| Topic Name: |
Job Search/Career Advice |
| Message Name: |
interesting |
| Date Posted: |
04/20/2006 |
| In Reply To: |
Thanks for the response bugsior. You have cleared up my thinking quite a bit.
If I may ask, what industry are you in? I know my last name would not be a problem if I were involved with computers, or technology, or engineering or any of those types of jobs. If you have the skills, then you're in. Outsiders are typically welcome as long as they can produce and work alone. However, what happens in a case where the position is not highly-skilled? A position where you have education and experience but there are other people with the same education and experience applying for the same job? What criteria do they use to sort you out then? It is my guess that when you get into more "people-oriented" jobs where you are just starting out and people don't really do much but hang around and bullshit, it would make sense that they don't want some unfamiliar Slav walking around. In all likelihood, they never met a person with a last name like mine. But, what is my point? Well, I think it's that if you happens to be a Slav, unless the person in charge of hiring is also Eastern European, you're not getting in. I'm not even sure if it goes this deep. But put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager. If they don't recognize your name or it's unfamiliar to them - you're sorted out.
I know I'm making pretty big generalizations here. I am almost tempted to test my theory by applying to places under an Anglo name. The only thing that stops me from doing this is it would be a complete waste of time. I'm not doing a social experiment here. I'm looking to get a job.
Also, I would venture to guess that many of the people on this job board are outsiders in one way or another. Whether they're from another country or handi-capped in some way. |
| Message: |
your comments are interesting, but i have never experienced that. i'm in an consulting, but true, not that kind of management where you face clients every day a lot, but more in an office.
but as you say, in an industry where you go for bullshit meetings all the time, talk about crap and shake hands social skills matter more. in the end it's only a second when you introduce yourself and then in the end exchange business card. they will remember you by your first name and that's it. believe me, nobody cares what your last name is. what counts is your social skills, ability to crack corny jokes, etc.
i have obviously an accent so i wouldn't blame anybody for not exposing me too much to clients. it's fair enough.
and honestly, i still don't know how to introuduce myself. pronounce it the original or english way. english way sounds wierd to me, my way sounds crazy to americans. hehe, i guess i will have to work out some compromise.
but believe me, it's not your last name. there were americans at my school with names similar to mine who got numerous amazing offers.
good luck!
|
|
