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.

You can totally apply in your maiden name. However, if they do offer you the job, I think it's best to tell them before you accept. Ask them to keep it confidential and you'll probably be able to fly below the radar at least for a while!

This thread is a bit depressing: it's not compulsory or a legal requirement to use your married name; you are entitled to use both your maiden or married name; you don't need a deed poll or any official permission to use your maiden name - it is still one of your own names! And people ask why we still need feminism...

Apply in your maiden name.

If you are Mrs RM, then you are not being unreasonable. Use your maiden name

Yes, came here to say this too ^^. I'm a CS, and in our Dept, this would have to be declared under our Conflict of Interest policy (and probably the Civil Service Code as well).

As far as I understand it the surname that you had before marriage is legally still your 'real name' whether or not you change your name on marriage. Nobody will object. If they do a check to make sure you're eligible to work in the UK, often a passport check to show that you're British, just give your marriage cert with the passport to show that both names are you.

I'm torn between reassuring you and thinking if you're married to any current Minister or member of the government we probably won't be friends, so I don't really care.

You’re perfectly entitled to use your maiden name, it’s still your legal name. A married name is only an assumed name, hence why you can revert back to your maiden name at any time without a legal process.

I use my maiden name for work. Put your maiden name as your surname then if it asks about any other names put your married surname there. I’m unsure about the DBS but believe it should be as easy as including your marriage certificate.

🤣🤣🤣

I have a reasonably well known DH. I use my maiden name and live a happy anonymous life!

If it is in education latest kCSIE guidance means we have to do online checks as part of safer recruitment looking at social media this would normally be prior to interview because of offering on the day. Being provided with an incorrect surname in this instance would cause a problem. I would suggest at the Least telling them if they invite you to interview so they can do the checks they need to/ request references in correct known as name? If it’s not education obviously ignore this if not relevant!

Ooh Rees-Mogg’s wife works in the industry he is a minister for, so pps might be on to something!

If its an unusual surname it's either woodcock or the other one with the Penis name 🤣🤣🤣

Is the job in the constituency he is MP?
By state do you mean local govt or civil servant ?

You probably need to think about any potential conflict of interest and discuss with their HR.

And generally of working in the constituency he is MP. To avoid people saying you got favours such as the place you work getting a grant.

I use maiden name for work, married name for finances and anything to do with the kids.

What saves me tons of hassle is that I have my driving license in my maiden name and my passport in my married name. Passports now have an AKA option, which is really helpful.

i have DBS for both names because one done by employer and one by an organisation I volunteer for.

HMRC have me under both names because of child benefit.

I would just put my real name but then I’m brackets, known as Jane smith professionally. My name at work is not my real name.

Well ,literally no one knows who the Ed Sec is since we have had 723.764, 812 in the last six weeks, so you're safe there.

Just speak to HR and who's recruiting you.

Ask them that all your staff ID e-mail addresses and so on be in your maiden name, all you have to do is produce your marriage certificate as proof of your maiden name.

They won't have a issue with it.

No problem to apply in maiden name but you should disclose to HR and as another poster said, there may be conflict of interest and other compliance areas that necessitate disclosure, potentially beyond HR e.g. to legal or line manager. In the area I used to work in we had to declare for certain contracts whether any member of the project team was a government official (which included close relatives of government officials). A decent HR person should be able to guide you through. Good luck!

I work in my maiden name and am paid in my married name. Both names are on my DBS. All my ID is in my married name and looking back I wish I’d kept my driving licence in my maiden name and my passport in my married name as it has been a bit annoying to have no photo ID with my maiden name. To complicate matters I also need MOJ clearance but so far I’ve managed fine and always applied for jobs in my maiden name. It probably helps that I qualified for my profession before I got married so my qualifications are in my maiden name.

Tell your boss and HR, no one else needs to know. I always work under my nickname and its never been a problem.

Yes you can.

I know many lawyers, teachers, social workers who all work under their maiden name for obvious reasons!

Apply with your correct name but also give your 'known as' name.

Its not uncommon for women to have a family name and a professional name. Cherie Blair / Cherie Booth is a famous example. I have a number of colleagues who have a different name at work.

Piggy 🤣🤣🤣🤣 and I'm even sure they've realised they are Ed secs whilst doing the job either such has been the lack of any actual use of the position.