Would prospective employers be unwilling to hire me for a job if I had an unusual name?

Question

I'm considering changing my first name to 'Shadow'. Not just because of the video game character, but also because I like the idea of having a name that is unique. Question is, would employers refuse to hire me for a job if my name is very different to the norm?

Answer 1

My cousin was into the country and western "scene" and dressed up as a gunslinger and went by the nickname of "Shadow". To all the people at the club that is his name on a Saturday night. Changing your name officially 24/7 is another matter entirely, and when it came to applying for a job, it is quite possible your new moniker would do more harm than good.

It would be against the law for a company to discrimate against you purely based on your name, but this does depend on what your name would be, and whether or not you would be in contact with the public. If your name could be considered offensive by some, "Adolf Himmler Goering" or "Jesus de Jesus" then your appliaction would probably go straight in the bin. With a name like "Shadow", who knows what a prospective personnel manager would think? How about getting a job first and then changing your name once you have your foot in the door? Then they are much less likely to object.

Answer 2

It is NOT unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of a name only. In other words if someone came to me for a job and was called "Anal Probe III" I wouldn't employ them end of story. However, if the name has obvious racial conotations such as Singh or Mohammed and I automatically binned those candidates it would be unlawful Racial Discrimination. If anyone can assist by explaining what legislation covers "Unlawful name discrimination" I would be grateful as everyone here seems to think it is unlawful. It is not!

It is arguable that if a candidate was called "Half a leg Heather" and I believed that was because that person had a disability and I chose to bin that candidate because of it, that could be Disability Discrimination.

If I had an application from a Miss Roid, first name Emma or a Mr Janus first name Hugh I would think long and hard about giving them a job. I most certainly would not employ a Michael Hunt.

Answer 3

It's unlikely that employers would outright refuse to employ you but there might be a certain caution and that's not a positive. Certinaly and unusual name marks you out but there might be a tendancy to deduce that changing names (though the fact it was changed might not be known) is indicative of some sort of general disatisfaction with life which might be refected in other rebellious acts. could of course be a positive in a highly creative industry.

Answer 4

Yeah, it probably would hurt your chances a bit. Someone who would change their name to shadow would be considered pretty non-traditional to an employer and they generally like traditional (easy to control) employees. If you're going into IT or something very creative, this might be less true. What is your name now? Is it possible for you to use shadow as a nick name and keep your legal name or does it have to be all the way...good luck Shadow!

Answer 5

No, but your choice does not strike me as very imaginative. It is the name of a horse, and in Aborigine and Red Indian tribes it is a common name. Come to think of it, it is also the name of a car...

Sky...Cloud...Rain...Storm ...Sunshine...Light...Dark...? Perhaps a rather more atmospheric name would be better. You are not applying to the Meteorological Office are you? Why not go for something like Isobar? Prospective employers would think your parents did not know how to spell Isembard (as in Brunell) and feel sorry for you.

Answer 6

OK, as someone who shuffles the odd incoming CV, I'll give you a truthful answer.
When I am presented with several CV's for one placement, I want to narrow my search down.
If I had a CV from someone called 'shadow' and 3 or 4 other (equally qualified) people with 'normal names', I would chuck your CV straight away.... reason being that you sound unconventional and I need normal guys who are conventional, conservative team workers.
I am not worried about your rights or how wonderful you *might* be.... I am making a decision for my whole company, so I will not take a risk.
you would not even be asked for an interview.....that's life

Answer 7

Maybe he wouldn't have hired you anyway, maybe he didn't see, but would have hired you if he saw. Who knows. You seem embarrassed, if that's the case it indicates that you are aware that you were dressed inappropriately and that it was actually the way you were dressed, not the thong, that might have cost you the job. If that is correct, then it is a good life lesson learned that there are consequences to our actions.

Answer 8

your name should not effect your ability to be gainfully emploed, to do so by an employeer would be against the law., most employers judge by amount of experiance / education / ability to perform necessary task's / past work history / personality traits / and their gut feelings from interview as weather or not you are qualified for position or posses the necessarymotivation and / or drive to learn the position, and take a chance on you. but even if your name was sir. beavus ima buthead, it would not make any differance to the employer !

Answer 9

im an IT manager so I've dealt with odd people coming for jobs.

a weird name would not put me off, might make for an interesting question at an interview.

However saying I changed my name to a computer game character in a HR interview may well set the weirdo alarm bells ringing and might cost you the position.

I would do a few trial runs first, maybe get your friends to call you it as a nickname but dont do anything to rash.

Answer 10

Sometimes having an unusual name can help. Particularly in a competitive or sales environment, it helps people to remember you and means you might come first to mind when they want to place an order etc.