cause a problem, since Cobra is $1400 per month! Anyway, I went with the complete honesty view, and am glad that I did. It was the right thing to do in my situation. Thanks again to everyone!