I think my Subject pretty much says it all. But anyways I am currently 22 weeks pregnant and I am looking for a job. I am currently working and for the most part I like my job BUT I am undervalued, and underpaid by A LOT. I have an almost 18 month son at home and money wise things will be EXTREMELY tight having two kids in childcare. Neither one of us have family near by so it's either childcare or I Stay at home. Which isn't out of the question-that is still a possibility. A part of me is scared to be at home and not working, because I enjoy and not working is very unknown to me. BUT family is more important and they do come first. I just don't know if we will be able to meet bills with one income, even without the extra payments of daycare. It's something that I will have to sit down and figure out. It could be even tight then. We'll see.
Well, I have been applying for new jobs for awhile now. Long before I knew I was pregnant because I wanted something more, something with possible growth but mainly something that I would enjoy waking up and going to work for. I have had one interview and two phone interviews but nothing.
I have a phone interview this afternoon (and I'm trying not to get my hopes up but still be positive) but my question is: Why would anyone hire me being 5.5 months pregnant? How can I sell myself in a positive way and convince them that I am someone they should take a risk for?
My phone interview this afternoon is for a teaching position at a local charter school. I am a licensed middle school teacher. BUT I am due in Sept. So I would be working for a month before I'd go on leave. So if I get a face to face interview how can I still rise above my competition and show them that I am worthy?
I guess maybe I just needs a confidence booster. It's not just teaching jobs I have been looking at, I've broaden my scope and at this point at times I think I am reaching when I apply to jobs. I have looked at working at a daycare because of the discount I could get but at the same time I WAY over experienced with a Master's degree and the money and the discount don't always put me ahead.
Any thoughts, suggestions would be great. Please keep them positive.
honestly if I was you I;d wait until I was home with the baby and then interview like crazy those weeks. It's a hard sell to convince someone to train you so you can train a temp to take over for 6-12 weeks right away
I think you should wait. Not to be rude, but why would someone hire you if you were going to be out after first month. While out on maternity leave you can look for job.
My guess is that a phone interview is a "screening" conversation, which is pretty common. You do NOT need to say anything about being pregnant at that time (or any time, really).
If you are called for a face-to-face, be prepared to address the issue. In all honesty, if you are the clear front-runner, they may select you and work with you to accommodate your pregnancy. You will not have time "built up", so at MOST you will be taking 8 weeks off (unpaid, of course). You will not be entitled to FMLA, so you're looking at 1/2 a marking period (ballpark). If they REALLY like you for the job, no worries.
I will be the bearer of bad news, though... I have been part of interview committees for teachers/guidance counselors/ school administrators for many years and when a candidate comes in pregnant... it's a tough sell. I interviewed several candidates for a counselor's position recently, one of whom is due in September. All three were qualified and could do the job, but one was going to be out for 12 weeks and the home on-and-off with a sick infant. Guess who got the job?
If another candidate is the same ballpark re: skills, experience, application... the odds are pretty good that they will hire the other person. I'm being completely honest with you here. If they offer you a face-to-face (demo lesson), come ready to talk about your plan to bridge between yourself and a sub. Focus on your ability to maintain curricular alignment and plan long-term; talk about your strong communication skills and how you accommodated for your extended leave with your first child.
If I was the interviewer, I would take detailed notes and hold on to your resume, should another position open at my school. I would not likely hire a teacher who would be out for the bulk of the first marking period.
This is not about showing your worthiness... it's about what's in the best interest of your students. THAT'S what you need to convince them of... how are you going to make sure that your students are not impacted by your extended absence.
Make a good impression. If this doesn't stick, they may call you again. Charters have SIGNIFICANT turnover rates (due to burnout).
I don't think you're going to have as much trouble with selling it to the administration (which is also going to be difficult) as you are going to have trouble selling it to the parents of your students in September. So, I would focus on getting ONE sub who can fill in the ENTIRE time and really working on having a lesson plan in place, so that there is continuity in learning.
If I knew that my daughter's teacher was BOTH new to the school AND immediately going to be out for 6-8 weeks right at the beginning of the year it would be enough for me to re-think whether or not I even wanted her at that school. It will impact your relationships with these parents unless you really have a plan in place and ensure that you can get these parents feeling comfortable.
Do you have maternity benefits (like short term disability) at your current job? Will you have them at the new job? Is there a waiting period or pre-ex that would exclude you from getting maternity benefits if you move jobs? Just some other stuff to think about in making your decision.
One of the teachers my kids had did go on maternity leave fairly quickly after starting, so it is possible that won't be a problem if the school wants you bad enough.
You say that money being tight is the reason you don't stay home. Have you thought about tutoring? There are services that set you up for on-line tutoring, or you could use the contacts you have already developed in the school you are currently at to establish a clientele. I have a friend who has successfully done this for a number of years. I believe she plans to return to teaching once her kids are school aged.
It sounds as if you haven't fully investigated some critical things here, and you need to do that.
Your husband absolutely must be part of all these questions as well.
Why does staying home scare you? Is it really purely financial, or are you actually worried about "who am I if I am not working" or "will I just become all mommy and not an individual with my own 'thing'"? Can you work through that to stay at home? Or do you know that you truly need to be outside the home? Some people just do!
How do you feel now about working with a toddler at home? Do you find you have regrets about having your child in day care? Do you ever think that you are missing milestones with him due to working? Or do you know confidently that you need to be with other adults and doing fulfilling work to be your best self for your child? (A friend of mine stayed home for about a year before going back to work because she just needed to be around adults and working for her own mind, not for finances, yet I have happily stayed home and worked some from home for 12 years. Different strokes....and neither is right or wrong! You just need to decide based on some serious consideration and not choose either option out of fear or pressure from society.)
Have you looked at your career field and investigated the prospects for that career field in the next two, five and 10 years? Is it a field where you can opt out for, say, two years, and then get back into the swing fairly easily? Is it a field where there are realistic options for work at home(tutoring or curriculum development?) , part-time work, job-sharing arrangements, contract work, etc.? Would you like to try any of those after a stay at home?
And where is your husband in all this? You don't mention him or how he feels or thinks about any of it -- leaving your current job, taking a new one or staying home. He could secretly feel terrified at the thought of being sole breadwinner (I have had friends who discovered their husbands were silently panicked at that thought when the wives stayed home.) Or he could be fine with whatever you decide. But he needs to be fully half of this equation.
This is about much more than "should I interview while pregnant" or what your chances are of getting a job now. Sit down and really think not just about jobs and interviews but about your motivations; why you are scared to stay home; why you want to keep working and how that makes you stronger and better; future prospects for jobs (including more innovative options than 9 to 5 in an office or 8 to 4 in a school); what creates the "best you" for your kids; and the financial situaition as well. Only you and your husband can figure out what is best and that may be full-time work or staying home or something in between, but you need to explore it fully before plunging into a new job.
Can you keep working through the summer? After you have baby can you substitute teach until you can secure a full time teaching position?
I'd wait - maybe you can try and sub once your new baby is a few months old? And plan on going for a teaching position the following year? Maybe you can see if you can do home child care and stay home with your 2? You could probably take one or two other kids. Summer might be a good time to start that...
Congratulations!..
1. The fact that you are reacing out for more, not keeping with status quo .. is start.
I have hired people, and I look at the skilset somone has, thier attitude and personality.
If my kid was going to your school that just hired you and you were leaving (6-8 weeks), I would think nothing of it.. or it would make me think.. well there is a lot there or they would not have hired you.
Let your ambition and your skills sell you. But, also keep in mind, with having the baby it does put a damper on things especially that type of job.
L.;
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
yes, I would hire you IF you have the skills and attitude I am looking for in my opportunities. it doesn't have anything to do with your being pregnant, it has EVERYTHING to do with your skill set. if you are a fit - I will work to make it work for us as a team.
You want to rise above the competition? Show them your skill set. Show them your aptitude. Show them your desire to bring your "A" game to the table. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
In regards to day care? Try for a Director's position or a curriculum position. The larger facilities that are calling themselves "pre-schools" or even pre-kindergarten? They are still looking for people do come in and do curriculum advancements as well as directing the teachers on staff.
Good luck!
