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Original poster

Bringing up personal (religious) beliefs at job interview

19 replies

Lottapianos · 07/03/2022 14:09

I was on an interview panel recently. The job is a junior corporate role in the NHS. One of the questions was about what makes a good team member. We had a candidate who gave a version of this answer - 'team work is really important. When I start a new job, I always ask God to send me a good team of people to work with' etc

The candidate performed poorly overall and didn't get the job. I discussed this answer with another interview panel member afterwards and we had different opinions. She thought it was fine for people to mention personal beliefs at interview and wasn't bothered by it. I thought it was highly inappropriate and irrelevant to the question and the situation

What do you think?

OP posts:

WhiteXmas21 · 07/03/2022 14:22

It’s a little surprising, but I would not have said inappropriate.
I may have probed a bit to find out how candidate felt about working in a secular organisation where references to religious belief could offend others. And then I would have determined if it may be inappropriate.

LouisaLovesMice · 07/03/2022 14:28

It's fine to mention your religion/faith in a job interview, assuming it's also fine to mention that you have two daughters, you like canoing at weekends, etc.
The worrying bit of that statement is the fact that the interviewee wants the people to fit in with her, rather than she fit in with them.

SprayedWithDettol · 07/03/2022 14:32

It’s completely inappropriate. Fortunately I haven’t ever had this issue when recruiting staff.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Jobs Philosophy & religion

CloudPop · 07/03/2022 14:42

Your question was, what makes a good team member. The response didn't actually address the question so that's an issue in itself

Fernandina · 07/03/2022 14:46

I'd have thought it would be appropriate only in the context of say, a question about how someone spends their time outside work, or perhaps for the applicant to make it clear that they would need time off for religious observance, or to not have to work Sundays etc.

SpanishPapers · 07/03/2022 14:47

Nothing wrong with mentioning your religion eg if asked about hobbies and you say you're active in your local church or whatever.

Answering a question about what makes a good team member by saying you pray for a good team is a terrible answer though. You may as well say you just hope for the best.

Earlydancing · 07/03/2022 14:47

I think I'll probably be out if step with most people but I don't think it's inappropriate. If they had been telling you about a fete they were organising and said they were praying for good weather would you be offput? They're praying to someone. Or how about if you asked them how they'd cope with a very stressful job and they replied they find praying helps them to destress? Should they be able to say talking with my partner helps, but not say the same about God?
I absolutely believe that a person's religion shouldn't be allowed to affect how they do their job. However denying them the right to mention it's important to them, seems lacking in understanding that for many people God is an inextricable part of how they live their life. And isn't it better that you learn that in the interview stage when you can find out from questioning whether it will be problematic.

AlisonDonut · 07/03/2022 14:52

@Earlydancing

I think I'll probably be out if step with most people but I don't think it's inappropriate. If they had been telling you about a fete they were organising and said they were praying for good weather would you be offput? They're praying to someone. Or how about if you asked them how they'd cope with a very stressful job and they replied they find praying helps them to destress? Should they be able to say talking with my partner helps, but not say the same about God? I absolutely believe that a person's religion shouldn't be allowed to affect how they do their job. However denying them the right to mention it's important to them, seems lacking in understanding that for many people God is an inextricable part of how they live their life. And isn't it better that you learn that in the interview stage when you can find out from questioning whether it will be problematic.

How does God fit into team work though?

The candidate didn't even answer the question so it was completely irrelevant.

If they had said they would ask their partner what makes a good team, also irrelevant. It was an interview not general chit chat.

junglejane66 · 07/03/2022 14:55

I think its fine, especially if you are applying for the job of Arch Bishop of Canterbury

RandomQuest · 07/03/2022 14:57

It’s a truly terrible answer to the question. But if say asked about what they like to do outside of work, saying they are active in the local church (for example) would be absolutely fine!

SamphiretheStickerist · 07/03/2022 15:00

Just pretend she didn't say it when you give her feedback.

It is her choice to have used that turn of phrase, to highlight her faith. It's a crap answer to the question but obviously means a lot to her.

Original poster

Lottapianos · 07/03/2022 15:02

'But if say asked about what they like to do outside of work, saying they are active in the local church (for example) would be absolutely fine!'

Yes, I agree. Fine to mention personal stuff in that context, but not in relation to work. It's not relevant, any more than your favourite football team or your voting preferences

OP posts:

Original poster

Lottapianos · 07/03/2022 15:03

'Just pretend she didn't say it when you give her feedback.'

All been and gone - this was months ago

OP posts:

fallfallfall · 07/03/2022 15:07

She answered the question poorly but faith and teachings of kindness, human value, work etc are discussed in the Bible and can form a framework. Nice if you work on your own difficult to incorporate into a team.

Westfacing · 07/03/2022 15:11

What would have been interesting is if the candidate had interviewed well, then you'd have been in a quandary!

AtLeastPretendToCare · 07/03/2022 15:15

@Lottapianos

'But if say asked about what they like to do outside of work, saying they are active in the local church (for example) would be absolutely fine!'

Yes, I agree. Fine to mention personal stuff in that context, but not in relation to work. It's not relevant, any more than your favourite football team or your voting preferences

I think there are some circumstances more work related where it could be relevant. For example if you were asking how people cope under pressure, are resilient etc then mentioning having faith/praying helping give strength could be part of a sensible and genuine answer. But her specific answer is just weird.

gogohm · 07/03/2022 15:20

Nothing wrong with mentioning religion, it's not something people leave at the door. In this case the person wasn't suitable but I would not be concerned either way

Earlydancing · 07/03/2022 15:21

@AlisonDonut
How does God fit into team work though?
The candidate didn't even answer the question so it was completely irrelevant.

I was just replying to the thread title "Bringing up personal (religious) beliefs at job interview" and the fact the op thought it was inappropriate and her colleague disagreed. I wasn't commenting on whether they performed well in the interview. The op already said they performed poorly. I'm just saying I don't see anything wrong with people saying or indicating that they believe in God. My last surgeon was a practising Christian - I read it on his blurb when I looked him up. He did the most fantastic job ever on my back. I don't know what he said in his interview but if he said he prayed, I wouldn't care as long as his outcomes were good.

gogohm · 07/03/2022 15:22

@Earlydancing

I agree.

In this case the answer wasn't suitable for the question but mentioning religion isn't an issue per se

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