Your name: Help or hindrance?
In today’s world of poor job expectations, every edge you can get is important. Now there is one hindrance that most people had no hand in and now have to unravel. That is the preconceived idea behind ones name.
With the new trend of mothers using ethnic sounding names, it is thought that applicants are being prejudged before they can even get up to the interview desk. If the name is hard to pronounce this may lead the interviewer to put that application aside. Having a name that sounds of one ethnic group might lead the Human resource person to think you will be fluent in a language not in your skill level.
Mothers take nine months looking for the right name for their off spring. I for one wanted to name my daughter Natasha Roseria but my ex-husband nixed this. It was one of his better decisions. He did not get his way when instead named her Tameko. I can remember when she came home one day at the start of school laughing because an Asian young man answered to Johnny Brown in school. I had to remind her that her name might make people think of lotus flowers! What am I trying to say? That even though there are laws against discrimination, it may still happen with simple things like one names and can be hard to prove.
Changing an ethnic sounding given mane to initials might help. Is this fair? NO! But if it helps to get you in front of the interviewer WHY not? Remember getting a job is about getting noticed in a positive way.
June 10th, 2010 at 2:21 am
Thank you for this particular blogpost! I have the research now for my personal thesis in my medical topic. My professor will like it.. I really hope so.. Thanks again!