Today I did that thing where you go to a potential place of employment and they ask you questions all day. I suppose it's a little paranoid to think that these potential employers might do a Google blog search for weivretni spelled backward and find my post, but you never know.
Paranoia aside, guess how many people asked me how many children there are in my family! Did you guess THREE separate people? Because that's how many. The chair of the department asked me how many children I had and what their ages were! How can she not know that better than that?
It's always kind of fun to see people's eyes bug out when I tell them the answer.
I am tired. I am being summoned to lie down with an impatient 4yo. More soon.
Congrats on making it through.
And uff da on the family questions, because I am right now, this very hour, reading my assigned "Management for Information Professionals" chapters on interviews and personnel, and Every Single Author lists the verboten questions. Children, family structure, private life? Right at the top of the list! Oy.
Posted by: Jody | January 30, 2013 at 08:28 PM
Yam ouy teg eht boj!
Posted by: Salome Ellen | January 30, 2013 at 08:31 PM
yep, very verboten. And irrelevant. would they ask a man?
and it took me a while to read the word backwards - I must be tired! God bless!
Posted by: Tracy | January 30, 2013 at 09:21 PM
University administrator here again... I urge you to notify the university's equal opportunity director after you find out whether or not you got the job that they asked you repeatedly about your status as a parent. The fact that they asked does not mean they are illegally discriminating, however, if you didn't get the job after they interviewed you and found out that you had several children, it would be very difficult for the university to explain to the EEOC, if you filed a complaint.
Posted by: Jamie | January 31, 2013 at 09:46 AM
Good luck! Questions like that make me growl. Grrrrrr.
Posted by: Pippi | January 31, 2013 at 10:03 AM
Just curious -- is this not the place where you already go instruct students? :) Or is it another local institution?
I'm thinking of you and praying for the best possible outcome.
Posted by: Lilian | January 31, 2013 at 06:15 PM
Lilian, this is a different institution. Thanks for your prayers!
Posted by: Jamie | January 31, 2013 at 10:19 PM
Maybe it's a good sign! Maybe they are SO sure they want you for the job that the interview is a mere formality! They can't be at risk of discriminating against you if they know you're the one they want to hire, right?
Posted by: Sarah | February 01, 2013 at 08:20 PM
oh, I'm glad it's a different place. I don't think we are at much advantage when we already work at one place. I hope for the best possible outcome, of course!
Posted by: Lilian | February 03, 2013 at 10:38 PM