Pregnant and job hunting

spoilt_BUT_appreciate_it

Oh yeah ............. LOL ........... CONGRATULATIONS

jbbonce

Becles wrote: »

Just checking: have you done any recent work? You need to have been working for 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your due date to claim maternity allowance.

yes i have worked for 14 weeks or so out of the relevant 66 so far, but i got laid off in april.

jbbonce

thanks for all your very helpful suggestions. If you have any more, keep them coming please, it would be good to have as many options as possible.


I know it would make sense to sign on with a temping agency, but i wouldn't be able to pass the typing speed test at the moment, and to be honest i find office temping really stressful even when i am not pregnant. Also, I would worry that the job would end before the 12 weeks were up and i'd be too 'blooming' to be able to hide it when looking for the next thing.


I like the idea of fruit picking, but i wonder if it is legitimately taxed because i would need to be working legally. Has anyone had any experience of this type of work?

I was also wondering about cleaning. Is it ok to be a cleaner when you're pregnant? I'm sure it is. I'm just a bit panicked and confused and paranoid about everything at the moment. I feel so emotional at the moment. I am so stressed because of my poor exam performance , and at one point a few weeks ago i thought i was losing the baby, and I hate looking for a new job at the best of times because i'm so awkward around new people. Oh I
dread to think what will happen if i don't get the maternity allowance.

I just want a simple, easy, low pay-low stress job that I can do without harming smurf, lying to anyone or ripping off my employers.

Elle00

In your situation I would go to the local agencies and be brutally honest - you are pregnant, you need to work to qualify for your SMP and you are looking for work for 3 - 6m and see what production work they have going. In our area we have a chocolate factory and an aeroplane parts place and both are constantly taking on temps throughout the year so I'm sure you must have something similar near to you. All agencies are different so do visit all the local ones until you find someone able to help.

I know it isn't glamorous or anything but like you say, this is a needs must kind of thing and it's only for a very short time in return for a reliable income throughout your maternity absence later on. As someone above said, production work is usually pretty tedious but at least it isn't strenuous and is often available to temps for periods of time.

Regarding fruit picking, my Grandma did that for a long time and it is very, very hard work for very little money in return but obviously it's worth considering as a seasonal job.

And regarding keeping your pregnancy a secret, I wouldn't recommend it. When you apply for a job these days you really can't get away with telling fibs or keeping things back - especially where medical questionnaires are involved!

Good luck x.