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Wednesday Wisdom: Do you Tattoo?
Dear Claudia,
I recently submitted a highly qualified candidate to a search and the hiring manager called him directly for a pre-screen. While they were talking on the phone, the HM did some snooping on the Internet and found this candidate’s Facebook page, complete with pictures of his near full-body tattoo. It turns out the HM doesn’t like tattoos, so he closed the candidate off. I’m pretty angry over the whole thing, because candidates with this mix of skills are very hard to come by in any economy. The HM is an idiot, but isn’t this also a form of discrimination? I’ve seen the candidate in an interview setting, and he looks completely professional (nothing shows below the wrist or above the shirt neckline). How can I get the HM to rethink his decision?
Amazed by the Stupidity
Dear Amazed,
Isn’t it funny how recruiting (matchmaking, really) always seems to be dancing with personal bias? Everybody has a bias in the hiring process, even when they try hard not to: the Hiring Manager, the candidate…heck, even your own bias as a recruiter (what you think the HM needs, or even your own likes and dislikes in personality types or communication styles) screens folks in and out of the pipeline. It’s just how the human brain works: we categorize things that are similar, and we tend to perceive what we expect to perceive.
In and of itself, bias isn’t a bad thing. But it’s good to keep in mind the domino effect it has: bias influences what we perceive about the world around us, and what we perceive influences how we choose to behave. And behavior most often gets us into trouble: social norms evolve to help people understand how to play nicely with others in the sandbox; legal systems evolve to provide consequences when we cross the line.
So is this manager discriminating against the candidate? You don’t say if the company has a tattoo policy -- but if they do, and if that policy is applied equally to both men and women in the workplace, there’s no foul here. Employers have the right to implement grooming and dress policies to protect legitimate business interests.
But if this is nothing more than a Hiring Manager’s bias affecting his decision making process, you have two choices: reason with him, or take your most excellent candidate and market him to the competition. I’m guessing that this difficult-to-find skillset will be most interesting to Managers who couldn't care less about body art but are highly biased toward market dominance.
Happy recruiting!
**
In my day job, I’m the Head of Products for Improved Experience, where we help employers use feedback to measure and manage competitive advantage in hiring and retention. Learn more about us here.
Do you have a question you'd like answered in this weekly forum? Drop me a line!
I recently submitted a highly qualified candidate to a search and the hiring manager called him directly for a pre-screen. While they were talking on the phone, the HM did some snooping on the Internet and found this candidate’s Facebook page, complete with pictures of his near full-body tattoo. It turns out the HM doesn’t like tattoos, so he closed the candidate off. I’m pretty angry over the whole thing, because candidates with this mix of skills are very hard to come by in any economy. The HM is an idiot, but isn’t this also a form of discrimination? I’ve seen the candidate in an interview setting, and he looks completely professional (nothing shows below the wrist or above the shirt neckline). How can I get the HM to rethink his decision?
Amazed by the Stupidity
Dear Amazed,
Isn’t it funny how recruiting (matchmaking, really) always seems to be dancing with personal bias? Everybody has a bias in the hiring process, even when they try hard not to: the Hiring Manager, the candidate…heck, even your own bias as a recruiter (what you think the HM needs, or even your own likes and dislikes in personality types or communication styles) screens folks in and out of the pipeline. It’s just how the human brain works: we categorize things that are similar, and we tend to perceive what we expect to perceive.
In and of itself, bias isn’t a bad thing. But it’s good to keep in mind the domino effect it has: bias influences what we perceive about the world around us, and what we perceive influences how we choose to behave. And behavior most often gets us into trouble: social norms evolve to help people understand how to play nicely with others in the sandbox; legal systems evolve to provide consequences when we cross the line.
So is this manager discriminating against the candidate? You don’t say if the company has a tattoo policy -- but if they do, and if that policy is applied equally to both men and women in the workplace, there’s no foul here. Employers have the right to implement grooming and dress policies to protect legitimate business interests.
But if this is nothing more than a Hiring Manager’s bias affecting his decision making process, you have two choices: reason with him, or take your most excellent candidate and market him to the competition. I’m guessing that this difficult-to-find skillset will be most interesting to Managers who couldn't care less about body art but are highly biased toward market dominance.
Happy recruiting!
**
In my day job, I’m the Head of Products for Improved Experience, where we help employers use feedback to measure and manage competitive advantage in hiring and retention. Learn more about us here.
Do you have a question you'd like answered in this weekly forum? Drop me a line!
Tags: bias, dear claudia, dear_claudia, perception, recruiting, tattoos, wednesday wisdom
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tom Dimmick on
-
Crosby, Stills & Nash
"Almost Cut My Hair"
The more things change, the more they remain the same.
Peace - Tom
Sandra McCartt said:We thought the same thing in the 60's when we were wearing torn up , hip hugger jeans, long straight hair, peace signs, sandals and no makeup as well as protesting the "establishment", war and trying to get pot legalized. You may be right, we thought we were. "Love beads" were a fashion statement. LOL. non conformist was a household word. You are on target with the rest of it and maybe everybody will be tated and pierced. If you are i can go back to those jeans and love beads. :)
Sarah White said:Ok everyone - just think logically - in 15 years this all won't matter because those of us that are all tatted and pierced up will be running the show - HA HA Boomers who hate all this stuff....
Having a tat or piercing or manipulation somewhere in your body has nothing to do with how well you can do your job and has everything to do with self expression and individuality. The conformity police that thinks everyone should look/be the same (um...boomers) and then the socialist group wants mommy and daddy (ie Government) to come in and save the world and protect us from being who we want to be.
Moral of the story -
1. This guy just needs to set his profile on FB/Myspace to private like the rest of us do
2. The manager is a pompous jerk who deserves not to get a top employee anyway
3. People on here love to get the chance to talk politics (ie government regs) every chance they get - ITS ABOUT A TATTOO PEOPLE
4. Soon, Gen Y'ers will rule the world and then you will be looked at funny when you come in wearing a suit/tie to an interview (YEA!)
-
Permalink Reply by Steve Levy on -
Dear Sarah-
Landlubber jeans with button down fly - loved them! And I had a mop of hair that no one would believe. Went to my first concert - Elton John...before he came out of the closet.
The real Woodstock - right on Tom!
Sarah-and remember, most of these companies who believe tattoos are the work of the Devil also have a high inclusionary diversity policy...go figure!
Love Mom and Dad
Sandra McCartt said:We thought the same thing in the 60's when we were wearing torn up , hip hugger jeans, long straight hair, peace signs, sandals and no makeup as well as protesting the "establishment", war and trying to get pot legalized. You may be right, we thought we were. "Love beads" were a fashion statement. LOL. non conformist was a household word. You are on target with the rest of it and maybe everybody will be tated and pierced. If you are i can go back to those jeans and love beads. :)
Sarah White said:Ok everyone - just think logically - in 15 years this all won't matter because those of us that are all tatted and pierced up will be running the show - HA HA Boomers who hate all this stuff....
Having a tat or piercing or manipulation somewhere in your body has nothing to do with how well you can do your job and has everything to do with self expression and individuality. The conformity police that thinks everyone should look/be the same (um...boomers) and then the socialist group wants mommy and daddy (ie Government) to come in and save the world and protect us from being who we want to be.
Moral of the story -
1. This guy just needs to set his profile on FB/Myspace to private like the rest of us do
2. The manager is a pompous jerk who deserves not to get a top employee anyway
3. People on here love to get the chance to talk politics (ie government regs) every chance they get - ITS ABOUT A TATTOO PEOPLE
4. Soon, Gen Y'ers will rule the world and then you will be looked at funny when you come in wearing a suit/tie to an interview (YEA!)
-
Permalink Reply by Peter Ceccarelli on -
So does that mean I should take my naked picture off of Facebook then? Darn!
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