Can a last name influence your employment?

Question

Although, i know it is considered illegal for companies to not hire based on a last name due to discrimination. I do believe that it is done anyways by employers, whether it be to hire a status quo of minorities. I am a Asian minority who wants to change my last name back to my adoptive parents name which is American sounding. Do you think that will hurt or help my chances of employment? I have references either way. Thanks.

Answer 1

The conditional wisdom says Asians are very smart, so changing your name from Chen to Walkers will probably hurt your chances in anything that is considered to be at least somewhat intelligent occupation.

In general, discrimination on the basis of names is still alive and well, especially against the Blacks. Check this out:

http://papers.nber.org/papers/w9873

Answer 2

I believe your name can have something to do with your getting a call back, not so much in a hire. Because by the time your a candidate for hire, chances are they have already seen you for interview. However about the call back, it can be influenced by your name. For example I send my resume and my name sounds like it may belong to a white woman, when they call to speak to me I speak like I may be a white woman, when I come in for the interview I'm black. I have actually have had one interview upset that I turned out to be black. He didn't want anyone black at the front of the office... He told me in this manner: "Sometimes we are looking for lemons, sometimes for oranges, and sometimes we are looking for eggplants. You are an eggplant and we aren't looking for eggplants at this time". We hadn't even started the interview yet.

Answer 3

No. Your educational and professional background as well as work history, and personality are more important than your last name.

I am Asian as well and did not have trouble finding a job just because of my last name.

If you plan to change your name, change it to a more prominent name such as Rockefeller or Hilton, and tell them you are the Asian branch of the family :o)