Outgrowing names

[Happydoingitjusttheonce]

In dentist waiting room yesterday and dental nurse calls "Alfie". A near 6ft 16 year old with a tracksuit and key wig rises from his seat. He probably made a cute Alfie when he was a toddler. Do kids outgrow cutesy names?

Shoelovingfin - my Nana's friends were called Millie and Lily (my dad nicknamed her Lily the Pink in the 70s ). They'd be over 90 now if they were still alive. Those names you reference were that of middle aged women at one time. Nobody used to think they were 'cute' names. You only think that because you associate them with little girls now.

Craig is a great name, I really like it. It means 'rock' - brilliant manly man's name

Pingu, you do what works for you.

And mairead, the school was notorious. I was there in the 80's. Gangs used to regularly beat up the local private school kids, one ended up in a coma. Constant fights, poor leadership (eventually removed for inappropriate behaviour). It was commonly called a farm. So appalling it was eventually brought into the local church diocese and turned into a faith school. Now "outstanding", very happily.

Totally agree Pacific. My first snog was with a Craig

A colleague and I once shortlisted 170 applications for some posts we were trying to fill. I can honestly say I didn't really think about the names of the candidates. I was more focused whether they were qualified for the position or not.

Also...

Her parents choice of name for her reflects their lifestyle and priorities.

I honestly don't understand this comment (this why I usually avoid AIBU)

"Claire and Julie are among my past hires."

Claire and Julie are the names you would give two sad, divorced middle aged female characters in an office based sitcom who bond over their miserable online dating experiences and wear ill fitting work clothes from h&m.

Do you see what I'm doing here???

I do pingu and who am I to disabuse you of your perception? It is after all based on your experience, as is mine

I would say your method is way worse than "not foolproof".

Your friend "Chelsea" would never apply to a job working for you because she lacks the education to do so - that is the salient fact. If, however, there is another girl called Chelsea or Chardonay or whatever who does have the right qualifications and education then by your own assessment, she probably achieved these despite her parents not valuing education - I would say she objectively shows more grit and determination than Sarah or Alexandra who were simply funneled into the machine of middle class education. In fact her achievements - given that her parents were, according to you, slightly thick and not understanding of how the world worked - might not even reflect her true intelligence and capability.

All that said, I can't stand the naming of babies as if they are going to stay cute and little forever. Jamie Oliver's children for example.

You are completely correct Pallisers but overlooking the fact that after I've shortlisted Sarah and Alexandra, they will be rigorously interviewed by me and then others. They have to be excellent. If they don't show grit, determination, initiative, ability to think independently and whatever else I'm looking for, they don't get hired. Yes I might miss out on a fantastic Chardonnay but competition is so strong, time is so short, I can live with it. Don't confuse me with a university interview panel.

Happy
I'm a professional

What training have you had in recruiting? What do your colleagues say when you justify your rejection of candidates on the basis of names/social backgrounds not to your liking? Or is this an entirely theoretical argument on your part?

Give it a rest Josephine from Liverpool, you're making a twat of yourself 🤣

Fascicle you must have missed my earlier post. I never verbalise it as justification. Only to you bunch of anonymous strangers

I can live with making a twat of myself in front of people who have absolutely no idea who I am

Well yes I imagine people in the US say something similar. Sure they might miss out on a fantastic Jermaine or Trayvon but not to worry - Thomas and Robert will be rigorously interviewed (no short cuts there!) to make sure the most deserving white candidate gets the job.

I think there are loads of people who do what your do happy. I suppose at least you seem to acknowledge what it actually is.

The suggestion wasn't for your sake my dear.

Extended periods of twattery equal tedium for all concerned, don't you know?

My MIL has a chihuahua called Alfie and a frenchie called Teddy haha!

I actually wanted to call my son or daughter Teddy but DH didn't like it at the time.. then he decided that he did like it but his mum used it for her puppy before I fell pregnant again so that's gone for us haha!
I wouldn't have bothered using Theodore/Theodora though.

Pallisers I admitted in my second post it's wrong and have subsequently explained why I do it. I don't take any shortcuts with the interview process because I have to produce results so no room for passengers, whatever their name.

I'm not seeking validation or approval of my approach and I'm not really interested in convincing people I've not got a hatred working class people. People can think I'm a bellend or twat all they want.

Then feel free to swing by a different thread Miss Alabama

Bananamama1213
My MIL has a chihuahua called Alfie and a frenchie called Teddy haha!

Well, they are never going to get a job in middle management, so they have your MIL to thank for that. Good god, why don't people think before they name their pets?

You don't care about what people think [allegedly] and yet you're still here. Nineteen pages in and continuing to dig further towards the Earth's core. It's admirable, I must say.

I know notclever, I really hate threads that go over 500 posts, I tend not to bother reading them so attempted to call it a day pages ago, But I'm not seeing my boyfriend tonight, ironing done and having a lovely glass of merlot, so why not keep the debate going? If I cared what people think I'd rise to the personal insults but truly, I don't care.

Happy
I never verbalise it as justification.

Do you ever have sole responsibility for recruiting? If not, how do you hide your bias?

I did ask before - what training have you had in recruiting?

Am I the only one wondering what sort of company the OP owns - (or works as Recruitment Officer for,) that she hires all these Sarahs and Pauls for (but not Crystals and Ellie-Maes?!)

It must be a terribly important company, and ever so special.

I am also amazed that such a busy little bee who is so important that she recruits so many people, has time to spend all day on mumsnet. posting bile

How come some people who claim they are SO busy running their own company, (or they are a super busy professional working for another company;) manage to spend half their waking hours on internet forums?

It's a wonder their company survives with the people who are meant to be helping to run it, on message forums half the day!

I know a few people who run their own company, and many people who work full time, and they don't have time to scratch their arse most of the time, let alone spend half the day on message forums!

I can't be the only one who thinks like this.

@fascicle, it doesn't look as if @happydoingitjusttheonce is going to answer your question.

Some names have much more obvious associations with a particular class.
Some I think are fairly timeless and classless.
I wonder if names in other countries have similar connotations? I'm curious!

It could be worse - you could always stick half the CVs in the bin on the basis that nobody would want to hire someone that unlucky.

Disclaimer: this was a Viz top tip a few years back.