New job - famous (ish) husband - want to work anonymously - name change question

[WantToWorkAnonymously]

So my husband is well known locally (politics), I want to apply for a new job (in the state sector) but don’t want everyone asking about him/moaning about him to me/thinking about me in a certain way because of links to him.

I want to revert to my maiden name before I apply, can I do this? Can I just give them my maiden name but my bank account has my married name will that matter?
And my NI, forms of ID (passport, driving licence) are in my married name, assume this may cause a problem?

I don’t want to abandon my married name totally, just for work purposes to remain as anonymous as I can for as long as I can - won’t lie if someone asks me directly!

Just want to be just me to start with.

MP? I think you’d have to tell the person who is recruiting you as they will need to do ID checks etc. but they should be able to keep this confidential and allow you to use the name of your choosing.

Unless his name is very unusual, people prob won’t question it. If it’s common place people prob won’t think twice about it.

If it were say Truss (and your wife instead of husband obv), you might get people going ‘that’s an unusual name are you related to liz truss?”

Id just practice saying “ha ha yeah people always say that when they hear my surname ha ha” and not answer and change the subject.

I don’t blame you Carrie. I wouldn’t want to be associated with him either.

You will need to show your right to work in the UK and maybe a DBS?

Probably no reason why you couldn't work under your maiden name but you should be asked for ID at interview for right to work checks so you'd either need to explain or apply under your married name. Plus depending on the public organisation you may have some other checks like BPSS.

😂😂😂

Genuine LOL moment there!

You can apply to deed poll for a ‘known as’ name change I think.

I agree with this.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Haha I’m not Carrie - good one though 😂

yes he is an MP and unusual enough surname that people always ask, ie not Smith or Jones.

yes I’d need a new DBS (have several for volunteer roles already but sure they will do another one).

had wondered about deed poll, seems you can do it online for free, but don’t actually want to change everything permanently, just want to be known as Miss/Ms/Mrs (not bothered) Maiden Name.

also just wondering if the people doing the interviews may have their views on him so that may affect my application/interview which feels unfair but is probably true.

😂😂😂 my first though too 😂

You can be called anything you like at work OP, you just need to mention this to the recruitment team as they will need ID and work history info for safer recruitment.

but emails, contact info etc can be in any name you wish

I work under my maiden name while passport etc is in married name, hasn't been a problem for me!

Should I apply in my maiden name and then explain later?

or apply in my married name then ask to be known as my maiden name?

Your employment contract and your payroll record will need to be in your legal name. Depending on how the organisation works, that might mean your legal name is used in other systems. I don't use my first name as I dislike it intensely, but anyone who uses our HR system knows it because that's how I'm recorded. Unless I change officially, I'm stuck with it. At least my email is my preferred name, so that's how most people know me.

Loads of people do this in academia, keep their maiden name for work purposes but have married name for normal life. You'd obviously need to tell HR the details for the DBS and other relevant things, but on the workplace you would be your preferred work name

In the UK you can use any name you wish as long as “you don’t have an intention to defraud”. Learnt this studying law years ago, it has always stuck with me.

You'll need to speak to them.

In theory as long as all your official stuff is in order, you should be able to chose what you're known at work, your email address name etc.

In reality it doesn't always work that way.

Politely though, I don't think people will link you with anyone and even if they do, after about 5 minutes, no one will care. That is assuming that people even know who he is anyone especially if it's something like local politics.

It’s very simple - apply in maiden name and explain you use it for professional matters.
Plenty of women who achieved a certain level of acknowledgement in their spheres do that. I have two family members who work under their maiden names as they reached a certain level. One at least has her bank account under unmarried name. DBS etc also ask if you are known by other names - which covers both first and second name issues.

Apply in your maiden name. If you get the job and have to do dbs/ references /whatever do so under whatever name you’re known as. I can see hr records at work and a good quarter are ‘known as’ and/or for first or surname. It’s really not a big deal.

Apply using maiden name. When it comes to contract and HR forms, explain to HR that these are in your married surname but you use your maiden name professionally. No one else will need to know. I’ve used my maiden name professionally for 20 years, only HR people have any clue I have a married name!

Tbf if the name is Rees- Mogg that is instantly recognisable and people would definitely have opions.
Obviously not saying it is but someone that well known with an unusual surname and quite controversial.

Sorry, missed your update, you're talking about interview bias.

I would apply in my proper name. It'll all come out if you're successful anyway and it'll possibly make you look like you were "economical" with the truth.

You say your name is unusual but it doesn't mean they'll automatically associate you anyway and if they do, laugh it off as @Elieza said. I doubt z professional employer would even ask.

Once you've got the job you can ask to go by your maiden name.