Earthbound64
Banned
Reading the article before posting is a good idea, yes.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Minorities Who Whiten Résumés More Likely to Get Interview
- Thread starter Vice
- Start date
Reading the article before posting is a good idea, yes.
Andrew Korenchkin
Member
Some of them do. It's also one of those applications that you submit via Govermentjobs.com
What if your first name also isnt white?
UnemployedVillain
Member
I don't think it's required anywhere. Pretty sure it's illegal to require it, actually
Yeah, thanks for the heads up. Just seems like a pertinent piece of info to add to a thread. Sometimes people surf threads at a glance.
Put down a white name like Tom.
When they ask just say that's your American name.
Earthbound64
Banned
Initialize it, or go with a middle name (if you have one)
Sprinkle Pumpkin spice on it
Stallion Dan
Member
Some employers don't like non whites, but there is no hiding it at the interview so if not being white is enough to reject you what does the temporary ruse gain you? They just reject you later rather than sooner?
Alright, but what if even that isn't white enough? Mine isn't, for instance. None of my names are. People of my race also don't tend to have "American" names.
A lot of minorities don't even get to the interview phase just by their name getting the resume sent to the trash.
It's a foot in the door. It's a chance to show them that you're more qualified than other candidates.
Earthbound64
Banned
It gives you a chance to showcase your other attributes as well, as opposed to just being tossed aside due to your name.
Yes, if someone isn't going to hire you because of race, they're not going to hire you. But in some cases it's "getting past the first gate," essentially.
Invent a nickname?
TheSpoiler
Member
If this was common knowledge, we wouldn't need studies backing it up now would we? If you personally get it, that's good. The general populous is either unaware or likes to pretend it doesn't exist. Then again, it could be an area specific thing where some places are flat out better about knowing that shit than others.
GrizzleBoy
Banned
It's why I gave my son the simplest, least black name.
Emoyers will see "Lamar" or "Teshaun" and think "mmmmhmmmm I know enough about you already".
It's why I'm happy my parents did the same with me.
Employers are routinely and genuinely surprised to see me when I arrive in person after seeing my resume and hearing me speak on the phone.
Same.
In high school and college I literally knew groups of Asian kids who just decided it's better to be called "Albert or "Steve" instead of "Hing" or " Peng".
Never really understood at the time.
Emoyers will see "Lamar" or "Teshaun" and think "mmmmhmmmm I know enough about you already".
It's why I'm happy my parents did the same with me.
Employers are routinely and genuinely surprised to see me when I arrive in person after seeing my resume and hearing me speak on the phone.
Same.
In high school and college I literally knew groups of Asian kids who just decided it's better to be called "Albert or "Steve" instead of "Hing" or " Peng".
Never really understood at the time.
Oh, hey Steve.
Just_myles
Member
hahahahahaha so true.
Dubbedinenglish
Banned
Leave a little avocado smudge on the corner
Then it's kind of a dice roll at that point. Being able to use a different name or reorganize it is extremely helpful but if none of the names work then casting your net as wide as possible is the next step. Or get a legal name change with a name added at the very least. It would be worth it.
Dongs Macabre
aka Daedalos42
That works for first names (I go by an English first name anyway, and so does), but I don't think I could put a white last name without eventually raising eyebrows once they put two and two together and realize that my last name isn't actually Leblanc.
Well, i can see why people are hesitant.
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2015...-and-razed-victims-dumped-in-mass-graves.html
Just sayin.
Because that's not how racial bias works.
A lot of white people are subconsciously prejudice and highly judgemental of minorities, and when doing something repetitive and critcal, like going through résumés, it surfaces. Unless they are just straight racist, often getting in front of them and showing them you're just like everyone else is half the battle.
milkham
Member
I was talking to a friend about this a couple weeks ago, I wondered what the Judge would say if I told him i wanted to legally change my name to get more job interviews.
When I was first starting out I changed my first name to something more white in the resume and fielded much more calls lol. When I went in and got the job I just told them what was in the resume was just a nickname for me or it was just short for my full name. At that point my foot was in the door and already made an impression, so they didn't do anything.
Switch Back 9
a lot of my threads involve me fucking up somehow. Perhaps I'm a moron?
I'm sure glad having an Irish name isn't a thing anymore. Heard some stories from my grandparents.
opticalmace
Member
Mind elaborating? I guess I have an Irish surname but I don't think it comes up much... I guess you're thinking first name?
edit: hm, did some googling. apparently my surname is an anglicized version of an irish surname.... interesting.
Kite
Member
Use an american first name. Asian-Americans have been doing this for decades cus our parents know what's up.
Takei Hosato -> George Takei
Jo Mo-ran -> Margaret Cho
Shu-How Lin -> Jeremy Lin
Jeong Gangjo -> Ken Jeong
Guān Yǐngshān -> Michelle Kwan
Some people keep it like Ang Lee and Chow Yun-fat.
Switch Back 9
a lot of my threads involve me fucking up somehow. Perhaps I'm a moron?
Back in the day being Irish was enough to straight up bar you from a job or entering certain establishments. Not on the same level as being black obviously, but there was huge amounts of prejudice.
I've known three Asian women who have worked in my office that chose the name "Rachel"...because of the show Friends.
QisTopTier
XisBannedTier
That's pretty damn stupid and horrible
nabe_shogun
Member
It keeps your resume from going straight in the trash after first looking at it.
Even some dude on here said he doesn't call people for interviews if the name is hard to pronounce.
Agent Icebeezy
Welcome beautful toddler, Madison Elizabeth, to the horde!
Black guy here, normal last name, first name is Greek in origin. I should go to my nickname of Ricky, that's pretty much says Americana. I'll take thoughts on this.
My name is:
[Arabic] [Arabic] [Arabic, Turkish variant spelling].
You aren't wrong, a legal name change would probably result in more call backs. That's something I can worry about come graduation if my network doesn't help me out on that front. That being said, I don't think I ever would legally change my name. Unless it was impossible for me to find a job, I wouldn't even consider a name change. I guess I liken it to my identity.
An above posters suggestion of using a nickname, I could probably do. I guess.
I haven't had any real trouble finding jobs, but all of my employers have been minorities themselves. I imagine outside of my area, I'd suffer a lot more.
Toronto's largely South Asian, and as a result of that largely Muslim, so a lot of people have names like mine
Black and born and raised in Mississippi, but you better believe that when I get on the phone to dispute a bill or buy/negotiate for a hot item on Craigslist, my voice goes straight to Europe.
It annoyed me earlier in life when people would ask where I'm from, meaning not from the US, but now as an adult, it's an advantage. That shit gets results.
It annoyed me earlier in life when people would ask where I'm from, meaning not from the US, but now as an adult, it's an advantage. That shit gets results.
tons of people will blame you for what your parents named you lol. It's crazy.
I fortunately (for my sake) have an anglo first name and unique (but not foreign or ethnic) last name. I've also mastered the white voice on the phone.
in regards to Asian folk having americanized names, it's also because they'll come here for work and they get tired of having to pronounce their name or having people mispronounce their name at work.
You should always attempt to say someone's name correctly if that is what they prefer to be called. I hate the idea that white people can't be bothered to manage pronunciations so the rest of us have to acclimate to them.
I fortunately (for my sake) have an anglo first name and unique (but not foreign or ethnic) last name. I've also mastered the white voice on the phone.
in regards to Asian folk having americanized names, it's also because they'll come here for work and they get tired of having to pronounce their name or having people mispronounce their name at work.
You should always attempt to say someone's name correctly if that is what they prefer to be called. I hate the idea that white people can't be bothered to manage pronunciations so the rest of us have to acclimate to them.
Too true. If I had a dollar for every old white person that said I'm "surprisingly articulate"
Edit: my first name is rough though. Hard to mask that. My little brother has it good.
starchild excalibur
Member
I work at a college and many of our Chinese students will adopt American names. I don't mind since it's ultimately their call, but I always hope that they aren't doing it to accommodate the teachers/administration.
I'm Nigerian and I could imagine the verbal beatdown I'd get if I'd ever approached my dad about adopting a western name at school.
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked