Hiring: be honest

Anonymous
When you are interviewing applicants do you take into consideration things that you’re not technically allowed to consider? Like for example the fact that a woman just got married at 35 and is probably going to have children soon and therefore either taking maternity leave or quitting to stay home? Or someone highly qualified has dyed pink hair and therefore may turn off your conservative clients? Just examples. Anonymous forum here so curious about what decision makers are really thinking, especially small business owners where the one hiring is also the one most invested in the success of the company.
Anonymous
No.
Anonymous
They definitely think “fat” = “lazy”
Anonymous
I mean…the pink hair consideration is not illegal.

I’d never hold the fact that someone just got married/may have kids against them. Thank god my employer didn’t do that when I was younger.
Anonymous
This is why we don't mention marital, parental, or health status in interviews, people
Anonymous
The pink hair I would because it wouldn’t be a cultural fit. The illegal stuff no.
Anonymous
I've been asked if I plan to have kids at many interviews over the last 20 years (34yo female with 2 kids)
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I've been asked if I plan to have kids at many interviews over the last 20 years (34yo female with 2 kids)


So starting around when you were 14?
Anonymous
How would I know that someone just got married and plans to have kids soon? I wouldn't ask. If they voluntarily told me this, of course I don't want to hire someone that will soon need to take 3 months or more off, but that's why it's illegal to ask.
Anonymous
And for the pink hair.... in my line of business, clients are older and conservative, so the pink hair would have to look neat and not too crazy -like a pink mohawk probably wouldn't work- but if they could still manage to look professional, I would not hold pink hair against them.
Anonymous
No - I hire pretty much all military spouses that other employers have given up on. They are literally the best employees ever.
Anonymous
No.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:No - I hire pretty much all military spouses that other employers have given up on. They are literally the best employees ever.


I can see this. Bless you
Anonymous
I find busy working parents to be very efficient employees, someone who needs to get out at 5 tends to work like that.

I will admit to a bias against face piercings and tattoos. We have a lot of conservative clients.
Anonymous
Thinking about whether a newlywed 35 yr old may have a maternity leave in their future — nope. I have been a manager for a long time and people lean in or out of the workforce for a variety of reasons you can’t see coming.

Pink hair — not hold it against them, but would wonder about mutual cultural fit, especially if part of the job is appealing to a certain clients. In the same way wearing pearls and a suit to your interview at Urban Outfitters would be … hmm.
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