Does answering the questions about race and gender effect my chances of being hired?

Question

You know the questions on some job applications that ask gender and race? They also ask questions about weather you or anyone in your household has received government assistance. Do these effect my chances of getting hired? I know they say these are voluntary, but I am uncertain if not answering effects my chances of getting the job. What is your opinion? Do you have any first hand experiance that can shed light on the topic?

These questions are actaully asked on almost every application that I have filled out recently, even the big companies. If you dont belieive me go fill out some applications, either online or go a few big reatial stores and see for yourself.
btw, I live in the U.S.A.

Answer 1

You're getting the application mixed up with the voluntary EEO submittal questions (often attached to an application, but legally a separate form).

If the company has over 15 employees in a 50 mile radius - even if they are not under affirmative action or OFCCP, they are usually required to attempt to gather EEO information (this is the race and gender information). That information is voluntary - whatever you answer, or if you do not answer, it will not have an affect on your chances of employment. They are filed seperately and hiring managers are not permitted to have access to the information.

Take a close look at the section where that information is requested - there should always be a disclosure statement regarding this law. It's required by law.

I'm a bit confused about your goverment assistance question. Were you referring the veteran status? Veteran status rules apply the same as race/gender and are collected under EEO.

Bottom line, if you do not wish to answer, leave it blank. This is your right and it will not affect your chances of employment.

Answer 2

It shouldn't...but it might. Trouble is you don't have proof of it one way or another. If you don't feel comfortable answering any of the questions, then don't answer. Depends on how bad you want the job.

Over the years, I'v seen some pretty wacky applications that ask totally illegal questions. I once applied for a job with a vending machine company. The app was five pages long, and have asked all the illegal questions, plus questions like "do you have day care arrangements?" "do you plan to move in five years?" or "can you work for several hours without speaking to anyone?"

By the time I got to that one, I took the application to the receptionist and said, "You know, it sounds more like your company wants a machine rather than a person working for them." I ripped the app and put it on her desk. Yes, I was making a statement. I then reported them to the labor board. Needless to say I didn't get the job, but then I didn't care.

Answer 3

Sorry I dont have any experience with this mainly because here in Australia those questions are illegal - you are not allowed to ask them at all - I would find out wether these are allowed to be asked where ever you are - as for your question as to wether to answer them or not I would probably answer them but thats just what I would do personally - I have been an employee and an employer and for me none of these issues would help me determine wether someone would get a job or not - I did work for a government business for years in a call centre and we seemed to have our "token people" We had a couple of gay people 1 haricrishner (sorry if I misspelt that) 1 Indian a couple of aboriginals etc but the times have changed and those things no longer matter (at least here in Australia anyway)

Answer 4

Maybe you'd have a better chance at a job if you spelled properly. That's a leading cause of apps getting trashed.
BTW-asking if you're on government assistance is NOT illegal...it goes to whether or not the applicant may be covered by Medicaid...saving the employer big $$$.

Answer 5

They're there for EEOC purposes so that the company can track their applications & hiring of certain races and genders, etc. They need to be able to show, during an audit that x% of their candidates were "diversity candidates" and x% of their new employees are "diversity candidates"...not necessarily preferential hiring practices but more along the lines of seeing whether you have discriminatory hiring practices.

They don't affect your chances of getting hired & that information should be separated from your application/resume and tracked with out identifying information.

Answer 6

idk...........i always just answer them. i would hope they would be more focused on my qualifications more so than anything else.

i also did the hiring once and went through applications.....i personally hardly ever looked at race, i mostly focused on wether they were qualified or not for the job. but i'm sure not everyone does that.

p.s.
Yes.....you are correct. they do put those questions on some job applications now....they have been for a very long time and it's apparently NOT illegal.

Answer 7

Good grief, there are still companies with that on their application? Those have been illegal questions for a long time. Saying they are voluntary doesn't make them right.

If the company is that far out of sync with the rest of the world, I'm not sure I'd want to work for them.

Answer 8

Those questions are on a job application? I don't think those kind of questions are allowed to be on applications or asked during an interview. If they are voluntary - don't answer them - they may just be statistical tracking questions for use with government reports

Answer 9

It could. Some companies elicit this data so that they can check themselves and insure that they are marketing the availability of their jobs across racial, ethnic, gender and age lines. So if a job is listed only in Seventeen magazine, it's not likely to attract older people.

Answer 10

I dont think it has any affect on it. Someones not allowed to really not hire someone just because of somethings thats of the past or of religion. some of that stuff is illegal or something i think?