Do you think this is a good idea? I live in the south and employers don't like single people especially for high paying/ responsibility jobs. There was an article in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution a couple years ago dealing with this. Do you believe this is bad idea? Can it back fire if someone wants to meet my non-existant wife? I guess I can pay a female friend to pretend to be my wife at company events if the need comes to.
2007-02-08 06:02:38 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Sociology
I think that would be considering lying. Please don't lie because then it takes a lot of energy to cover just 1 lie. Lie's seem to festor into bigger problems.
2007-02-11 14:24:41 · answer #1 · answered by Polynomial 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a bad idea for a number of reasons. The first one being you are lying to a future employer and that is a no no. The second when you fill out your W-2 that would also be a lie. And if you had to produce a wife, how long do you really think that would last if you had to bring her to more than one company party especially if this friend agrees to do it once but not twice? Honesty is the best policy, if you can't get the job being a single person with the qualifications that the job requires then the job is not worth the effort of lies.
Good Luck.
2007-02-08 10:14:49 · answer #2 · answered by devilgal031948 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a bad idea to start off being untruthful. Saying you are married will affect your payroll status as well, so it's dishonest. I lived in Atlanta for 6 years and was single. I had a great job making $17.50 an hour and that was 5 yrs ago. Also, my wife was in Atlanta for 14 yrs and made $60,000. a year and was single. It has nothing to do with that. They are looking for a stable individual who will stay with the company. Your personality, resume, past work experience, references and attitude are way more important than your marital status. If you really want to impress them, do your homework about the company and be able to tell them how you would be valuable to them. Also, be sure to tell them that you want a career not just a job, and that you are looking for a place where you can grow. These are the qualities most companies are looking for.
2007-02-10 04:55:51 · answer #3 · answered by vanhammer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a really, really bad idea to me. I understand the theory that a married person is/should be more stable, but I have to tell you, before I was married and had children I lived at my job. I lived FOR my job. I'd work nights, weekends, come in during snowstorms with 3 ft of accumulation and not think twice about it. After the marriage and the kids, it really didn't seem THAT important anymore.
So I say be honest. Honesty is not an easy thing to come by these days. If the company will or will not hire you based on your marital status well, first of all, it's illegal and second, do you really want to be employed by them? I mean you could, theoretically end up working with people who aren't necessarily skilled but hired because they're married? That makes no sense. Nix the company if that's their philosophy.
Good luck! You'll find a good company that is a better fit.
2007-02-08 06:20:48 · answer #4 · answered by N0_white_flag 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a very bad idea. Being single does not mean you are unstable AND you actually can be more available to do your job well because you don't have the responsibilities of children and the like (if you don't have any). Please do not burden your conscience by lying. Be honest and be yourself. If you are meant to get the job you will and ring or no ring will not really determine the outcome. If I were interviewing you and knew you were even contemplating this I would not hire you because honesty is a virtue that is golden.
2007-02-08 16:35:48 · answer #5 · answered by Goldenrain 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My husband did something similar, but with glasses. He has perfect vision, but swears that you're more likely to get hired if you're wearing glasses. He said something about looking more intellectual and older (he's 26). Alright, as a sociologist I can buy this. So he wears his "glasses" to the interview and gets the job -hooray! But when he showed up for work without the glasses, they called him on it. He quickly said he decided to wear his contacts and that was the end of it. I don't know what this anecdote is supposed to teach you, but you get the point. I would be yourself and prove to them that you are responsible, because eventually they will catch on that you are not married. You don't want them to think you're a liar.
On another side note - studies have proven that married men without kids actually make the least amount of money in their careers. Here's how it breaks down (in order from greatest money to least money)
1) married with kids
2) single, with kids
3) single, no kids
4) married, no kids.
Interesting, hey?! The employers' thoughts of course is that if you're married with kids, you have a family to support (patriarchal society that we are, we believe that women should stay at home with their kids). If you're married with no kids, then odds are you have a dual income and therefore need less money than someone else. Totally fascinating stuff!
2007-02-09 01:29:57 · answer #6 · answered by poohb2878 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've done that too. I didn't want to have to mention that I was divorced, so I wore a wedding ring. I think it sets their (small) minds at ease that you are a stable person in a stable life. It may be wrong, but I thin it would be a good idea. As far as having to produce a non-existent wife, I wouldn't worry about it. She can always be out of town or sick. Don't make the charade go bad by actively lying about "your wife". Try not to bring up your family at all, if you can help it. Try to use the guise that you are a "private" person and don't talk about your personal life. That way you can remain safe - at least for awhile.
2007-02-08 07:40:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can wear rings on any finger or on as many fingers you choose. As long as you do not represent yourself as being married if you are not, or single if you are married, no problem. The issue of marital status is moot until you have received a "conditional offer of employment" which usually occurs after the initial interview. Always answer all questions honestly, if you don't, false statements during the hiring process can be grounds for termination if hired.
2007-02-08 12:13:00 · answer #8 · answered by rico3151 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, no no no. Why would you want to start a relationship, even a business one, off with a lie? It's not like single people can't get jobs. If anything, I would think they would be MORE attractive to an employer, simply because they (theoretically) should be able to devote more time to work...they don't have a family at home to worry about.
2007-02-08 06:06:42 · answer #9 · answered by Omni D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get the job by your own good merits and work ethic. Why start a job with a lie. Lies have a way of coming back on us. Start fresh, hold your head high with dignity and great skills. Sell yourself not a stereotype that is a lie.
Good luck!
2007-02-08 15:43:10 · answer #10 · answered by Cat 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are obsessing over this one little detail. The world is not concerned whether or not you are married, even if you did read some misfired article. Why would you want to start out ina new job with a lie?
2007-02-08 16:12:31 · answer #11 · answered by Konswayla 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋