Have you ever thought about how your name is viewed by potential employers? For some, it may not have crossed their mind while others go through a daily struggle about how people perceive them. In a world, where branding is everything, how do you positively brand yourself for the workplace if your name screams for attention? Sadly, not all employers will be able to look past something so minuscule and there is very little that you can do about it.
There has been a lot of controversy as of recent when "The View's" co-host, Raven-Symoné said she would not hire someone with the name "Watermelondrea." The 29-year-old's statement got a lot of back lash and, as a result, she turned to Facebook to defend her controversial comments. She posted, "As an equal opportunity employer, I have never discriminated against a name....even though I said I would, it's not true. My comment was in poor taste. My lack of empathy towards name discrimination was uncalled for. I would also like to say that on Friday my account was hacked, those are not my words." Although it is hard to tell whether she is telling the truth or not, it's pretty safe to say that there are actual employers out there who agree with her.
Is it really right to judge someone because of their name? In reality, we all judge people for many obscene reasons and having a unique name is one of them. We all have unconscious biases. Studies show that most of us obtain entrenched stereotypes about certain social groups by the age of 5. Sometimes we associate the unknown with negative things and it doesn't have to be this way.
Some employers suggest that if you have an unusual name and are applying for a job, then you should slightly change it. If your name is Evanthia, you should go by Eve. If your name is Latasha, shorten it to Tasha, and so on. I, personally, think that shortening your name to make it more appealing to employers is a good option, but I also feel that an employer should not deny you employment based on your name. For many people, their name means something to them. It is what they identify themselves with and for some, a connection to their culture or religion. It seems almost obvious that an employer should look past these things and really distinguish what their potential employer can bring to the table, but this is not always the case.
So the question is, if a person with a strange or unique name wants to be taken seriously in corporate America and does not want to shorten or change it for the satisfaction of others, what should they do? Well amongst all the common names employers sift through one application at a time, one thing a unique name will do is make a prospective hire standout. This can be a great opportunity for a hiring manager to not only remember your name but everything you bring along with it. They might take a greater interest in looking at your application and resume and hopefully see that everything about you stands out among the rest.
There is so much that goes into climbing the corporate ladder in America and you do not want something as simple as a name to hold you back. Depending on who you're the inner debate will be asking yourself is it worth sticking to the status quo or standing up for who you are and what you believe in? And furthermore, can we blame either side for making either decision?
