Study: Job applicants less likely to get interview if they list LGBT activism on résumé

[DonViejo]

By Tom Boggioni
Saturday, July 5, 2014 21:04 EDT

A recently released study shows job applicants whose résumés include hints of LGBT orientation or activism are less likely to land a job interview, even if candidate is more qualified than other applicants.

The study, conducted by the Equal Rights Center and Freedom to Work, documented a 23 percent decrease in receiving a call-back from human resource departments, according to Takepart.

In the study, fake résumés were submitted to eight companies that are federal contractors, including Exxon Mobil and General Electric Co., seeking employment for over 100 jobs. One résumé made reference to the ‘fact’ that the applicant worked with LGBT groups, while the other didn’t.

The applicant whose résumé showed LGBT ties, or hints that the applicant may be LGBT, got fewer responses than the other, even though the first applicant was better-qualified.

more
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/05/study-job-applicants-less-likely-to-get-interview-if-they-list-lgbt-activism-on-resume/

[HERVEPA]

1. Geez. I hope this isn't a surprise to anyone.

A study was needed to learn this?
Most any kind of activism would cause potential employers to shy away.
That's just the way the world works.

Note: I am of course not condoning this of course.

[yeoman6987]

4. Unless it has something to do with the job

you don't put personal or political information on a resume. I am gay and would never do such a thing. A job resume should be written how the job is advertised and what qualifications are required. If they don't require a Master's Degree, don't put your Master's Degree on the resume. I find it so incredible how badly resumes are written today. It is not a mystery why people are unemployed for long periods. When I write a job announcement, I write exactly what I want in an employee and what I get back is a bunch of braggers thinking they are all that. Forget it, I want a person who can follow directions on what I want in an employee. Very simple requirement that most people don't get.

[HERVEPA]

5. Yep. Of course.

[Renew Deal]

8. What f the person fulfills all the requirements and more

Why shouldn't they list their qualifications if they are willing to take the job for the specified salary? Aren't those positive differentiators?

[yeoman6987]

10. No they are not

Companies don't spend millions of dollars ensuring that the requirements for the job are exact as the job requires just to have people write their own thing. Resume writing is a science now. Why do you think so many folks are considered "overqualified"? Because they don't follow direction......that would be the last person on Earth I would want in my company....a person who does not follow directions or even worse a person who does it their way......forget it. I often hear people say, "I don't understand why I didn't get the job, they said I was overqualified." I just laugh and said did you write the qualifications and requirements they asked for? They typically say, "Oh no, I wanted to impress and write more"........I think IDIOT....no wonder you are not hired anywhere. When I talk to people about getting a job, I say, "do not send out 50 of the same resume."......send 50 DIFFERENT resume.......oh but that takes too much time.....well you are unemployed right? Yes......you used to work 8 hours a day right???? Right.....well perhaps working 8 hours a day to get another job would be advantageous. It just all makes me laugh....Sorry it just does.

[magical thyme]

17. political activism of any sort is considered a negative

Unless all the resumes in the study included some sort of political activism, it says nothing about LGBT activism in particular.

[Renew Deal]

18. I know that.

I was asking a different question.

[magical thyme]

19. then I'm not sure what your question was. but if they "overfill" the requirements, they

run the risk of appearing overqualified. Companies are afraid they'll expect too much money and are afraid they'll get bored and move on. Even in a really down job market.

HR people have told me you should apply for jobs for which you're 80% qualified, leaving room to grow.

[Renew Deal]

21. That is good advice

[aikoaiko]

2. Proper control.

I'll have to read the study for the details, but many companies shy away from anyone with a history of activism on ANY issue.

For example, if the study compared LGBT activism applicants to workers' rights activism and men's rights activism, the results might less dramatic.

On the other hand, I'm not surprised that people still discriminate against LGBT applicants purely for the reason alone.

[Lee-Lee]

3. Definitely needs more comparisons

Everything I have ever seen about resumes and applying for jobs says don't list anything indicating political activism or political affiliation unless the job is a political one favorable to the activity.

Without them trying to compare it to other forms of activism it's hard to say if this is more LGBT related or more related to putting stuff they shouldn't on a resume.

For example, would the results be similar if they put abortion activism on a resume, on either side? What about feminist activities? What about pro-gun or anti-gun?

A resume listing any kind of political activism is almost always considered bad form and bad practice.

[Demobrat]

7. Where I work any sort of political activism is forbidden.

And I am glad of it. The thought is that it's too disruptive and I agree.

[Renew Deal]

6. I'm not sure that this study proves much

I suspect that they'd see the same results if they listed other types of activism or activities like militia member, political activism, etc. I wonder if listing activities like Boys/Girl scouts, PTA, church leader would make a difference either way.

[AngryAmish]

9. The control was poor

Activists of any stripe tend to get fewer call backs...because activists tend to be a pain in the ass. Would you hire a religious nutter? Some dude that bangs on and on about circumcision? A teabagger?

I hire folks. I would never hire anyone whose political activism is so important that they put it on a resume.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

11. In general, keep your resume neutral...

unless applying for a job in which some sort of specific activism is relevant to the company/position. The job market is fierce, recruiters (supposedly) don't have much time to scan resumes... why do anything that will get your application relegated to "on file" status right off the bat? Whether gay activism, immigration activism, anti-war activism, etc. I've been in the working world for decades and not once has my resume ever hinted at my orientation. I find it bizarre that someone would even offer that up, but I guess I'm old-school.

Use action verbs and show measurable successes. Companies want to know what you can do for them.

[conservaphobe]

12. Corporations want yes men. Activists are likely to question immoral and unethical behavior. nt

[Demobrat]

14. They are also likely to waste company

time attempting to shove their views down people's throats. I had a wingnut boss during the bad old Lewinsky days. He did NOTHING for days but strut, gloat, and spew - loudly. Nobody should be subjected to that at work regardless of their views. Work is work. It's hard enough without bringing politics into it. Where I work there would have been shootings by now.

[Lee-Lee]

15. HR's main job is to protect a company

From any problems coming from employees.

Put anything on a resume that makes them think you will possibly be a problem, no job. Or have that seen in social media or job history.

I good friend who is an HR manager told me that as I looked for a job. Her best advice was to change my Facebook profile to a name that wouldn't match mine enough to come back on a search and have a picture not of me and max my privacy settings, make a dummy page that had my picture and some friends but was almost entirely apolitical posts with positive overtones, and after a resume or interview went in post how hopeful I was I got a job I just interviewed for because it felt like a great place to work.

She is as liberal as any of us, but said that HR people frown on political activists.

Callbacks on my resumes went up when I did that.

I am having dinner with her later today, I will get her impression of this.

[tritsofme]

13. I would frown on a resume highlighting political activism

of any stripe. I don't have a problem with this.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. Almost as disappointing as some of the remarks here.

The only reason the article is not more disappointing, is because it is to be expected.

[Bluenorthwest]

20. No kidding. First, none of them seem to know that it is legal to discriminate against LGBT people

in 29 States. Then there is the part where half of these 'professionals' here claim they'd not hire a person who does what they do. So they are obviously fully closeted in their own activism, their own opinions, their own posting on DU.
'I'd never hire anyone who'd join a club with someone like me!'

[Behind the Aegis]

24. Heterocentrism/sexism at its worst.

It makes one wonder, would they include "Black Student Union" as an "activist" group? It be 2014, but discrimination against GLBT people is still in full swing. I feel many people see what is going on with marriage equality and think the finish line is just around the corner. Of course, you and I, and most GLBT people know this isn't the case.

[NightWatcher]

22. Why would you mention ANY activism on a resume?

How do you think you'd be treated applying for a job at Exxon and listing Earth First as a hobby or Burger King referencing your weekends working for PETA?

[Behind the Aegis]

23. Do you realize some consider anything GLBT related to be "activism?"

If someone is treasurer of the GLBT group at their college, and is applying for an accounting job, wouldn't it make sense to include that position?