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Do Applicants' Names Matter?
Recruiting & Staffing
Do Applicants' Names Matter?
Exchange ideas about sourcing, screening, interviewing, finding passive candidates, measuring your results, and more.
I am a professor at Middle Tennessee State University and teach a course titled Business Communication. In this course, we cover an Employment Communication section where we discuss numerous topics--r
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Forums » Topic Forums » Recruiting & Staffing » Do Applicants' Names Matter?
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Do Applicants' Names Matter?
posted at 2/15/2011 5:53 AM EST
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Posts: 2
First: 2/15/2011 Last: 2/15/2011 |
Let me start by saying this world is cold and cruel. Some, not all organizations will disqualify a candidate based on their name and I know this from experience.
Currently I work for a nonprofit organization, and I can honestly say that a persons name does not matter. We have a very unique staff, which in my opinion is the way things should be. I will say on a personal note that in order to be fair, both of my children have simple names that consist of 4 letters each. I do not want my children to be "disqualified" from a great opportunity based on their names. |
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Do Applicants' Names Matter?
posted at 2/15/2011 7:44 AM EST
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Posts: 9
First: 9/13/2006 Last: 2/22/2011 |
One thing I didn't see listed here is the importance of the pronounciability of the first name. If phonetic pronounciation of an unusual name is provided with the resume, will that make initial contact more likely? |
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Do Applicants' Names Matter?
posted at 2/15/2011 8:07 AM EST
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Posts: 17
First: 11/1/2006 Last: 6/9/2011 |
I think that question is timely. During graduation ceremonies at universities, students are required to phonetically spell their names on the card they present to the announcer so that their names are correct. Even though my last name is Hemby, I phonetically spelled it as "HIM-BEE" so that the announcer knew how it should be pronounced. I had learned from previous experience that Hemby was often pronounced in various ways, the most common was "HIM-BI" with the long i sound. If an applicant included the phonetic spelling of his/her name beneath the name on the resume heading, how would you feel about that? Thanks! |
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Do Applicants' Names Matter?
posted at 2/15/2011 8:22 AM EST
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Posts: 544
First: 9/27/2004 Last: 9/13/2011 |
If an applicant included a "nick name" or a phonetic pronunciation, I would be grateful to have found someone who cared enough about the needs of others that they would make themselves more approachable. |
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Do Applicants' Names Matter?
posted at 2/19/2011 5:29 AM EST
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Posts: 1
First: 2/19/2011 Last: 2/19/2011 |
I'm surprised the question is being asked? Of course your first (or last) name makes a difference "with some people".
I wish discrimination didn't exist, and things have gotten better, but many people still discriminate for age, race, gender, etc.... The personal question is - what are you comfortable doing to get around this problem?? |
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Do Applicants' Names Matter?
posted at 3/3/2011 10:12 AM EST
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Posts: 1
First: 3/3/2011 Last: 3/3/2011 |
I am working on an article on this topic for the Workforce Talent e-newsletter. If you have directly relevant information to share, especially on how to train recruiters to avoid name bias, please contact me at jjsalopek@cox.net. Thanks, Jennifer Salopek |
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Do Applicants' Names Matter?
posted at 4/29/2011 11:40 AM EDT
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Posts: 3
First: 4/29/2011 Last: 4/29/2011 |
This is a fascinating topic! Thanks for posting. I'd not really come into a situation like this personally, but as an Austin recruiter, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before I do. It's definitely made me think.
__________________________________ www.lehmanassociates.com |
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Do Applicants' Names Matter?
posted at 7/18/2011 5:15 PM EDT
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Posts: 4
First: 7/18/2011 Last: 7/18/2011 |
It would not matter with how the person performs in the job but it has been known that appealing names usually has a higher chance of landing a job than those with unusual or common names, though that would be contrasting a simple catchy name would have a higher chance.
That is why having a blind review would remove all bias but entail more job and paper work for the recruitment officer. |
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