Possible Sex Discrimination - not sure what to do

[Pinkjenny]

Before I start, I'm a HR Manager, and know that what has happened is potentially discriminatory. I just want some opinions, not sure if I should bother pursuing.

I went for an interview on Tuesday for a role with a very prestigious (meaning posh) company. I was interviewed by two brothers who were very lovely, but asked me no technical or competency based questions at all. The questions were all about dh's job, the age of my daughter, whether I was married, how old I am.

Maybe I'm just being bitter because I was unsuccessful, but I fail to see how they could have regretted me on this basis, when no technical questions were asked.

Any thoughts lovely ladies?

You should have asked about their kids/state of marriage/age/career aspirations as well. Though clearly they are doing really well at being total arses...

Can you go after them without it affecting your job prospects? The only reason I would not pursue it is if it meant never getting a job again, as in some industries I know sadly it would. This is so unacceptable in this day and age and yet so common...

I'm not sure they had an appreciation of the legal ramifications, they were very traditional people and I got the impression that they genuinely thought it was relevant.

I suppose I could have refused to answer.

The other thing is- do you really want to work for someone who gives this impression to potential staff? What kind of bosses do you think they will be to actually work for.

On the other hand- they may be so far removed from the type of role they were looking to fill within their own experience, that they genuinely didn't know enough about your field to ask detailed technical questions. Or even that they would do the competence/ technical side at second interview stage and just use the first interview to get first impressions of the cadidates?

Or is it one of those situations that a position needs to be advertised even though they knew in advance who they want for it?
You may never know the truth.

PJ don't be bitter - as an HR Manager you really don't want to work there. You would find yourself continually up against similar people with no understanding of modern acceptable people management. You'd be frustrated and wanting to leave within 6 months.

It's a bit of wounded pride but it's the right thing to happen. People like that want to recruit in their own image so take your rejection as a positive indication of your skills and experience and approach to your profession, not the opposite.

Do you know what flowery - I couldn't agree more. Your assessment of the situation is so accurate its as if you were there!

Onwards and upwards eh?

Definitely - isn't it funny that I can't apply logic when I'm in the position myself, despite being able to advise others!

Just had the feedback flowery. Errrm, there is no feedback, no positive, no negative, just 'someone else fitted our mould more closely'. The agency seemed to seek to justify it by saying that I was being interviewed by non-HR people. I can't really see how that makes a difference TBH!

Am seriously gutted. Part time HR roles are so hard to come by and my interim role is until December. So I suppose there is still time for something great to come up.

'Doesn't fit our mould' means 'isn't like us and we can't cope with anyone who isn't like us'. Which is why there's no feedback.

I think the agency are clutching at what to say to you but actually the fact that the people who interviewed you don't know anything about HR is possibly relevant in terms of feedback. Basically you're not like them which is why you weren't successful, and they haven't a clue about whether your answers were good or whether your knowledge is good so there's nothing else they can say.

Not much comfort knowing that it wasn't right for you when there's not a lot else on the horizon, I know, but I am a firm believer in 'meant to be', and it's clear this one wasn't, which means another one will come along which is. As you say, there is plenty of time at the moment.

Thanks flowery, I'm glad we've made up. You can be my HR mate from now on.

Yes, it was discriminatory. A man would not have been asked these questions. A single woman would not have been asked these questions.
They obviously did not use criteria based assessment nor did they ask all candidates the same questions.

If it makes you feel better, I had one interview where they asked about nothing except how I felt my disability would affect my work. I complained about that one...!

ROFL!