Mentioning children at interview

Poppy9

For some working parents it's important they work for a family friendly employer and being honest and up front at the interview stage could work in her favour or it could not, but it's her choice.

Person_one

davehills wrote: »

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!

Only if you're a woman if course, male parents don't really have to worry about this.

cod3

I had to mention my children at my last interview as it explained why I had not been employed for the previous 5 years. (Got the job)

sammyjammy

gwen80 wrote: »

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.

She is going for a professional legal interview and she is asking you questions like this? She sounds a little deranged!

gwen80

She has worked at the same place for the same boss for 9 years now. From what she tells me about it, it sounds like a very unprofessional environment and I don't think it's done her any favours. If she gets this or another job, I think she will have a massive shock.

I also think because she's stayed at the same place and it's so unprofessional, she has very little interview experience. I do think there are people out there who are naturally quite good at interviews and those that aren't. Not to say that those that aren't, can't learn. She's been asking me for advice then completely dismissing it. I guess she has to be willing to learn before anyone can help her. I can only hope that on some level she's joking about these things and tones it right down for interview.

Mojisola

cod3 wrote: »

I had to mention my children at my last interview as it explained why I had not been employed for the previous 5 years. (Got the job)

It would have been sufficient to say that you'd had family commitments. This could mean children or caring for an elderly parent or a disabled sibling and so on.

Errata

Gwen - in your shoes I wouldn't give ANY advice, because when she doesn't get the job she'll blame you! When she comes up with an idea the phrase 'hmm could be right' can be very useful.

ILW

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

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.

Trouble is you then give them the job and within a week or two you are being told that they do not work weekends and are taking two or three days a month off due to "childcare issues" and if you don't like it I will take you to a tribunal.

an9i77

I try to downplay the fact I have children when it comes to interviews. It's in no way relevant as my partner is the stay at home parent, so it's no more relevant that I have children than it would be for a man. But because I'm the woman, people may assume that I'll be preoccupied with the children/off all the time when they are sick/ rushing to pick them up from nursery etc (all completely untrue).
I can understand some people wanting to make sure a new employer is family-friendly but in this recession a lot of people don't have a choice whether that's the case and need to take the best job they can find.
I think your friend sounds slightly bonkers!

mountainofdebt

I was listening to a radio discussion once and a woman made the point that when a man is asked to tell the interviewer about themselves they talk first about their professional career whereas a woman begins telling the interviewer about their home set up first.