For many women, the idea of applying for a new job while pregnant just isn’t worth contemplating.
It’s not just about whether you’ll get the job, but whether you’ll get access to maternity leave, the financial implications if you don’t, and whether you’ll even be taken seriously.
These were all thoughts that Simran Jaggi had when she was six months pregnant and decided to apply for her dream role: a Customer Success Architect with Microsoft. She advises:
“I think most women are anxious about applying for work while pregnant for lots of different – and very valid – reasons. I know a major concern is around accessing maternity leave. Many companies require you to have been with them for six months or more before you can access this. It’s such a barrier because it leaves women feeling stuck. They might not want to stay in their current role, but they feel they won’t be taken seriously if they apply for something else.”
Simran’s experience was a complete game-changer for her, and nearly two years later, she’s here to share why more women should stop seeing pregnancy and early parenthood as a blocker as they pursue their career goals.
A very different interview process
Simran joined Microsoft in November 2022 as a Customer Success Architect. She was six months pregnant at the time, but she knew she didn’t want the opportunity to slip through her fingers.
Fully prepared for pushback when she first revealed her situation to the recruiter she connected with, Simran was pleasantly surprised:
“When I first interviewed for Microsoft, my first call was with the recruiter. We were chatting away, and I remember saying to them, ‘I need to stop you there and tell you I’m currently six months pregnant.’ The recruiter was like, ‘Congratulations!’ – which was nice! They told me there was no waiting period for maternity leave at Microsoft, and then it was just, ‘Where were we?’ and continued the call. It was the biggest shock to me at the time. I’d been asked questions at previous interviews about whether I was looking to start a family, and I knew if I had said yes, I wouldn’t have gotten the job.”
From that first call, she went through five rounds of interview and selection processes. At every step, she knew she wanted to be upfront and honest, despite worries it might mean not being selected:
“The recruiter told me I wasn’t obligated to tell anyone during the rest of the interview process, but I wanted to start my role with Microsoft – my dream role, with my dream company – on the right foot and be open and honest. I had five more interview stages, and at every step, I let them know I was pregnant, and it was never a big deal. The panel would share stories about their own families, and everyone said congratulations. Then, we started our interview.”
The warm reception to her news convinced Simran even more that Microsoft was where she wanted to be, and she’s grateful to this day that she chose to disclose her pregnancy in the way she did:
“I was so glad I chose to be transparent along the way. The response I received was such a comfort. I never had to worry that I wouldn’t be chosen for the role because I was pregnant. I also think that my honesty supported me in my interviews as it demonstrated my integrity, which I felt everyone I met with really respected.”
Wondering how you can be supported in all the right ways in your career?
Supported as a new employee; supported as a mother
As everyone knows, starting an entirely new role in a new company is a big transition, and it takes time to adjust – and that’s without being pregnant!
Simran shares that the positive experience she had during her interview process continued as she stepped into her new role:
“I started in November, my baby was born on the 14th of February, and I worked until the 13th! But that was my decision; it wasn’t forced on or expected of me. I was completely supported during my first months. I was given less stressful work, and even though my role was customer-facing, I didn’t take on any direct client work until I returned from maternity leave. I had the opportunity to use that time to work through all my training and onboarding, study, and certifications. Everyone was incredibly supportive.”
When asked about her complete experience – from being hired while pregnant, starting her role, and taking maternity leave – Simran only has good things to say about how she’s been treated at Microsoft:
“I initially took five months off for my maternity, and then when I came back, my journey was pretty smooth. The first month back, my manager helped me get settled with updated training and the chance to familiarise myself with the systems. She also really understood that I was a new mother, looking after a small infant and breastfeeding, so she ensured things were built up gradually.”
And in terms of her manager having her back, it sounds like Simran couldn’t have asked for better:
“This couldn’t have been possible without my manager. She was the sweetest person I’ve ever met. She understood what I was going through, the stressful period of being a new parent and sleepless nights. My transition back was easy and smooth, thanks to her dedication and support. It’s important to be acknowledged not just as an employee but as a person going through a major life transition.”
Simran’s top tips for others
Speaking with Simran and hearing about her experiences, resilience, and positive attitude toward being the woman she wants to be—as both a mother and employee—is incredibly inspiring.
So, naturally, we had to hear her top tips for any other women who might be in a similar situation to her and wondering what to do (and she did not disappoint!):
1. Embrace your strengths.
For Simran, being a parent is not a negative; it’s a super skill! And the more we embrace this as an opportunity for ourselves and our employers, the better:
“We should always embrace our strengths and skills. Pregnancy doesn’t diminish those capabilities you have within you – it only amplifies them and demonstrates just how strong, knowledgeable, and skilled you are.”
2. Target the right employers.
Not all employers have the same attitude when it comes to hiring – especially women who are pregnant, unfortunately. For this reason, Simran says it’s vital to target the right employers:
“Do your research, look up their policies for flexible working and maternity leave, ask the question, and speak to other employees if you can. I actually didn’t know about WORK180 when I applied to Microsoft, but I can already see that it’s such a valuable resource for helping women understand who they’re applying to work for and making informed decisions as they do.”
3. Consider when to disclose.
While disclosing early was the right decision for Simran, she acknowledges that it won’t be the same for everyone. It’s essential to know your rights and to disclose when it feels appropriate for you:
“I disclosed when it was right for me, but that’s me and my situation. Not everyone will feel the same, and that’s completely valid. When applying and interviewing for a new role, there’s no legal obligation to share your pregnancy with everyone.”
But she adds it’s important to be honest when you’re ready:
“When you do choose to disclose, prepare what you want to say. Focus on the most important pieces of information – not the fact you’re pregnant, but your skills, commitment, and dedication to the role. Share the accommodations or adjustments you’d like and make it easy for your manager to understand what you need so they can support you.”
You are always you
One of the most heartwarming sentiments we took away from our chat with Simran is her firm belief that parenthood is just another way you demonstrate your value to an employer – it’s an upskill, not a downgrade:
“I want to share with all women that pregnancy should never be seen as an obstacle; it’s a significant aspect of who you are. It is a part of your identity and should not hinder your achievements or goals beyond motherhood or parenting.”
We couldn’t agree more.
