General Discussion

Sen. Walter Sobchak

(8,692 posts)

31. I was asked more or less the exact opposite...

Sun May 27, 2012, 04:58 PM

May 2012

Except it was more along the lines of how was I as an unmarried man going to feel working almost entirely with "ticking biological clocks" and "cougars recently released from captivity."

The interviewer was female, I was taken aback by the question at the time and looked at her like she had turtle on her head... but subsequently being hired kinda saw where she was coming from, an office tomcat probably would have become a problem.

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Is asking a female interviewee, "How would you feel about working in a group of all men" acceptable? [View all] Godhumor May 2012 OP

She's interviewing to be the manager of a group of all men? lumberjack_jeff May 2012 #1

"How would you feel about working in a group of all men" Herlong May 2012 #2

I worked in recruiting office of all GIs and I loved it. Don't get me wrong they were respectful southernyankeebelle May 2012 #28

I don't know the law, but I would feel uncomfortable asking that question. ZombieHorde May 2012 #3

The litmus test I was taught is if there is a problem asking the question about one group... Godhumor May 2012 #5

That is an excellent point, in my opinion. ZombieHorde May 2012 #6

Bingo, thread winner. Scuba May 2012 #36

Wording it differently DearAbby May 2012 #4

"working in" and "managing" are two different things. lumberjack_jeff May 2012 #11

Correct. He wanted to make sure "She could handle the guys" n/t Godhumor May 2012 #12

Kaching... no HR mgr would ever let this one pass. procon May 2012 #35

Do they ask the male aplicants this question too? surrealAmerican May 2012 #7

I believe he wanted to let her know about the environment Godhumor May 2012 #9

I would think it depends on if it's a hypothetical or not Scootaloo May 2012 #8

Not hypothetical, would be 8 make direct reports n/t Godhumor May 2012 #13

I think it is wrong. jp11 May 2012 #10

Why not just inform the interviewee that the Ilsa May 2012 #14

I like Ilsa's suggestion dballance May 2012 #19

If they are seriously considering her why wouldn't they have her come in and meet the men she CTyankee May 2012 #22

like your suggestion, will bring it up at the next recruiting meeting Godhumor May 2012 #24

If they're seriously considering her, she likely has experience working in a predominantly gkhouston May 2012 #37

Actually, that was pretty much her answer Godhumor May 2012 #39

I wouldn't ask the question Broderick May 2012 #15

That's a ridiculous/stupid question. shcrane71 May 2012 #16

I agree, which is why I confronted him on the point. n/t Godhumor May 2012 #18

Thank you. I'm sure that will give the guy pause prior to using that question again. nt shcrane71 May 2012 #40

"No problem. Have you had problems with that group of men not accepting women managers before?" Lars39 May 2012 #17

He handled it poorly. You let the interviewee meet the group and then ask... aikoaiko May 2012 #20

Would he ask the same question of a man? LiberalAndProud May 2012 #21

If he was interviewing to manage a group of all women, I think it's a fair question. lumberjack_jeff May 2012 #27

What different management skills are required in an all women, all men or mixed group environment? LiberalAndProud May 2012 #30

The difference is a cultural construct. shcrane71 May 2012 #41

Yes, I believe you're right. LiberalAndProud May 2012 #44

In my experience, silence generally indicates an indefensible position. shcrane71 May 2012 #45

Hell no. My personal experience with age discrimination: was interviewing coalition_unwilling May 2012 #23

i would absolutely, NEVER ask that question. it's begging for a lawsuit. unblock May 2012 #25

It sounds like a subtle way of discouraging females & keeping the place all male. qb May 2012 #26

What kind of workplace is this? lumberjack_jeff May 2012 #29

This is a business analysis group. People would be analysts Godhumor May 2012 #32

I was asked more or less the exact opposite... Sen. Walter Sobchak May 2012 #31

Wow, that's grossly inappropriate, on so many levels. n/t gkhouston May 2012 #38

That is f-ing AWFUL. BlueIris May 2012 #43

Why did he ask the question? ctaylors6 May 2012 #33

It's sending a message to the woman that she better stomach what men might say... cynatnite May 2012 #34

If someone asked me that question, I would wonder. wildeyed May 2012 #42

Not okay, because it implies a horribly sexist hiring procedure... WriteWrong May 2012 #46

Bad question ... and a bad environment jade3000 May 2012 #47

The moment the interviewer doesn't see a woman, but a qualified individual is the day FourScore May 2012 #48

I've been asked a similar question more than once. wickerwoman May 2012 #49