Employers should not see candidates' names when deciding who to interview

[RoseDeGambrinus]

This would be tricky for very small businesses, but for everyone else, why is it not regular practice to have a separate page of the application form with personal details on which is then detached (as an equal opps form often is)? Bit of a TAAT but why is a system accepted that means employers will often discriminate against those which are 'unusual' (inviting class judgements), Muslim, or even female? Obviously there could still be discrimination at interview but that first hurdle is so important.

PegsPigs, good idea in theory but the name of your exam will be a big clue. I took O-Levels, so any savvy employer will realise I'm no spring chicken.

Not always, I have O Levels, my mum took GCSEs a couple of years later.

Some things can be achieved though, so instead of listing O Levels / GCSEs /IB or whatever ask 'do you have 5 GCSES (or equivalent) at grade C or above?'

Very good idea. I was once witness to a apile of cvs thrown in the bin unread because the applicants were either female - we were deemed to have too many women working for us already- or they had foreign sounding names - thought not to be good for PR. I was so shocked it affected what I named my half ' foreign ' children

In many government departments including NOMS the board can't see the applicants' name, age, gender etc when doing the sift for interviews.

I was applying for jobs that required a very high degree of English literacy. I took care to have a picture of my white British face next to my foreign-looking full name, so that they wouldn't dismiss me at CV stage and would actually give me a chance to demonstrate said literacy skills via a writing test.

It's sad that I thought this was necessary. Changes to the application system would be an excellent idea.

Good idea In theory but I went to a girls school and have worked in female centric environments which would give the game away

When I recruited, we used agencies, who hid the names to discourage hirers from approaching the candidates directly and denying them a commission. It wasn't problematic.

I've heard stories of married women with "foreign-sounding" surnames using their maiden names at work because they suspect it'll go down better. Similarly, someone called, say, Brandi-May might just go by May, lest interviewers/clients etc think she's a chav. Names make a difference - I'm sure of it.

Lots of civil service orgs do this, including the one I work for, you just get an application reference number until interviews are scheduled.

They already do this in the college where my dh works. But in a small town that he grew up in and knows a lot of people he can still work out about who 80% of the candidates are.

I work for a gov body (not civil service, but part of Defra) and we go this. Although, as somebody has mentioned, inferences can be made about someone's age according to whether they have O levels orGCSEs.

I worked in a shop as a student for a well known fashion brand (thinks it's fancier than it is) and watched the manager sort through CVs for English names and chuck the rest. That was 2007. I took my English name and left.

I think it's a great idea. I'm not sure how to work it in a small business but there must be an answer to that.

While we are about it, let's stop universities and colleges know what school or type of school applicants are at. No old school tie; no social engineering.

But there are good reasons to know the school name.. 4A from Blackpool Academy Tech says more about you than 4As from Eton (or indeed Tiffin) ever can.

So why are A-levels marked school-blind and name-blind, AnyoneButAndre - or would you change that too?

Because A Levels are meant to be a completely objective measure of achievement in a specific subject on specific criteria. University and job recruitment otoh are about picking the person who is most likely to do the best.

Indeed: but the candidate from Bash Street may have had to overcome many more obstacles before getting to the exam paper than the candidate from Eton. But we still make them take the same paper and mark it school-blind.

Yup, already happens and is a good idea. I'd go further and say that qualifications should be listed according to some sort of international points system so the school is not named or country of origin indicated. It's pretty much impossible to get around the age issue though, given the work experience section.

Regarding employers not wanting to interview candidates with foreign names, I wonder how much of this is racism / xenophobia and how much is wanting to ensure a good standard of English? Perhaps employers need to be clearer in job adverts about asking candidates to hold English qualifications?

I agree.

I also think that names of schools should be removed on exam papers because some examiners will be influenced against certain schools.

IguanaTail Names of schools don't appear on GCSE or A level papers.

Yes they do. Controlled assessments have the centre name and number on them.

I have two double barrelled names - both more Irish than anything - an address in a desirable village and a reasonable education record.

I also have an Afro, facial piercings and a big smile on my face when people meet me for the first time.

And I'll tell you something for nothing - the tolerance for grading is far tighter in grammar schools where I have worked than comps.

Thank you Iguana - I did not know that. I meant that the original marking is done school-blind. You are of course right that the assessments should be school-blind.

NHS here and we don't see names or any personal details, it is easy to look and make assumptions based on what is included but tbh every shortlisting I have done we only look at the qualifications to ensure they have the essential required for the post and possibly the date if we are asking for xx years experience. then we concentrate on past experience and the statement they make at the end outlining why they want the job and what experience they have. I am however amazed at how crap most of the applications I have seen are, even from highly qualified and experienced people. Hardly any I have looked at actually address the person spec points and almost none refer to the actual post they are applying to. some even have obviously cut and pasted (no problem) but forgotten to take out the references to the last job they applied for so 'I am applying for post of senior hamster traine' when the job is actually assistant hippo washer.

AnyonebutAndre

I saw one place suggesting recruitment should be university blind and that was a bit bonkers IMO - not all 2:1s are created equal.

Your comment proves exactly why university blind recruitment is a good idea.

I do think that hiding names is a good idea. I changed my name unofficially when I was a teenager as my parents gave me a first name that is simply ridiculous. When I started applying for weekend jobs I believed I had to do so with my "proper" name and I believe it went against me. I also believe it interfered with university applications (although that might just be me trying to deflect maybe not being good enough for my no1 choice despite having the grades required!).