Sexism in recruitment process

[NewJobMaybe]

Ive posted this in AIBU but aware that there is not much cross over and I am really genuinely bemused by this but at the same time second guessing myself as to whether I am indeed over thinking

As part of a recruitment process I was required to undertake an online "situational judgement test" comprising 20 business scenarios, covering issues like resourcing, management buy out, financing etc in the context of organisation under performance to which I had to record my response.

19 of the scenarios involved senior employees, specified as directors, country managers or board members, in these scenarios the gender was either not specified or male. No "bad" behaviour was ascribed to these individuals. Although one scenario alluded to a difficult relationship due to a past business deal.

In amongst these scenarios was one involving 2 women. They were not senior, although one had carried out crucial work.

One had had an affair with the others husband and so the cheated wife reacted by sabotaging the OW's crucial work resulting in significant damage to operations.

I'm so tempted to complain but they're going to think me a loon aren't they?

Nothing surprises me in business these days. What type of company was it?

In the past, I probably would have complained but it never gets you anywhere and people just make judgements about you. Instead, I would be digging further to find out what type of company they really are and whether they care about the portrayal of women in their workplace/how they are perceived.

I don't care what anyone says, corporate businesses are still predominantly male driven. As a woman, it can be difficult to be seen as anything other than support staff in a lot of companies.

It's a global corporate, everything I have heard about them so far has been positive. Lots of woman in senior positions etc

Oh okay.

Not sure what to say really. If you say something then it could go against you (as in feminist troublemaker) or in your favour (as in good observation skills/not afraid to speak up).

If you want to say something, I would be inclined to wait until you are offered the job then mention it 'in passing' to the HR Manager when you have settled in a bit. People don't like to be told that the systems/tools they are using are unsuitable/incorrect. Rightly or wrongly, it would be taken as criticism and most people don't like that!

God, how depressing.

I would address it with them once the recruitment process has completed, one way or another. I wouldn't address it with the HR Manager, though - although that's based on my experience of HR in my current organisation as not having a bloody clue.

It's very likely that the test will be one they bought in from a test provider, so it's unlikely to tell you anything about the company. If you like what you've seen of the organisation so far then go for it. Once you're in you could mention it to HR so they can feed it back to their test providers.

I'd complain, but like Buffy says, wait till you hear the outcome of the process.

I work for a global corporation, and certainly the company's women's association will raise things like that when they are made aware of them, and some things have been improved as a result. So it's always worth a try.