K, so sit down and let me tell you about the question I got in an interview a few days back. I’m in the interview. I KNOW they want me to work for them, so I’m feeling pretty good. I don’t really want this job, but it would be nice to get it and have something in my pocket in case I don’t get any of the others I’ve interviewed for. I’m chatting with two of the partners, havin’ a yarn. They’re asking questions and telling stories and I’m doing the same... AND THEN one partner says: “You mentioned your fiance is back in <province>, how will this affect your ability to work with us?” AND I AM SHOOK. The first thing that goes through my head is “how do my fiance’s whereabouts affect my ability to do my job?” but I reel myself in and answer the question:
“Well, he’s also from here, so he plans on coming back after he’s finished his degree” And the interview goes on. They’re showing me around the office, showing me where my office will be, etc. But I still can’t get that question out of my head. It’s ridiculous. It's sexist. It’s absolute madness that any partner would actually formulate that sentence and ask it. I’m talking to my friends and some say that maybe it was meant innocently, maybe the partner meant to ask about my future plans - but that's not what they asked. They didn’t ask me “You mentioned for fiance is back in <province>, do you have any plans to return there?” They asked whether my fiance being in a different province would hinder my ability to do what I’ve gone to school for 7 years to do.
I got an offer. I will not be accepting it. I answered the question with grace and dignity, but I was RAGING on the inside. A firm that would question my abilities because of my fiance’s whereabouts is not a place I want to be, no matter how badly I need a job. This has been a very angry PSA.
