Should I change my foreign name into something more English?

[lookingforjob]

I have a very foreign-sounding name and I fear nobody will employ me bc they assume I need a visa sponsorship or something ( I am a British Citizen)
Shall I change it via deed poll? Is it worth it?

When I have been recruiting I have asked everyone if they have the right to work in The UK, whatever their name.
I suppose for some people there may be a bias against “foreign” names (not sure what those even are to be honest) but I don’t think you really need to change yours

Have you found you've been rejected for jobs based on this sort of concern? I wouldn't change my name unless I wanted to, seems odd you'd consider it just to get a job if you haven't had a problem so far?

People I've worked with or known with foreign names, if it's a first name some have changed it to the more European sounding name.

Surnames, similar, I know 2 women who are divorced but kept their English husbands names and use them and another couple of friends also women who use their husband's English surnames, one who's Polish said she felt discriminated by using her Polish surname so when she got married used this. Another uses both her Eastern European surname and her English one but is divorced now, the third uses her English surname only but she's divorced.

If it works for you then yes, change it.

There's research that shows that people with non-standard names for the majority culture are discriminated against in job applications. We don't entirely know why, but if you think it's to do with visas etc you could explicitly write that you're a British passport holder on your CV (e.g. full clean driving license, British passport).

If you think it's less bureaucratic and more to do with seeing you as 'different' or 'other' you could use a nickname or 'known as' name (e.g. Kuljit, known as Kat). Or you could forge ahead. There is no right answer. I'm sorry that you have to think about this.

I've inherited a very foreign surname from my Grandad. I know exactly why you mean by thsi and I have often wondered (especially when I'm as younger looking for my first jobs) if I was discriminated because of surname. I considered using my mums maiden name as my surname but never did. I am who I am!
I included British on CV and whether that made any difference or not I can't say for certain.
I think it would be really sad for you to have to change your name and morally would be so unfair for you ♥️

Unconscious bias is real, and having a foreign sounding name does sadly mean that you may encounter some discrimination. However, I hope you won't feel that you have to change your name. We need to address the causes of the problem rather than forcing people to find workarounds.

My employer now does blind recruitment so that recruiting managers can't be influenced by unconscious bias relating to names etc. Lots of other employers are moving in the same direction.

Good luck in your job search, whatever you decide to do!

I think it depends on the industry. In some sectors there are loads of people from a non UK background, in others it's rarer. Unfortunately there is research to show that it can be a negative factor

Where my dh works (he's English) he is recruiting and over the last few months has had 100's of cv's in front of him for a couple of roles. None had a British name.

He did notice this but mainly because because he wanted to learn how to pronounce some of the names before interviewing them. At his company at least they would never not hire someone on the basis of their name. They have checks to make sure visas to work here are in place anyway.

Oh gosh, I want to say noooo keep your name, but discrimination is real.

I do receive CVs with “Citizenship status: [country]” (and wouldn’t blink at “Permanent resident” or “Long term working visa”) in the personal details section of the CV.

If you have a nickname that you’re happy with, then PP’s suggestion is good.

It’s sad that you’re contemplating it. Personally I wouldn’t. Could you just shorten your Christian name to something easier and keep your surname if you’re worried?

I'd like to hope that in this day and age that it wouldn't make a difference, but me and my family changed ours some time ago (Eastern European) and haven't looked back!!

I wouldn’t change my name if I were you.
As an employer, I wouldn’t ever assume a persons work eligibility or citizen status on a foreign sounding name.

No. Keep it.

I never did and will not do.
Frankly, if someone will not hire me because of my name, I don't want to work there anyway

No but might you shorten it, to an English sounding shortened version?

You don't put this on in UK. But I know countries where you do. Here it's usually in a declaration or tick on a form that you have roght to work here

Put British Passport Holder or similar on your CV, right at the top.

But that won't stop people discriminating against you for "not being a good team fit" or other reasons used for justifying racism/xenophobia.

You could use a different name, but that might cause other problems if they see your passport in another name for the ID checks at interview stage. I must admit I was a bit when a candidate's passport turned out to be in a very different name to his CV. I offered him the job but it did give me a moment of doubt. That probably wouldn't apply to candidates of Chinese origin where it's completely routine for them to have a separate English first name for work purposes though.

If it's a cv that's going to be looked at by humans then you could try planting subtle signifiers that you're a "regular British person": WI chairwoman, morris dancing as a hobby? Silly examples, but there are ways to move your perceived identity into the "oh when I said they should kick them all out I didn't mean you!" region. Get friends to check what impression it gives, and treble check the grammar and tone. Lots of CVs read as if written by Martians. From Dave Smith, a reviewer may think "lots of cvs are a bit alien in tone". From Boglarka Sienkewicz the reviewer might think "foreigner with crap English".
You shouldn't have to do that, obviously. You should be able to submit exactly the same cv as Dave Smith and have it seen in the same way.

The other option is to apply for jobs with really big companies with good D&I policies and probably name-blind cv triage.

No don’t. You’ll get more job offers but is that the most important thing. Be the change.

I think it depends what role you go for. If it is a council based job then a foreign name can help.
I have a foreign surname and I think it has definitely helped me when getting council/civil servant type roles.

Please keep it if you like your own name. I don’t use my (foreign) legal name for my job but use my English middle name as a ‘known as’ name. If you’re worried about being discriminated can you use an anglicised version of your name on the CV, LinkedIn etc without legally changing it?