Strange Question During My Interview

Astaroth

Many companies I have worked for do have a no facial peircings rule (excluding ear lobes) even though they have been call centre/ office jobs.

It could well be the company has this rule and wants to make you aware of it now rather than when you turn up on day 1 of when you are supposed to start having put your nose, lip, eyebrow and other rings back in.

I am confused why you think the question may have been racially motivated... I am not sure which race you think has a tradition of eyebrow peircing?

viktory

Astaroth wrote:

I am confused why you think the question may have been racially motivated... I am not sure which race you think has a tradition of eyebrow peircing?

Exactly what I was going to ask.

Germeze

If a company have a no facial piercings rule then fair enough. I don't see why she didn't just state that rather than ask about the piercings? Even if I had facial piercings I wouldn't wear them in the work place.

Re the racial query... trust me I am used to being made a to feel like some sort of object of curiosity rather than a human being. The ignorance of some previous co-workers beggars belief.

Astaroth

It is, in my opinion, a valid way to broach the subject... many people are (no pun intended) rather attached to their piercings or if they dont have any, have fairly strong opinions on them. If you say you have no piercings then it is an easy way to avoid having to actually discuss the company policy at that point as it is probably unlikely that if you get the job that you will go out and get 8 lip piercings to celebrate.

And I am proud to be the object of curiosity... though with that is a lot of respect (and in some cases fear) too

Anthillmob

how bizarre.

however if a company have a 'no facial piercings' rule then what do they do with indian women (i think its indian women correct me if im wrong) who have their noses pierced? isnt that some kind of religious thing? therefore wouldnt it be discriminatory?

jobbingmusician

I can think of one job where it might be relevant - anyone who goes near an MRI scanner! Apart from that, it does seem a bit weird.

On the other hand (on the other eyebrow) if the co. DOES have a 'no piercings' policy, I think it's right to ask - IF they ask all candidates. I would rather they did that then excluded any candidate with a particularly bad complexion where they couldn't make a judgement about facial piercings by looking.

peter999

There are a lot of weirdos about !!
Yes & before you ask, people with piercings are weirdos !!

Piercings/tatoos what's all that about ??

Replacement culture or disposable fashion statement ??
Rebels without a cause.
.

siren13577

How very peculiar, my OH has his tongue, eyebrow, nose and at one point his lip and not a word was said, certainly everywhere he has worked was tolerant. Piercings can just be normal ear piercings and certainly doesn't affect normal jobs with no H&S implications. Quite an inappropriate question......

Gorgeous_George

I think the question was totally harmless.

May be that the interviewer only wanted to see your reaction to an odd question. Perhaps, the successful candidate would need to field odd questions.

Answers could be:

a. No. Definately not, I find them offensive.
b. No, but each to their own.
c. Yes, but I only wear them in my own time.
d. Why do you ask? Are you being racist? I'm going to complain.

My answer would have been:

e. Jewellery is for girls.



GG

liney

They were probably asking as a general question because if you are applying for a position with X company, and you arenot successful, they may want to put your details forward to other suitable vacancies. It is easiest if they have all information to hand. Kind of like 'Do you smoke' It could become relevant. I do not see how it is offensive.

As to the point made about nose piercings and it possibly being discriminatory then what do you suggest is done in a food production area? Sometimes these rules are required for the safety of all.