I found out I didn't get the job I applied for. I'm disapointed as the feedback on why I didn't get the job wasn't very helpful or specific. I'm especially disapointed as it appears they didn't prefer another candidate... from what I can tell I was the only one to have a second interview. It sucks to lose a job to "not you" but that's how it is.
I'm trying to keep a positive spin but I am slightly aware that this may be a pitfall of applying for a job while 6 months pregnant. I didn't raise my pregnancy in the second interview (because it is so obvious) but I had addressed it in the first interview (with the person I would be working for) and they seemed very happy with me as a candidate and with the information I provided.
FYI, I raised the pregnancy at the end of the first interview by saying "I just wanted to note that I am currently pregnant. This is not my first child but it is definitely my last. I understand that there will be some timings to resolve, but I am a firm believer that one needs to return from maternity leave passionately interested in their jobs, and if I am successful in this application I know I will be exceptionally excited to return to work with you after maternity leave" We then had a short and nice conversation about kids.
The nice thing about maternity leave is that it doesn't show up on a CV, so when I update my resume after I'm back from maternity it will not be obvious that I took 9 months off... I can find another job when the twins are a bit older and I'll look like I had a nice long period of continuous employment again.
I also really do believe that unfortunately in this world there are jobs for having kids and jobs for growing a career, and that the best thing for career minded mothers is to move jobs as soon as you are comfortable/able after having kids. I'm not sure if this is such a big deal in the US and it might be one of the unfortunate downsides of long maternity leave offerings... but I have watched it happen to so many women over here. The Motherhood Penalty is real and very documented, and although I work for a very progressive company I am still sometimes surprised and disapointed by what I observe and hear. It's far better than other companies I've worked for in the past, but that makes me realize how far we have to go.
In the interim, I have less than 2 months left before I start maternity leave. My maternity cover starts on Wednesday, which should hopefully start to reduce my own workload. Now that this job application is over I don't have any more pieces to set up before I go... I just need to finish and handover. It's time for a long slow professional wind-down.
I haven't stuck a photo up here for a while. Here's Lilah celebrating summer by stomping on a metal walkway:
Aw I'm sorry Rachel. Yes there's nothing like a "bonus" 9 months added to your tenure before starting to look again.
ReplyDeleteWell crud. I'm sorry that you didn't land the job. And it really sucks if the "reason" is the pregnancy. I think in the US it is illegal for employers to factor that into their decision making (although it still probably DOES factor in). But maybe the job wasn't fully fleshed out and the interview process made that clear.
ReplyDeleteI am also so fascinated by how other countries handle maternity leave! Nine months is so amazing! I got 12 weeks and my company was EXTREMELY generous. (I think the most I could have taken was six months, but I'd not even been at the company for a year before I had my daughter, so it felt unfair to take the full six months. Again, that is pretty much UNHEARD OF in the US, and my former company has since done away with such a generous policy.)
After sleeping on it I don't think the reason is the Pregnancy... but I don't think it scored me extra points either. There are so many laws for protecting pregnant applicants, but as you said it can factor in. I think you are right - I don't think they knew exactly what they wanted and they were hoping I would be able to clarify for them.
DeleteI can take up to a year (or even longer) but I know I like taking around 9 months so that's what I'm planning. I wish my husband was also entitled to paid leave but unfortunately he's only given 2 weeks. He will take longer unpaid if needed - i'm pushing him to take 6 months when I go back to work!
I'm so sorry, Rachel. I hope (and believe) this means there will be an even better option waiting for you.
ReplyDeleteIt shocks me how short mat leave is in some countries. We get up to 12 months (plus some pre-delivery) time off in Canada (sometimes with salary topped up to almost 100%, but worst case scenario it's at like 40-50% salary from EI benefits) and it can be split between parents, so father's can also take leave. In one country (one of the Nordics, I think) you get 2 years and that time can be used up until the child is 7.
I was also surprised with how short maternity leave is in New Zealand; being part of the Commonwealth, I expected it to be similar to Canada, but my best friend from uni had a baby in NZ and was only off for something like 6 or 9 weeks!!!
That's very suprising about NZ! I think the lack of shared leave in the UK is a big downside - there is a "shared parental leave" policy but generally this is at the minimum pay (£150-ish a week) whereas women generally get maternity provided by their companies. If a women is entitled to additional pay from their company then it never makes financial sense to forgo that and also forgo the partner's salary. I am really lucky with my maternity package and my company offers men a great shared parental pay offer as well - but where my husband works they don't have that option so it's not really an ideal system yet.
DeleteWe do get 16 weeks of unpaid leave which can be used anytime up until kids are 18 (I think). I can't imagine living somewhere where I could get fired for needing to take care of my kids. I am super thankful for all that my company and the UK offers - but I also know it could be a lot better!
I am sorry to hear it, Rachel. I do not know what long maternity leave is like because I went back after 4 months after L (in person teaching) and 3 months after R (worked from home=pandemic teaching). But I think New Jersey JUST signed into law 12 weeks paid, and 24 months job protection not too long ago. I truly hope that pregnancy wasn't the reason you didn;t get the job-that's discrimination.
ReplyDeleteI am really lucky to get a long maternity leave but I wish I could more easily share it with my partner. One of the downsides of long leaves (only for women) is that I think it does increase bias against hiring women. I don't think that was the reason I didn't get the job (that would also be very illegal) - but I doubt being heavily pregnant helps anyone get a new job.
DeleteOverall I'm so thankful I live here (it's one of the reasons we decided to move to the UK to have a family rather than the US) but I also sometimes wish the UK was more set up to encourage women to return to work (better childcare options, better leave for partners)
I'm glad NJ has added paid leave to laws and job protection!
To lose a job to "not you" is BS... I mean, what will they do? Advertise the position again. I really hate that women are so "disadvantaged" in their career paths especially if they decide to have children.
ReplyDeleteNot knowing why you don't get a job you seems to fit is the worst. But sometimes it is just a gut feeling and relies more to the teams dynamic and not to you personally. I discuss these things so often with my husband who is a business owner. He always feels bad when he is not going with a candidate but he often just knows it is not a good fit for either the project/the client/the team members even though on paper it is perfect. I wouldn't put too much into it. I am sure a better job will come by.
ReplyDelete