Turned down for a job because of accent
Discussion
Afternoon.
My wife was turned down for a job this week because the woman interviewing her "didn't like her accent". Is it just me, or is that quite prejudiced? My wife was actually born in the UK, but moved to Australia as a child. She has been back in this country since 2000, so it's not as if her accent is that heavy.
Having a quick google, it seems like an employer can't discriminate against an employee for having a "foreign" accent unless there is an issue with not being understood by customers. My wife isn't an employee, it's not like she's been sacked, but this seems a bit out of order. The woman interviewing sounds like a right snob, she said my wife was "the first stylish Australian" she'd ever met, and congratulated her on working with so many luxury brands in spite of her accent. Guess she thinks Aussies are all bogans.
It's not like we're taking legal action, I was just shocked she could be so openly prejudiced.
My wife was turned down for a job this week because the woman interviewing her "didn't like her accent". Is it just me, or is that quite prejudiced? My wife was actually born in the UK, but moved to Australia as a child. She has been back in this country since 2000, so it's not as if her accent is that heavy.
Having a quick google, it seems like an employer can't discriminate against an employee for having a "foreign" accent unless there is an issue with not being understood by customers. My wife isn't an employee, it's not like she's been sacked, but this seems a bit out of order. The woman interviewing sounds like a right snob, she said my wife was "the first stylish Australian" she'd ever met, and congratulated her on working with so many luxury brands in spite of her accent. Guess she thinks Aussies are all bogans.
It's not like we're taking legal action, I was just shocked she could be so openly prejudiced.
Sounds bang out of order to me. However I'm not sure what you do about it that would be of benefit to anybody. I'm assuming your wife doesn't want to work there with that piece of detritus. So...lucky escape?
(I once got turned down from a temp job because I was a man. Apparently only women can do data entry. Was quite irritating.)
(I once got turned down from a temp job because I was a man. Apparently only women can do data entry. Was quite irritating.)
Op, was that the feedback your wife actually got (that she was specifically turned down for having an Australian accent, and would otherwise have got the job), or is that what she inferred from the behaviour of the interviewer?
If it's the former, then I would certainly be kicking up a bit of a stink with the interviewer's boss or the boss of the company, if only for my own peace of mind (and to make life a little bit uncomfortable for a bigot).
If it's the former, then I would certainly be kicking up a bit of a stink with the interviewer's boss or the boss of the company, if only for my own peace of mind (and to make life a little bit uncomfortable for a bigot).
Sheepshanks said:
If she actually was Australian then it probably would be discrimination, but I don't know what happens as she's British.
People do sue for discrimination at interview.
Well she's dual nationality, so she is Australian. And British.People do sue for discrimination at interview.
singlecoil said:
What's the betting that the interviewer IS the CEO?
Bingo. Vroom101 said:
Op, was that the feedback your wife actually got (that she was specifically turned down for having an Australian accent, and would otherwise have got the job), or is that what she inferred from the behaviour of the interviewer?
If it's the former, then I would certainly be kicking up a bit of a stink with the interviewer's boss or the boss of the company, if only for my own peace of mind (and to make life a little bit uncomfortable for a bigot).
The feedback from the agency was she "couldn't get past the accent". During the interview she did make some other odd comments, such as not being able to stand "the way people from Bristol talk".If it's the former, then I would certainly be kicking up a bit of a stink with the interviewer's boss or the boss of the company, if only for my own peace of mind (and to make life a little bit uncomfortable for a bigot).
AyBee said:
In writing?
It was fed back to the agency, not sure if it was in writing, but the agency told my wife verbally.I doubt we'll take it any further. They will probably end up with someone that doesn't have the skills and experience that my wife has, but has the right accent. It's just a bit frustrating as she's been for a few interviews recently and is usually told she's over qualified. Or one interview a few weeks ago where the CEO said that her enthusiasm "wouldn't fit in with his business". That was a small, organic retail business trying to expand their operations. Strange.
GavGav said:
The feedback from the agency was she "couldn't get past the accent". During the interview she did make some other odd comments, such as not being able to stand "the way people from Bristol talk".
So was it the Australian accent or the Bristol accent? I'm not sure being from Bristol counts as a race.It seems incredibly unprofessional of the agency to pass such feedback on.
The recruitment consultant and my wife seem to get on well - my wife asked for honest feedback and that's what she was told.
I'm not a fan of recruitment agencies, but this one does seem to be putting the effort in with the Mrs.
She's looking for a marketing role, has experience with a lot of top-end clients and products, so a "luxury brand" is her preferred area. But she's realistic and is willing to lower her sights. When she's gone for jobs with "normal" brands she has been told she should really be aiming higher - she's even been told they couldn't meet her salary expectations, before she's even mentioned salary. And then when she goes for a job more suited to her skills and experience she gets this kind of response.
I'm not a fan of recruitment agencies, but this one does seem to be putting the effort in with the Mrs.
She's looking for a marketing role, has experience with a lot of top-end clients and products, so a "luxury brand" is her preferred area. But she's realistic and is willing to lower her sights. When she's gone for jobs with "normal" brands she has been told she should really be aiming higher - she's even been told they couldn't meet her salary expectations, before she's even mentioned salary. And then when she goes for a job more suited to her skills and experience she gets this kind of response.
Sheepshanks said:
So was it the Australian accent or the Bristol accent? I'm not sure being from Bristol counts as a race.
It seems incredibly unprofessional of the agency to pass such feedback on.
She doesn't have a Bristolian accent at all, Australian. The subject came up when the wife said she lived in Bristol.It seems incredibly unprofessional of the agency to pass such feedback on.
If it were me I would rather the agency told me the truth like that rather than made up some bulls
t excuse. I think it's unprofessional of the interviewer rather than the agency. Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff