Is it Possible to Hide Pregnancy during an Interview?
It is very possible for you to attend an interview and not let your pregnancy bump show. Many moms have actively interviewed while pregnant and successfully hid the bump. It is not hard at all to interview and get a job without anyone noticing.
It is possible because only you and those close to you know how your body looks normally. A person meeting you for the first time would not be able to tell if your body shape and look are normal for you or not. Therefore it is very easy to hide the fact that you are expecting from the interviewers because they have never met you before.
Interviewing while pregnant should therefore not be too hard to go through. What you need to make it possible that your interviewers can’t see your pregnancy is the right clothing, posture, and behavior.
Some clothes are better at concealing pregnancies than others. Also, smaller bumps in the first or second trimester are easier to conceal during the interview than advanced late pregnancies in the late second or third trimesters.
Read:Job Hunting, Applying and Getting a Job when Pregnant
Is it Unethical/Unprofessional to Hide or Not Disclose Pregnancy to Get a Job?
It is not selfish, wrong or unprofessional to choose not to disclose your pregnancy to your potential employer. It is quite appropriate and not a lie to choose not to tell your future employer what you are expecting.
While disclosing pregnancy to your current or potential employer is important, choosing to disclose or not tell about your pregnancy is a personal decision. Choosing not to disclose your pregnancy or hiding your bump in order to get employed is not lying, nor wrong or unprofessional.
Read: How and Why to Disclose Pregnancy to Employer
On the other hand, there are issues to do with ethics. Your potential employer may consider you unethical for not disclosing your pregnancy during the interview. However, it is not a mandatory requirement to disclose pregnancies during the interview and therefore you do not have to if you want to keep your pregnancy a secret.
If you do decide to disclose your pregnancy to the interviewers, the law protects pregnant women from discrimination and you should not be disqualified from getting the job because you are pregnant. There’s plenty of legislation protecting your rights to apply for and be considered for the role fairly regardless of your pregnancy.
However, it is hard to prove that you were denied a job because you were pregnant. It is hence safer to not disclose at all and hide the pregnancy bump as much as possible during the interview and the entire hiring process.
Should you Disclose Pregnancy during the Interview?
Interviewing while pregnant is possible because you do not have to disclose it unless you want to. It is not a requirement that you let your interviewers know that you are expectant. Many expecting moms find it unnecessary to disclose their pregnancy to the potential employer.
Women have increasingly felt the need to keep the news of their pregnancies from current and potential employers as it puts them at a disadvantage. It may play against them and may not get the job eventually.
There are fears that you will not be likely hired if you are visibly pregnant. In consideration of this, you should not disclose your pregnancy during the interview if you fear there are implications for you not getting hired.
You can however use the interview as an opportunity to ask the potential employer about their maternity policies. If you are offered a chance to ask questions, you can ask about the company’s benefits. As such you can decide if the employer is worth it, considering now that you are pregnant and would need these benefits.
If you get the job after your interview, you can decide now if you are ready to tell your employer about your pregnancy or not. Note that most employers won’t appreciate knowing that the new employee they have just hired will soon be proceeding for maternity leave.
Nonetheless, if you feel the need to disclose your pregnancy after the interview and getting hired, at least you should wait till the probation period is over.
Read: How to Address Pregnancy Discrimination at Work
Guaranteed Secrets & Tips to Hide Pregnancy in Interviews & Get a Job
1. Do Not Disclose to the Interviewers that you are Pregnant
The first rule to conceal your pregnancy is to not tell. It is not unethical or unprofessional to keep this information private during the interview. You are not required to disclose your pregnancy and therefore you should not bring it up.
They cannot legally ask you about it and you don’t need to disclose it. Your pregnancy status is like your age; it’s non-relevant and should not be part of an interview.
You should therefore refrain from talking about your pregnancy at all during the interview. By doing so, it would not be noticed if you do not mention it and you may get employed.
Read: How to Quit Job when Pregnant
2. Avoid Flattering Clothes to Hide Pregnancy Bump
Outfits are an effective way of hiding your pregnancy during an interview and securing a job. Choose your outfit for the interview carefully to ensure that it is not flattering and leaves your bump exposed.
While you have to look official and professional for the interview, there are some great outfits that will in addition allow you to hide your pregnancy bump so that you do not have to tell your interviewers about your pregnancy if you do not want.
Some clothing options to hide your bump during an interview include
- Wear an appropriate and official loose-fitting dress that is free on the belly area. It will adequately hide your bump during the entire hiring process.
- Choose a high-waist dress or skirt. It will make you look like you just have some weight and are not actually pregnant.
- If it is weather appropriate, take advantage and wear coats and sweaters that have enough room to hide your pregnancy. You can easily hide pregnancies under 30 weeks through dressing on a coat.
- Layering will also help conceal visible signs of your pregnancies and you can get employed without disclosing your pregnancy status. Put on layers over layers of clothing on the upper body, which will effectively hide your bump.
- Put on a scarf that makes you look professional enough. It will take the attention away from the belly and subsequently hide your pregnancy bump. The more layers you add, the less noticeable the pregnancy is and you can easily get the job after the interview.
- Also wear attractive pieces to draw attention away from your bump to other areas. For instance, a necklace will bring attention to your neck and not to your belly hence easy to hide a pregnancy. Fun, bold jewelry might seem strange, but is a great hide-your-pregnancy accessory and will distract your interviewers.
3. Request for a Virtual Interview to Hide Pregnancy
If you are interviewing for a remote or hybrid job, you can request a virtual interview. A virtual interview will allow you to completely conceal your pregnancy from your interviewers. Only the top part of the body will be on view and therefore your potential employer can’t tell whether or not you are pregnant and you can get the job you are interviewing for.
As such a virtual interview is one way you can get a job without having to disclose news about your pregnancy to the employer. Some apps such as Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet have effective virtual features that are ideal for an interview for a pregnant woman.
4. Eat Crackers & Candy before Interview to Wade off Nausea
Nausea can strike at any moment, revealing that you are possibly pregnant. This can happen even when you are in the interview. To avoid making your interviewers suspicious about your condition, try to tame your nausea using crackers or candy.
Keep in your bag crackers and ginger candies to munch if you feel nauseous before starting your interview. It is one of the things you can do to conceal your pregnancy and get a job. It will make the signs less obvious and you can get a job without disclosing that you are pregnant to the potential employer.
If you do feel the need to vomit, try going into the bathroom or finding another secluded spot from the view of interviewers or other employers.
5. Get the Job by Assuming a Posture that Hides the Bump
Avoid walking in a way that exaggerates your bump when interviewing . However, do not walk or sit in a way that gives you a way that you are trying to hide your pregnancy.
As you walk into the interview room, bend so that your belly does not protrude and limit your chances of getting the job. As you sit, lean over so that your bump is not too obvious to the potential employer.
Also, avoid the temptation to keep your hands on your belly. It is a giveaway sign that you are pregnant when you keep holding or massaging your belly. While this reaction may come instinctively and unconsciously, you must restrain yourself from holding your belly during the interview.
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