Tips for interviewing while pregnant (with jobs to consider)

When you're preparing for an interview, there's a lot to think about, and interviewing while pregnant can pose even more stress. There are many actions you can take to give a spectacular interview while pregnant and stay comfortable and confident throughout the process. This can include planning how you'll bring up your pregnancy and preparing questions to ask the interviewer to ensure you'll receive the support you need if hired. Here are a few tips for interviewing while pregnant, along with jobs that can be perfect employment opportunities for pregnant people.

Tips for interviewing while pregnant

Here are a few tips you can use to ace your interview while pregnant:

Discuss your pregnancy if you feel comfortable

The decision of whether you'll tell your interviewer you're pregnant is completely up to you, as you're not required to disclose it by law. It's often beneficial to mention your pregnancy as early as possible, as this will show your interviewer that you're transparent and honest. It can also help them prepare for future accommodations you'll need if they decide to hire you.

According to the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, it's illegal for employers to turn away candidates based solely on their pregnancy. This means that even if you tell your interviewer you're pregnant, they can't use that as a reason not to hire you. This rule gives you a little more freedom to decide whether you want to discuss your pregnancy or not, since it won't affect your application status.

Ask about the company's benefits

One of the key parts of interviewing is asking the interviewer questions after they've finished their inquiries. The best questions to ask in an interview vary, depending on what's important to you, but pregnant people will benefit from asking specifically about a company's benefit offerings. This will give them the chance to verify whether the company they're interviewing with provides maternity leave and determine if their policy offers enough time for their recovery. 

Similarly, it's advisable to ask about the health insurance the company offers. Giving birth can be expensive, and it's important to know how much of the care will be covered by your insurance. It's also helpful to ask about paid time off, as it'll be nice to know whether you'll have personal days you can use in the future for any unforeseen situations that occur with your new baby.

Emphasize your skills and readiness to work

Whether you disclose your pregnancy or not, make a great impression on your interviewer by showcasing your strongest skills and dedication to working. Highlight your most impressive talents by giving real-world examples of times they've helped you succeed, especially in past jobs. This includes transferable skills that you can use across various positions as well as technical skills that are specific to the role or its industry.

"There are many actions you can take to give a spectacular interview while pregnant and stay comfortable and confident throughout the process. This can include planning how you'll bring up your pregnancy and preparing questions to ask the interviewer to ensure you'll receive the support you need if hired."

Jobs for pregnant people

If you're not sure where to start looking for jobs while pregnant, consider these options: 

Customer service representative

A customer service representative is a professional who answers questions and provides support to people who purchase a product or service from a company. This can be a great job for pregnant people because it allows them to sit for most of the day and doesn't involve any strenuous physical activity. The average salary for a customer service representative is currently $43,000 per year, which equates to $20.75 per hour.

Bookkeeper

A bookkeeper oversees financial records and accounts, typically for entire businesses. This can involve monitoring income statements, reviewing invoices, and preparing accounts for review. With an average salary of $47,500 per year, or  $22.80 per hour, this role can offer great compensation, especially when working for a large company. Bookkeeping jobs are also ideal for pregnant people since they allow them to sit during the day, and some even offer remote opportunities that will let them work from the comfort of their own home.

Web designer

Working as a web designer can be one of the most lucrative careers pregnant people can pursue, as the average salary for the role is $101,500 per year, which equates to $48.90 per hour. Web designers develop websites and manage them to ensure they keep functioning correctly. For example, they might write lines of code to add new functions, test the performance of the website, and upload images and other design elements to it. Since this role takes place completely on a computer, pregnant people can benefit from the low levels of physical exertion and the potential for work-from-home opportunities.

Interviewing while pregnant doesn't have to be a daunting task, as you can prepare yourself in several ways to succeed. By showcasing why you're ready to work and asking about a company's benefits, you can market yourself to employers and ensure you'll get all the support and care you need. If you're still in the midst of your job search waiting to secure that next interview, create a profile on CareerBuilder so employers can find you.

More tips for succeeding in your next interview

To practice your answers before your interview, read about the most common interview questions and how to answer them.

Not sure how to respond when your interviewer asks if you have questions? Review these questions to ask in your next interview.

For some extra practice on those tricky questions, explore some tough interview questions and how to answer them.

If you're wondering how to prep for your interview, learn about different types of job interviews and how to prepare for them.

To showcase your skills, prepare answers to these seven skills-based interview questions.