name game advice

It's illegal to filter people based on race, nationality, colour, creed, etc. If she wants to use an Americanised name, fine - she can even fill it in on the forms if she wants, provided she gives the HR department her legally-accurate details when she's employed (so that contracts are legally binding and she can get paid). I've had people call me Spike in the workplace (usually when there's another person with the same real name) and it makes no difference. I used to work with a guy who everyone called Gavin but his real name was Ian. He just preferred Gavin. No problem.

It depends what type of work she's looking for. If it's in the tech sector most employers are eager to hire "foreign" talent as they have a reputation for being better educated and harder working. One way to get some current references is to work for a temp service like Kelly, ManPower, etc. In fact, if she still has children at home she might want to do that for at least a couple of years since it allows her to have a fairly flexible schedule. When they interview her initially she can tell them the nickname she goes by and why that might be a better introduction. I worked as a temp till the market dried up here and before that I did the same in the other state I lived in. I worked as much as I wanted and could turn down any assignment for any reason. Maybe that type of work will serve your friend's purposes and help build her resume.

Actually, this is true. If you have a name that is considered "hard to pronounce", then your chances of getting a job are rather slim, but the problem with people these days is that people should learn that names of others. No excuses. I have learned the names of many of my friends who had difficult names to pronounce or names that were deemed "unusual", and it wasn't a big deal for me. The problem with people is that many of them are just to lazy to learn something new.

I think probably right now it's hard for anyone to get hired....I hear of people looking for a year or more with no one hiring...part of it might be the economy. I have also heard that one of the best ways to get a job is to make sure you check back...call them and keep on asking so they know you are really interested....I don't know for sure if it works or not but that's what I have heard.

Depends on the type of job she's going for. If she's going for a job that only requires applications, such as retail, then she should ask to speak to a manager, either at the time she drops off the application, or she can call back a day or two later. When she speaks to the manager she should tell them how to pronounce her name and say "You can call me ... if that's easier". Sometimes showing the ambition to seek a manager or call back a few days later is all it takes to set yourself apart from other applicants. If she's going for the type of job where she submits resumes, she should include something in her cover letter listing an easier name to say that they can call her if they're uncomfortable pronouncing her real name.

I think it's a shame that his name might be causing issues being hired. If they really thought that was the problem, I would put my real name "JenInTN" and then like you said, something in parenthesis like (Jen) if that was what I wanted to be called. Sometimes there is a place where you can put what you preferred to be called too. I have also heard if there has been a lot of time spent at home that it should be stated as such in the reference requests. That is not to provide a reference so much as it is a reason why there was such a gap in employment. If there is a gap and they don't understand why from the app, it might make them hesitant. I hope your friend finds something soon, these are tough times where decent jobs are concerned.

hi 3snugglebunnies I had never thought of that before but it seems sort of unfair not to hire someone just because their name is unusual or hard to pronounce, employers I have met simply give the person with the hard to pronounce name a nickname .After all the experience of a worker should be a lot more important than his or her name. I really do not know of any tricks that would help outside of any good experience she could put down.If she has been the president of say some club or held some office sometimes those things also work in an applicant's favor. Maybe she held a post in the local PTA she should include that too.

Your friend may well be being discriminated against due to her heritage; however, she may also be over reacting. I have a friend whose lineage goes back over 300 years & her ancestors fought in almost every war this country has had during that time. Her name is as American as apple pie. She has been working for the last 30 years without a break. She quit her last job & has been unable to find another for the last 2 years. She has voiced her frustration of not even getting the courtesy of an interview. The job market is sooo freakin saturated with people needing jobs, it is hard for even the most qualified to easily find a job!!! PHD's mean nothing now. So tell her to hang in there & do her best to not take anything personal!!! Her frustrations will show up in her interviews!!! Has she thought of going through a temp agency??? I know here, most companies aren't hiring off the street...opting to use temps for about 3 months or so & then they're offered a full time position if they like the person's work. That saves the company from having to pay any benefits. Some of the temp agencies are offering benefits now to bring the people in.

There is allot of racism in the world today, I agree with her using her american name and once she gets hired advise the employer of her given names so there is no confusion with her paycheque cashing.