Strange Question During My Interview

Germeze

Hi everyone, I am just after some thoughts about the following question asked of me during an interview.

Firstly, this was an interview for a temporary position for which I was more than qualified. I put on a smart suit, did my research and turned up in plenty of time. I was therefore quite thrown when asked "do you have any piercings?". I wasn't wearing any jewellery at all and the job was desk based and didn't invlove meeting the customers.

I cannot see any relevance of me having/not having any piercings. :T

Your thoughts please

hjb123

I cant see the relevance either really - was it a guy or woman interviewing you? Maybe its something to do with health and safety?

lush_walrus

Hhhm that is very weird! At first I thought that perhaps it was due to you needing to operate machinery or something where H & S might be an issue, but for a desk job it seems very strange! Whether meeting clients or not, surely the clients would only see what the interviewer could see! So they would be apparent wouldnt they!


Very bizzare, hopefully someone from HR will pop up as I am curious on that one too!

Arkwright

In my opinion that was an in-appropriate question.

Firstly, if you have any, like in ears, nose, lips etc he/she would be able to see them.

Secondly, if you have any, anywhere else, it’s got nothing to do with them.

I would mention this to the JC+ if you’re registered with them.

Germeze

It was a woman interviewing me. I will be writing to their HQ to ask for an explanation. I hope the question wasn't racially motivated :mad: but this area doen't seem very tolerant

nearlyrich

The temptation to mention one in a very secret place would have been overwhelming I fear....what a strange question, perhaps it's replaced the question about age that has recently been outlawed

L_D_N

I've interviewed people for temp work in the past and have never, ever had the need to ask that! I did have a temp once who wore a cropped top which showed her pierced naval which I had to ask her to cover but that's it.

I agree with Arkwright and asked whatever agency you are with to look into it. Employers are asked to signed an agreement which lays out a code of conduct to temp staff provided.

How odd- good luck with the job hunt. I'm hunting aswell at the moment, not fun just before Christmas is it?

L

Germeze

Thank you all for your thoughts . Good Luck to you aswell L D N. :beer: I am finding recruitment agencies most unhelpful at the moment, but I will try my luck in London from now on :j

doolally_2

maybe the interviewer had a thing for piercings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

L_D_N

Thanks - I agree about agencies, they are really positive when you go in then .....nothing.

Have to say I love the idea about the piercings questions replacing the age one!!! Can you imagine?

Best of luck.

L

Germeze

doolally wrote:

maybe the interviewer had a thing for piercings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

May be so but her hang ups/fetish should not cloud her judgement on hiring someone to do a desk based job.