Discrimination?

shinybabe

Hi, i hope no one is offended by this post - it is most certainly not meant that way.

I have applied for two jobs over the years with SVP, the last time with so much relative experience in that field (i was in the exact same job), i was very hopeful i was be successful. I was put forward for the last job by a recruitment agency who were pretty certain i would get the job. I was again unsuccessful.

Now i am not just aggrieved that i didn't get the job, just very confused. The feedback was that i came across as nervous - which i most certainly didn't, because of my experience i was in fact very confident. Was it my religion? I was wearing a poppy?! Does anyone know of any favouritism or leanings towards one religion over the other.

As i said, please do not take this the wrong way, i am just confused and bemused that i did not get a job i was so obviously qualified for.

By the way, in case anyone thinks it was my interview style, i have been told i am very good at interviews and have in fact secured another job and was told i gave a very strong interview.

belfastgirl23

I'd be astonished if it was this. No organisation can afford a whiff of poor recruitment practice these days. I'd just assume there was a stronger candidate...particularly since there have been a lot of job cuts in the voluntary sector these days and a lot of very experienced people are looking for jobs at the mo.

I'd be careful about naming names here too ... you could get into trouble for it.

shinybabe

Thanks for the reply. I know what you mean about naming names - it's a shame we have to be so careful but i meant no offence.

motorguy

Ultimately i have applied for jobs i 'believed' that i was qualified for.

I guess maybe other people have been better qualified both in your case and in mine?

I guess you just have to accept that other people did a better interview?

Old_Git

I would imagine SVP would have employed mostly Catholics ,so would welcome someone from a different religion .But I would assume it would depend on the candidates on the day .

Jacqz

I worked for a company for a few weeks, where there was a certain amount of discrimination - if you had the right name, or had went to the right school, you were better treated than some of the others, regardless of your ability. I just left rather than fighting it - as it would be impossible to have proven. It is sad that disctimination seems to be alive and well these days..

wifeforlife

shinybabe wrote: »

Hi, i hope no one is offended by this post - it is most certainly not meant that way.

I have applied for two jobs over the years with SVP, the last time with so much relative experience in that field (i was in the exact same job), i was very hopeful i was be successful. I was put forward for the last job by a recruitment agency who were pretty certain i would get the job. I was again unsuccessful.

Now i am not just aggrieved that i didn't get the job, just very confused. The feedback was that i came across as nervous - which i most certainly didn't, because of my experience i was in fact very confident. Was it my religion? I was wearing a poppy?! Does anyone know of any favouritism or leanings towards one religion over the other.

As i said, please do not take this the wrong way, i am just confused and bemused that i did not get a job i was so obviously qualified for.

By the way, in case anyone thinks it was my interview style, i have been told i am very good at interviews and have in fact secured another job and was told i gave a very strong interview.

Have you bothered to contact them and ask why you where not suitable for the position??

Having some voluntary experience of the named organisation I can assure you that it would be very unlikely to be for religious reasons, and could purely be that someone more suitable applied.

I have been in the same position as you thinking I was perfect for jobs, and not securing them. I have no idea who was recruited but would assume they where better equiped for the job, if I was unhappy at it I would simply contact them and ask why I didnt get it. Knowing the reason can only strengthen you for the next one

shinybabe

You are right, i may contact the recruitment agency involved. The only feedback i got was that i may have come across as nervous - like i said, i certainly wasn't. I have been manager of a charity shop before and had managerial experience in two other stores. The lady from the recruitment agency seemed pretty confident and when she rang me back to tell me i was unsuccessful, she seemed suprised. She kept asking me if i had been nervous and said she had no other idea why i hadn't got the job. I guess with charity experience behind me we were both pretty confident.

Thanks for the comments. I think i will just put this down to experience and move on.

purt

shinybabe wrote: »

You are right, i may contact the recruitment agency involved. The only feedback i got was that i may have come across as nervous - like i said, i certainly wasn't. I have been manager of a charity shop before and had managerial experience in two other stores. The lady from the recruitment agency seemed pretty confident and when she rang me back to tell me i was unsuccessful, she seemed suprised. She kept asking me if i had been nervous and said she had no other idea why i hadn't got the job. I guess with charity experience behind me we were both pretty confident.

Thanks for the comments. I think i will just put this down to experience and move on.

I don't think nerves are a valid reason for poor performance at interview or indeed not getting the job. Except, of course, if you were so nervous that the person(s) interviewing you got a definite impression that was your personality and you wouldn't be good in a customer facing/managerial role.

I'd ask for feedback as to why you didn't get the job. Any reputable recruiter should provide you with it. Once you have that you should be in a better position to make a reasoned judgement on why you didn't get the job.

Hope this helps

Colin_Kee

It's always hard to proove if you are being discriminated against in this situation. And it's easy to feel agreeved in this situation when you feel that you are so suited to the role and you feel you performed well in interview.

Getting feedback is ultimatly the first step.. which you've done with the recruitment agancy but maybe write a letter to the employer to ask them directly for feedback.

I know from experience "Some" companies just go through the process of the advertising and interviews because they have to, but really they already have someone in line for the job be it internally or friend of friend... Just going through the process really... Nothing really you can do in this situation most times as hard to prove...

Afraid to say it but you just haveto pick yourself up and soldier on.. the world will never be discrimination free... Human nature i'm afraid...

belfastgirl23

Agree with Colin, this would be the one thing that could be a fly in the ointment, voluntary organisations often have to re-recruit when a new round of funding comes in, which would mean you could be up against someone who is applying for their own job. Always a tough call.

But you don't know, you could also be up against someone quite high up in a retail environment who recognises that the credit crunch is going to hit their job and is moving to a different role that is less likely to be affected...