19 Wks+ Pregnant: Does a Job Search Make Sense @ This Stage?

If it were me, I'd wait.

When I was pregnant with my first, I got a job interview out of the blue (had sent them my resume a few months earlier) at an office that was 10 minutes from my home. At some point in the interview (I really liked the HR person and the office), I told her that I was pregnant and didn't feel comfortable keeping that information from her. I also said that I'd like to wait until after the baby was born before moving to another company because of the maternity benefits. She really appreciated my honesty and I promised to give her a call after the baby was born to see if they had anything available. Low and behold, they did need a part time person. I ended up working there part-time for 5 years. I quit after my 3rd was born.

This was over 14 yrs ago and times have changed considerably - especially where benefits are concerned.

While it is illegal for an employer to ask you about your pregnancy, rest assured that your obviously pregnant state would influence them silently. And they might even go ahead and ask what you intend to do about maternity leave, child care, etc. It would be unlikely, unless you have very specialized skills for a particular industry, for instance, that an employer would want to take on someone who would need a substantial leave just four months after hiring. I'd wait until your baby is born and you have taken the time off after the birth that you need and want. In this economy, there are so many people applying for jobs that if an employer has a choice between a qualified person who is able to start and keep working now, and an equally qualified person who will start but will then disappear for four or six weeks (or maybe leave and not return), the employer is going to choose the former candidate. Fair? No, but that's the way it is right now.

If it were me, I think I'd want to stay put. Even though it's okay, I'm not sure I'd want to take a maternity leave shortly after starting a new job. Usually with change, comes some stress and why deal with that during pregnancy if you don't have to. I guess it might depend on what type of job it is that you're looking for?

I would think it depends on why or how much a job is needed.

Hi, T.:
Try to get a job. If it works out fine, if
not that is fine too.
Good luck.
D.

I agree I'd stay at my current job until after the maternity leave. Unless it's a really awful job to me it wouldn't make sense. Also it would be pretty tough to find a new job being 5 months pregnant and even if you did, they probably wouldn't cover maternity leave that soon. Usually you have to be there a certain amount of time.
So yes I think your hubby and mom are right, good luck!

If you take a new position, you may not qualify for maternity benefits. Not even FMLA because you haven't been there a year. Personally, if your current position is not a problem, I would wait until after you had your child. Its cleaner that way.

Hmm, the benefit of staying where you are is that a lot of new companies don't have things like maternity leave kick in until after you have been there for some time.

I started a new job when my youngest was 10 weeks old. I had 8 weeks of maternity leave with him from my company at 60% pay for the last 6 weeks, the first two I had to take leave. The new company I started offered 3 months of full pay. REALLY?? Ugh, had I been with them a year prior to having my son, I would have been afforded t he benefit. However, I was grateful to have any kind of check coming in at all.

So I wouldn't hesitate to look, but beware that some companies won't want to hire someone new on only to get them trained before they take off a decent amount of time.

Good luck!

i found a job when i was 7 months pregnant. working the drive through at burger king, breathing in all that lovely carbon monoxide. in my burger king uniform.
i'd stay put if i were you.
khairete
S.

Most employers do not offer maternity leave benefits unless you've been there a year or more. You are protected at your current job to ask for "reasonable accommodations" while you are pregnant. Legally, pregnancy is considered a short-term disability. If this is a case of you not being able to fulfill the physical requirements of your job because you are pregnant, talk to HR and tell them you need to investigate accommodations they can offer due to your pregnancy. Then, you can use every bit of maternity leave you have accrued, spend the time with your newborn and come back to work and make a decision then.

If you are just disgruntled at work right now, it could be partially hormonal. The nesting instinct is not just about cleaning your house literally, but figuratively as well. Especially getting close to 20 weeks, you may be neck deep in feelings that your current life (and job) aren't providing a good environment for your child. I would definitely take some time and wait things out.

Take a look and see what's out there but, if I were you I would stay where I am at. If you don't get time to shine you may be forgotten in the time your out on maternity at a new place of business.

I am not sure what you do for a living but, I am sure a new employer would take your current state, if he/she is trying to fill a position into consideration. I'm not saying you can't handle a transition or do the job well, merely saying that you would be there for a short time and gone for a few months.

Enjoy being prego and feeling secure where your at. Just my opinion.

Congrats and good luck!