A study done recently in Canada came up with some bad news for minorities in the job market: resumes with non-anglo names on them received 40% fewer calls back from potential employers than those with English names -- even when they had exactly the same experience and qualifications. Why the difference? Of course that's hard to say but experts think it's a mix of possible concerns about a person's ability to use the English language effectively in business, and a simple preference for hiring someone that's the same ethnicity as oneself. Sometimes it's a conscious choice but often it's completely unintentional.
What do you think, have you seen or experienced anything like this?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Alex Rudloff says: (10:44AM on Jun 1st 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
This sort of thing is why we never allowed for pictures to be uploaded to user resumes. All the feedback we've received from domestic recruiters was that they'd prefer we didn't include it for liability reasons on their end.
This seems to be changing as linkedin and others start incorporating photos. Unfortunately, you then see news like this and have to wonder if photos are such a good idea.
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Stephen says: (4:00PM on Jun 1st 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
A few reasons this occurs...
#1 you hit the nail on the head with the ability to undertsand and comprehend the language in a way specific to the industry. i.e. a Business Analyst or Project Manager can not work with developers, clients, managers, and execs in the most effective way without excellent communication skills... that's in addition to documentation skills
#2 H1B visa costs... sometimes employers assume forgein names equal forgein visas... there are substantial costs associated with visa sponsorship.
#3 familiarity... a level of comfort comes from anglo names for anglo employers...
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mike says: (10:47AM on Jul 21st 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
yap...unfortunately certain stereotypes still exist( have heard and read much about it in the stories and articles I found at http://www.picktorrent.com
well, trying to protect themselves from bad workers or smth like that such biased employers may at the same time suffer from their lack because of such an attitude to let's say foreign professionals. it's their own choice though
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