Aibu? DS should talk about his party politics activities in interviews?

[Theworried]

DS is at uni and applying for internships etc. in the field of finance. A lot of these interviews ask typical skill or behaviour questions- e.g. tell me a time when you have shown teamwork etc.
DS is an active member of the young conservatives and has done a lot of activities in his uni and in our local young conservative group- e.g. take an active role in meetings, canvassing support amongst young people etc.
He thinks that he should be able to use these examples in job interviews as they highlight his skills and is a big part of his life, but DH thinks he should shy away from it as it is do with party politics and is quite a divisive topic in society.
I think that DH is worrying unnecessarily and interviews would not look down upon it as he is developing skills through this activity.

Completely agree with your DH!

Why? I was a teacher. You can talk about what you want. Every teacher l know voted remain. Why wouldn’t they want to slag off Brexit? Anyone with a brain wound.

Its all anyone talked about at my school. Young or ild, united with hated against it. About 350 staff.

Despite the vitriol dribbling from the lefties on this thread including calling people who vote Tory ‘twats’ and ‘cunts’ it is clearly obvious that there only twats and cunts here are the ones who are blatantly admitting that they would completely ignore the equalities act and discriminate against someone on the basis of their political beliefs.

hmmm yet the only posters who’ve had their posts deleted for being offensive and inappropriate are you and the other rabid pro-conservative poster.

Laughing at the above response - you do realise that half the population vote Tory?

More people voted against the Tories than for them.

😂 show some commitment fgs

Why? I was a teacher. You can talk about what you want. Every teacher l know voted remain. Why wouldn’t they want to slag off Brexit? Anyone with a brain wound.

I agree with you on Brexit and I'm a Remain voter, but sitting around the workplace slagging off people who hold different political views isn't exactly professional conduct.

In my workplace most people didn't talk politics unless they were with friends or it was a moan about the latest education secretary (regardless of party).

The bad judgement is his holding the political views he does - and the fact you disagree with them. An atheist could just as well argue a believer has poor judgement. Or vice versa. The distinction you’re making is false.

The bad judgement is bringing up religion or party politics in a work interview.

Yes I wouldn't care whether he's a tory (cant stand any political party personally😬) , id reject if he focused on his involvement in politics when there must be so many other examples he can give if hes been to uni and he must be aware that it can be a tricky topic.

I didn’t think that is what that poster was saying based on previous comments, though I stand to be corrected.

Saying that skills were gained in the course of being a party member (leaving out the name) wouldn’t strike me as unprofessional though. Very different to actually expressing political or religious views.

you do realise that half the population vote Tory?

@CoffeeCantata , they really don't. At the local elections in May, the Tories got 26 per cent of the vote - a partial result, because it was England only, and not all of England, but let's face it, Tories are even less popular in Scotland and Wales.

Even in 2019, the Tories only got 43 per cent of the vote.

Have you interviewed many uni students? It’s not like they have decades of career experience to draw from.

I once learned more about chicken farming from a young man than I’d ever thought I’d know, because that was the only work experience he had. I’ve also coaxed related experience from fraternity involvement, Student TA positions, and yes student politics groups. Many students/graduates have no work experience and will need to draw on clubs or volunteer work to show relevant skills.

As long he doesn’t focus on the politics and focus on things like organization, leadership, project management, etc. It’s perfectly fine.

Why are we supposed to tolerate the intolerant? Do we accept Nazis because they hold a different view to us? No. We rightly consider them evil personified.
Politics is not just about finance. It shows what kind of people we are. I would not want such an uncaring person in any organisation I'm a part of.

Yes, it's very obvious that the multi race, multi faith cabinet currently governing this country is gearing up to murder millions of people based on race/religion, isn't it?

@Yousee , using the Nazis to illustrate the point that we shouldn't always tolerate different views is not remotely the same as implying that the government is going to commit genocide.

Having said that, no one with an ounce of humanity can look at the policy on immigration coming from this government and fail to notice that it is racist, xenophobic and cruel. And, as Gary Lineker said, some of the rhetoric used is very similar to that used in Germany in the 1930s. So no, it is not acceptable.

@Fedupofdiets i am just giving my perspective based on experience. I was initially worried but given his experience, my worries were allayed. It was not a bar to him being selected for interviews or being offered a job. It was actually viewed as positive. He now has a practical insight into how politics/govt works - actually he left slightly disillusioned and has discounted a political career (thank God)- but he was able to parlay it into an internship with a company in another industry. And in the interviews they focused a lot on what he did during the internship.

@Fedupofdiets what I have found on mumsnet is that views can be extreme. Meanwhile in the real world, people are mature enough not to discount a young person for political views they may have at this age. What I and many others will check for while recruiting interns and young graduates is academics and how your work experience is relevant to the role you are looking for.

Political views are not a protected characteristic so no, it wouldn't be discrimination @Frabbits

But it is a red flag, frankly. The original Young Conservatives were disbanded back in the day for their extreme views, and there does seem a high preponderance for xenophobia, homophobia and misogyny in the current crop of young cons. I’d be very unlikely to hire one in its current iteration. All very reminiscent of the Monday Club, Bruges Group and Traditional Britain Group.

The sheet cheek of tories on here screaming that they’re being discriminated against for their views - grow up. The current Tory Party is veering so far to the right that it’s hardly recognisable. There are next to no moderates left, just Suella yelling about immigrants, Rees-Mogg trying to ban abortion at every turn, and the others frothing at the mouth at how everyone who disagrees with them is apparently a woke trans communist.

You don’t get to claim you are discriminated against when you’ve been in power - and dragging the country into the dirt whilst lining your pockets - for 13 years.

Exactly. We are not living in normal times. I am a Labour Party member but I have worked with Tories in the past and even numbered them among my friends, including some Tory councillors. Not now. If you are canvassing for the Tory Party now, you are colluding with criminality in government, not to mention a terrifying absence of ethics and morality in policy. You are saying, it's okay to drag standards into the gutter and defile our national institutions, and people in high office can behave any way they choose and get away with it.

I think it would be pragmatic to avoid mentioning Conservatives at a uni. Labour he'd probably be a shoo-in.

Exactly this.

This thread is just a demonstration that too many people are incapable of anything other than "Tory bad!" when it comes to political discussion.

A young person who is active in politics likely has learnt a great deal as a result of that. That experience is entirely separate to their personal political viewpoint which most people manage quite successfully to keep separate to their professional lives.

Yes I've interviewed probably getting on for 100+ uni candidates over the years. Most have been able to give examples of situations relating to coursework, presentations, deadlines, revision approach, projects, personal difficulties, even at times a "sorry I have no direct experience of that but I'd do XYZ in that situation".

There are so many things a uni student can reference. It would be a bit of a red flag if I asked a uni grad a q related to e.g. their persuasion skills and they droned on about being an active political party member handing out leaflets when they will surely have far better examples.

Terrible decision to discuss it. Absolutely terrible. If he refuses to divulge they are going to think it’s bad, like the bnp and bin him off, and if he does divulge and they are rabid anti tories, same again. And no one likes politics in the office. It’s so divisive.

my daughter wanted to do the same.I advised not to. She argued it but didn’t, she did however ask for advice from the uni, and they also said don’t do it. In hindsight she’s now relieved she did not.

it could work his way, but it is a huge risk. Do not take politics to an interview. Or put it on a cv. Unless going for a political role where irs relevant.

A philosophical belief in the values of a particular political party may well be viewed by the courts as a belief though, and belief is a protected characteristic.

@titchy I think you'd have a job at tribunal getting a political belief covered

For example believing Brexit was good (or bad) would never have qualified. It would have to be incredibly narrow to qualify.

Good to hear your views (not being snarky I promise). I did worry a bit about DD choosing Politics but she has loved her first year which she has just finished. My main worry was future employment but I think they have just as many opportunities as other graduates. DD will applying for placements from September so fingers crossed she finds one she enjoys, but even a not so good experience experience can be positive I guess as with your DS who has now turned away from Politics as a career.

Were people colluding with an evil murdering government with no morals when Blair won the 2005 election? (Hint hint the Iraq war).