How to Tell the Boss You're Pregnant (Last Part)

Should I discuss my pregnancy during a new job interview?

During a new job interview, it's discriminatory and thus illegal for employers to ask you if you're pregnant. But if your condition is obvious when you go for your interview, it's a good idea to bring up the topic after focusing on your skills, experience, and enthusiasm for the job. Once the interviewer is interested in your qualifications, incorporate your post-baby plans into the conversation without making them a primary focus of the interview. State your plans in a business-like manner and be prepared to answer questions about the logistics of your maternity leave, your return to work, and your ability to manage your job when you have a newborn. Try to inspire confidence without promising too much.

If you aren't showing signs of your pregnancy yet, you'll need to decide whether or not you want to say anything. It might not feel right to tell a relative stranger your good news, especially if you haven't yet told your friends or family. If this is your first pregnancy, you might not honestly know how you'll feel after your child's birth. Will you want to return to work immediately? After three months? After a year? You may need more time to consider your options and determine your post-baby plans before making promises to a new employer.

On the other hand, a new potential employer may appreciate your honesty if you decide to discuss your pregnancy up front. This will also give you a chance to openly discuss your potential employer's health benefits during the interview or with an HR person to determine what kind of coverage you'd have for your pregnancy and new baby before taking the job.

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