How best to answer 'What are your preferred pronouns?' in an intervew

[NancyDrawed]

I have been out of the workforce for a very long time but finally have an in-person interview later this week.

The confirmation email is signed by a name followed by (he/him/his). I need to get a job. But I am trying to get my head around what I would say if I was directly asked what my preferred pronouns are.

On principle I would like to say 'I'm not a follower of that ideology so use whichever you see fit' or something along those lines, but is that likely to mean I have no chance of getting the job?

I am clearly female, so a small part of me would want to say he/him/his just to see the reaction!

It might not even come up at all, but I'd like to be prepared.

It shouldn't - just as you shouldn't be asked for your preferred religion at interview.

I agree with you.

It shouldn't be a question

It’s not. This entire thread is about a hypothetical scenario the OP has created based on one comm from the potential employer that included pronouns in the sender’s sign off.

And that poster is contributing to the OPs discussion about potential questions by stating that, in their view, this shouldn't be one.

Weren't you the one complaining about 'misrepresenting' your posts? I'm sure you'd be equally upset to realise that's what you're doing to others.

Ssssh don't be bringing common sense into it, we're supposed to be getting worked up over something that hasn't even happened and is just a made up scenario on the off chance they might ask it because the OP thinks it might 😁

I can't believe this needs pointing out but saying 'this shouldn't be a question' is not the same as saying that it already has been asked.

In much the same way that when I say to my kids 'don't eat ALL the ice cream' and they reply 'I'm not'. Suggesting that something shouldn't happen in future is not to say that it definitely already is/has!

@tofu Yes, silence silly women, stop taxing your lady brains by examining hypothetical situations.

🙄
Again, discussing something is not the same as 'being offended' or'getting worked up' over' something. (Great bit of sexist minimising there, well done).

I thought this was a discussion board for, you know, having discussions?

But keep on minimising women's concerns, it does a great job of showing why you're really here with your faux concern.

"Nothing to see here! Never happens!"

Yes, silence silly women, stop taxing your lady brains by examining hypothetical situations

🙄

I thought this was a discussion board for, you know, having discussions?

Yes, look at us all here, with different opinions on a topic. Almost like - yes! A discussion!
.

Well it was a discussion.

Now it's turned into you and Ella criticising us for having the discussion in the first place!

You literally criticised posters for discussing something hypothetical so I'm not sure why I get a biscuit for pointing that out, but cheers, it'll go nicely with my cuppa.

I've noticed recently that in my organisation (public sector), nobody in a management position has "pronouns in signature" anymore. There used to be a couple, including my senior manager, but they all mysteriously disappeared one day. I'm assuming somebody clocked that it's not as neutral/friendly an act as they probably assumed.

@TofuTart now now, you know that on the FWR forum, the only ‘discussion’ allowed is from posters with GC views. Silly us for trying to engage….

A possible, unlikely scenario that she would nevertheless like to be prepared for just in case.

Not unreasonable.

Not really.

Given the company uses gender ideology it is a possible question and it's a bit late to ask what to say after it happens isn't it

"I'm a woman so please address me as such". To the point without pandering to the nonsense.

Why? just because some one has pronouns on their email?

I've noticed recently that in my organisation (public sector), nobody in a management position has "pronouns in signature" anymore. There used to be a couple, including my senior manager, but they all mysteriously disappeared one day. I'm assuming somebody clocked that it's not as neutral/friendly an act as they probably assumed.

That's encouraging.

"Possible, unlikely."

At least one person on this thread knows of it having been asked, so it's not impossible. None of us wants to be left floundering in an interview.

If someone emailed me to confirm an interview and stated their preferred religious belief for example then I would be inclined to believe that stating this belief and agreeing with it was encouraged in the organisation or business. The interview confirmation tells the candidates what's expected within the whole organisation - neutrality of belief is the usual position, unless that neutrality doesn't exist.

I'm also in the public sector. In my last job there were occasional exhortations from our big boss that it would be nice if we put pronouns in our signatures. Some did, many didn't.

In my current job, when you're setting up your signature, there's a prompt for pronouns, but you don't have to include them and most don't. I flirted with the idea of choosing fae/faeself (literally one of the drop down options) but considered that it would be too obvious I was taking the piss.

In all the many interviews I've been in, either as a recruiter or interviewee, I've never heard the pronouns question asked in the wild. But I don't think it's all that unlikely, in certain organisations. Most likely because some numpty in HR has directed that it should be asked. In that case it's not a hill to die on if you want the job, "my pronouns are female" should do.

It's not as if anyone needs to use third person pronouns in an interview anyway. It should be all "you" and "I". Asking about someone's identity is bad practice. And any candidate who starts with "my name is X and my pronouns are Y/Y" gets a discreet eyeroll from me.

I like this as it

A) is quick, clear and avoids awkwardness when ultimately this moment is not the hill you probably want to die on, and

B) could also send the message that you are uninterested in the boloixks ideology that lies behind the question

It's so silly, imagine if you did put "fae/faeself" and then expected everyone to remember your choice and complained when they inevitably didn't!

I think it would be in an interview! But anywhere else it would make sense. Nobody could see ME as anything but female (not being pretentious, just factual) even if I was wearing a boiler suit, so would love to say this or something like "are you TRYING to be funny?".

"Are you 'avin' a larf?"

Just say it/its. Very unique 😁