Lifestyle

If you are pregnant and interviewing for a job

* Wear a power suit or what makes you feel confident. Shy away from anything that accentuates your belly, such as snug-fitting or ruched dresses, says Rosie Pope of Bravo’s “Pregnant in Heels” and author of “Mommy IQ: The Complete Guide to Pregnancy.” For one early interview, I borrowed a friend’s green Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress and felt fabulous, but by the end of my pregnancy I settled for a black frock best suited for a funeral. Pope suggests splurging for the well-fitted suit in your final weeks and downplaying the bump. “It’s not that you want to hide it, but you don’t want your bump to be the first thing they see,” she says.

* Be prepared for morning sickness. To avoid vomiting on my prospective employer, I had to give myself ample time to arrive because I once had to get off the train mid-trip to cope with an upset stomach. Having a granola bar handy was also key when I was feeling faint during one interview that stretched to seven hours. So was a bottle of water. “It’s really important to have something with you,” advises Pope.

* Think about scheduling. If possible, Pope suggests scheduling interviews in the middle of the day when you are less likely to be groggy from a poor night’s sleep. I tried to schedule interviews after 10 a.m. to avoid crowded trains because nothing made me more nauseous than a packed subway. Also, avoid evenings when you may be too zonked from a long day to feel your best. There is a reason many pregnant women hit the hay at 8 p.m.

* When networking, pick a place you are comfortable with. When meeting people to discuss career options, I pushed for coffee shops to avoid the awkwardness of ordering nonalcoholic drinks in a bar. Sipping a decaffeinated latte at Starbucks felt more socially acceptable than asking for seltzer at a bar for power brokers.