Navigating a Job Offer While Pregnant: My Experience and Tips

Imagine being 6 months pregnant and receiving a job offer for what seems like the perfect position.

What do you do? How do you approach the situation? Should you disclose your pregnancy or keep it to yourself? These questions raced through my mind from the moment I hung up the phone with the recruiter.

At the time, I was balancing life with a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old while 23 weeks pregnant. The job offer was particularly appealing because it meant moving closer to family for free and included a promotion. My husband was enthusiastic, saying, “It’s a no-brainer! What is there to think about?” But I was wobbling around the house and felt there was indeed a lot to consider!

Being a researcher at heart, I started googling experiences similar to mine but found very little relevant information. I reached out to a few mentors, mostly seasoned professionals, and received mixed advice:

“Don’t take the position; you’re in a good place now. Wait for another opportunity.”

“Use this as a chance to take a break from the workforce and have your baby.”

“Wait until your first day to reveal your pregnancy.”

“Being honest might hurt you at the negotiation table.”

“Hold off until you receive an offer.”

It was overwhelming!

I decided to meet with the hiring manager to gauge the situation. The first interview went well, and I had a good feeling about the manager, but I was too afraid to share my pregnancy, fearing it might jeopardize the opportunity. I was then invited for a second interview with a team member who happened to be a woman. I hoped that perhaps I could discuss my situation with her, but she was such a thorough and tough interviewer that I found myself even more nervous.

At this point, I needed to reflect deeply and ask myself several questions:

1. Should I take a break from the workforce and stay at home?

2. What decision aligns with my morals and values?

3. How would I feel if I were in the hiring manager’s position?

4. What impression would withholding this information create with my future boss and team?

5. If sharing this news disqualifies me, is this the kind of company I want to work for anyway?

After careful consideration, I reached out to the hiring manager to request a meeting. I was nervous and shaking as I wanted this position badly. The opportunity to be closer to family, have support with our three kids, and enjoy date nights with my husband was incredibly tempting.

I took a deep breath and told him, “I apologize for not mentioning this during our first call. I was nervous. I want to be upfront and let you know that I am 6 months pregnant. I didn’t feel comfortable continuing without sharing this.” He responded, “I appreciate you being honest. This won’t affect your negotiations, and I’ll only share this with my boss and our HR team.”

I was relieved to hear that, though a part of me remained sceptical. During the final round of interviews, the VP congratulated me on my pregnancy. I wondered if the congratulations had a deeper meaning.

A few days later, I received a verbal offer and my initial offer letter. Coincidentally, my current boss also offered me the same promotion. Given our strong relationship, I showed him the offer letter. He honestly shared that he couldn’t match it and disclosed the salary range for his offer. This transparency helped me make an informed decision.

I accepted the new offer and was thrilled with the outcome, but you will never believe what happened when it was time to prepare for my maternity leave…

Stay tuned for a separate post on salary transparency and negotiations, where I’ll share more insights on this topic

Adaku