Mentioning children at interview

Takeaway_Addict

Valli wrote: »

What about applicants who have elderly parents? Sick dogs? Faulty boilers?

All they should be establishing, at interview, is whether the candidate can do the job and commit to the hours.

Not sure commit is the right word....If you have any of the above then its unlikely you can commit to the hours but that is life

Valli

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Not sure commit is the right word....If you have any of the above then its unlikely you can commit to the hours but that is life

In which case you don't accept the job. If you can't do the job at the times they want it doing you don't accept.

OP is talking about what might happen. My parents are in their 70s. I don't know what will happen to them, and if they will need care. Either I continue to work (ie commit to the hours) or I don't. In which case I would have to resign.

All that matters is that the applicant can commit to the hours at the time of interview. We all get thrown curve balls though. That's the time you find out whether your employer is family-friendly or not.

Better_Off_1983

gwen80 wrote: »

Hi
because frankly I'm none the wiser myself and can only assume she thinks I'm a childless weirdo!

Gwen

Childless implies that you want children but cannot have them, due to biological reasons or not finding a suitable partner. Childfree (which I am proud to be) suggests that I never have nor want children, through my own choosing!

Some people mention it, my ex told me that he was going to wear a wedding ring so that when he went for an interview, the interviewer would see that he was serious, committed and 'normal' in life!

I can see why it could be detrimental, because the interviewer could assume that she will take loads of time off work and possibly be late all the time because of her child.

pandora205

I'd regard it as quite unprofessional for someone to mention personal information about themselves at interview, particularly something that would be discriminatory if a panel asked directly. As others have said, why is this particular piece of information relevant more than other pieces of personal information? And the candidate's aim should be to ensure they meet the person specification for the job rather than go off topic.

pinkshoes

The first interview is about finding the right person for the job.

Mentioning family is inappropriate.

If she gets a second interview, then it might be worth mentioning...

gwen80

pandora205 wrote: »

I'd regard it as quite unprofessional for someone to mention personal information about themselves at interview, particularly something that would be discriminatory if a panel asked directly. As others have said, why is this particular piece of information relevant more than other pieces of personal information? And the candidate's aim should be to ensure they meet the person specification for the job rather than go off topic.

Totally agree. She tells them she has a child, then she doesn't get the job and she could claim it's discrimination because she has a child. I'm sure she wouldn't do this by the way, but it may be a concern for them.

I agree it would be unprofessional to mention elements of your personal life in an interview unless asked. It would be like someone saying 'Oh and by the way, I'm gay'.

She was asking me all sorts of questions about what to talk about at interview. For example, if they ask why I want the job can I say 'I hate my existing job'? My answer to her = NO! You're looking for a new challenge, you've been looking into the field and it interests you very much. You believe your skills in x, y and z would be beneficial for the role and you're looking to build on them.

She's asking my advice, but seems determined to press ahead with her own ideas so I can only stand back and watch.

zzzLazyDaisy

pandora205 wrote: »

I'd regard it as quite unprofessional for someone to mention personal information about themselves at interview, particularly something that would be discriminatory if a panel asked directly. As others have said, why is this particular piece of information relevant more than other pieces of personal information? And the candidate's aim should be to ensure they meet the person specification for the job rather than go off topic.

This^^^

Under the Equality Act it is unlawful for an interviewer to ask a potential employee whether they have (or want) children, or what their childcare arrangements are - in the same way as it is unlawful to ask if they have a disability, or if they are pregnant.

When I was interviewing, I would have been very uncomfortable if a candidate compromised the interview by raising these issues, because if they do not then get the job it raises the question as to whether these issues influenced the decision in an unlawfully discriminatory way. I would rather not know, as I prefer to assess a candidate on merit, and would consider it unprofessional of a candidate to raise such issues - at least until after they had been offered the job.

Edit - cross posted with Gwen.

FBaby

I made a point of mentioning I was a mum of two very young children at my interview. The reason I did is because I knew that I wouldn't be able to carry out the job unless they considered this wasn't relevant and therefore wouldn't hold it against me.

It paid off for me as my boss and colleague who were interviewing me had children exactly the same age as mine (unknown to me at the time) and were very family oriented. They were hard workers and didn't assume I wouldn't be myself because of my circumtances. I got the job even though I later discovered I was the only one of 6 without the work experience they had put as desirable on the application form.

davehills

To say you have children often goes against you in a big way. There are employers out there who regard people with children more likely to have time off and less flexible when it comes to overtime etc!

ValHaller

gwen80 wrote: »

My friend seems to be thinking of random pieces of information she 'wants to tell them' rather than preparing to answer specific questions. She's been asking my advice and then dismisses it (can you tell I'm slightly frustrated??). But then what do I know, I'm a childless weirdo who's been offered every job I've interviewed for.

Let her be herself. If she is inappropriate at interview, she would be inappropriate in the job, probably. So let her save herself for a job where her characteristics are an advantage - or at least not a hindrance.