Could employers judge people by their names?

Nurses Career Support

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I really should be in bed right now. But after talking to other new grads in my area that are also jobless I just wanted to get some opinions. Do you feel that people's names may prevent them from getting them a job as a nurse? I know we've all heard, silly names before and I'm just wondering would say, "Ms Poppy Sunflower" be offered a job? Or would a recruiter look at the name and be like, "heck no, trash bin"!:jester:

I'm just curious and this is not a slam to anyone who has a name that is different. Shoot my name is completly, better yet, extremly hard to prononue.:lol2: But even though my name may be hard to pronouce its not silly or childish sounding. I'm wondering would Bambie buttercup :lol2: find it easy to find employment.

I know this seems like a weird topic (blame it on sleep deprevation). But after talking to some friends about issues that they believe might be preventing them from getting jobs. I just started thinking about how names can effect landing a job as a nurse. My friend was saying her obviously ethnic name might be keeping her from employment because it might be preceived as ghetto. I usually roll my eyes whenever anyone starts swinging the golden race card(you know that card that has the innate ability to seem to be the cause of whatever the user wishes it to be. No matter even if the said offender is of the same race). :rolleyes:

But it got me thinking do we really view people by their names. I used silly examples here but is say Jennifer Rose seen as more dependble or gentle towards patients? Would Poppy sunflower be viewed for a job as maybe childish and unreliable. Would Cu'nae Alize' be percieved as ghetto and unprofessional?

Sorry for the long post. But I am curious to what others have experienced relating to this topic or stories they may have heard. I guess I should have not read the silly children's names post tonight either. :)

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Lol I agree. There is a time and a place for everything. I created an email account purposely for work related stuff that isn't silly or crazy. I do hope that if I applied for a job as MsBossyRN@mail then my app would go in the trash. :jester:No employer would know the story behind the name. If I was an employer I would be like, "I'm not hiring someone that calls themselves bossy!":D But you bring up a very good point and some people really are clueless. I have told many friends, some in other careers, that they cannot send potential employers emails from an eamil account that may describe them as hot, sexy, or even gansta:rolleyes:

LOL, this reminds me of a story...when I was a pre-nursing student, I was friendly with a guy that was rough around the edges and he was also interested in getting into the nursing program. Met him because we took Anatomy together, so, we would study in lab. Anyhow, later, he told me that he doesn't know about email and I helped him set up a hotmail account. I also specifically told him that he should set up two...one for casual purposes, another professional one.

A few months later, he confided to me he had been in jail for a drug charge for 6 years, and I told him that it would probably be very difficult for him to get his license, even if he was accepted into the program. Then, he tells me that the school was assisting him in getting a job, and with all of the wonderful references he received, his resume and cover letter, he did not understand why he was not even interviewed. I asked him to show me the resume, and when I saw the coverletter, his 'professional' email address was something similar to "[email protected]". Almost fainted.

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LOL, this reminds me of a story...when I was a pre-nursing student, I was friendly with a guy that was rough around the edges and he was also interested in getting into the nursing program. Met him because we took Anatomy together, so, we would study in lab. Anyhow, later, he told me that he doesn't know about email and I helped him set up a hotmail account. I also specifically told him that he should set up two...one for casual purposes, another professional one.

A few months later, he confided to me he had been in jail for a drug charge for 6 years, and I told him that it would probably be very difficult for him to get his license, even if he was accepted into the program. Then, he tells me that the school was assisting him in getting a job, and with all of the wonderful references he received, his resume and cover letter, he did not understand why he was not even interviewed. I asked him to show me the resume, and when I saw the coverletter, his 'professional' email address was something similar to "[email protected]". Almost fainted.

:eek::eek::uhoh3:

Dear Lord, Please help my people, for they not know what they do!! Amen

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
:eek::eek::uhoh3:

Dear Lord, Please help my people, for they not know what they do!! Amen

And, how...LOL! Needless to say, he didn't pass either Anatomy or any of the pre-requisites.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Yes I was advised to give my child not so much a white sounding name but not one of those "made up names" as my parents call them...lol.
I'm an African-American female who was born and raised in California. Here's my father's rationale for giving me a "mainstream" sounding name: "We didn't want you to have one of those crazy-sounding made-up names."

Names are also generational. I was born in the early 1980s, which was a time period when parents were naming their daughters Amanda, Nicole, Jessica, Alexis, and Jennifer. My name was popular during the Baby Boom period of the 1950s when people were naming their girls Linda, Norma, Shirley, Debbie, and Judy. Therefore, a hiring manager who discriminates against older employees might assume that I'm a middle-aged Baby Boomer by looking at the name on my resume when, in fact, I'm in my late twenties and happen to be the offspring of two Baby Boomers.

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.

The thing of it is (at least from my perspective)...you have no control over your name...it's something that's completely up to your parents (unless you decide to later change it--which can be a lengthy and difficult process). I've heard some whacked out names (I went to school with a girl named Honey Sunshyne) and I've always thought "Wow, their parents must have been a little out there!"--It's never been really a reflection of that person, as much as it is a reflection of the parents.

My husband and I both have VERY common first names--Chris and Jessica. Our last name is very difficult for people, because they always want to put an "e" as the first letter, not an "a", like it's supposed to be. It's so confusing that I've ended up just spelling it immediately after I say it. LOL!

When I was younger, I hated being one of 4 or 5 "Jessica"s in my classes, it just wasn't much fun! So, I decided that I wanted my kids to have "different" but simple names. Our little girl is Laci.

But I STILL end up having to spell her first name AND last name immediately after I say them. Oh well!

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
I'm an African-American female who was born and raised in California. Here's my father's rationale for giving me a "mainstream" sounding name: "We didn't want you to have one of those crazy-sounding made-up names."

Names are also generational. I was born in the early 1980s, which was a time period when parents were naming their daughters Amanda, Nicole, Jessica, Alexis, and Jennifer. My name was popular during the Baby Boom period of the 1950s when people were naming their girls Linda, Norma, Shirley, Debbie, and Judy. Therefore, a hiring manager who discriminates against older employees might assume that I'm a middle-aged Baby Boomer by looking at the name on my resume when, in fact, I'm in my late twenties and happen to be the offspring of two Baby Boomers.

I never considered the generational name theory; although when reading the birth announcements in the newspaper I will often comment something like "Why did they give that baby such an old name?":lol2:

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If you want to read more on the subject of whether or not a person's name may have an economic impact on their socioeconomic status, you might be interested in reading Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Levitt and Dubner. The Slate website does a pretty good job of summing up this section of the book: http://www.slate.com/id/2116449

It's an interesting read and very thought provoking. Here's an excerpt from Slate's website:

The data show that, on average, a person with a distinctively black name—whether it is a woman named Imani or a man named DeShawn—does have a worse life outcome than a woman named Molly or a man named Jake. But it isn't the fault of his or her name. If two black boys, Jake Williams and DeShawn Williams, are born in the same neighborhood and into the same familial and economic circumstances, they would likely have similar life outcomes. But the kind of parents who name their son Jake don't tend to live in the same neighborhoods or share economic circumstances with the kind of parents who name their son DeShawn. And that's why, on average, a boy named Jake will tend to earn more money and get more education than a boy named DeShawn. DeShawn's name is an indicator—but not a cause—of his life path.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

I am I hiring person, my position, left unsaid. Those crazy names, need to be coupled with very good exp. When faced with two similar resumes, we'll call both in... and those that act or dress unorthodox similar to the names will not be chosen over the other same applicant that appears to dress normal and act accordingly. So I give the same interview chance, given same exp, but if the overall picture is as funky as the name.. and the other applicant the opposite, it's a no brainer.

So if the name wasn't such an issue from the start.. maybe I wouldn't be looking for issues? It is just food for thought when comparing one against another equal... and hoping that a crazy name doesn't equal the same type of applicant.

If not, and you're qualified, than I can give a rat's behind what you're name is if you have the exp. and interview well, welcome aboard and glad to have you!

Does that make sense?

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I'm just curious and this is not a slam to anyone who has a name that is different

We have a post 911 President with "Hussien" for a middle name who we "employed". A woman for President is on the horizon, (please not Miss Alaska!)

I'm proud of you America, you're growing up!

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Specializes in home health & nonprofit management.

Heck yeah it makes a difference! I am African, and was given a plain Caucasian type name at birth intentionally to "give me a competitive edge" in the job market since I'm fairly dark skinned. This is according to my grandma whose husband was lynched down south in the 50's.

In elementary school I was adopted by my east indian stepfather and given a muslim sounding name. I noticed a definite difference in new teachers expectations since I was suddenly "non black" despite physical appearance. I think it was easier for people to accept/ invest effort in me since i was a "smart ethnic group".... I was offered several math and science scholarships even though I'm not particularly good in those subject and looking back I do believe it was partially due to positive stereotyping.

However as soon as I was of age I changed my name to the African name my parents really wanted to give me and it sounds Japanese which is typical of many traditional african names . So now folks are surprised when they meet me and I can tell they are scrambling to match the credentials on paper to the face in front of them. To really screw w/ folks I 'll just break out in Japanese which I speak fairly well but thats another story. I have let people assume I'm mixed asian black since I know it will get me in the front door at least.

I hate to admit it but there are "good" and "bad" ethnic names and its subconscious even with the best intent. All the kids named Hitler and Adolf can attest to this and so can the Shaniqua's and RayRays. Any way just my .0001 cent and experience

Jen

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Specializes in Plastics. General Surgery. ITU. Oncology.

Well if you WILL call your kid Chardonnay Chavtastic don't expect the HR departments to be fighting over her :)

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Studies have proven that job applicants with black-sounding names (LaToya, Tameka, etc.) are less likely to be called back for an interview, even if their educational attainment and work experiences are similar to job seekers with more "mainstream" names.

'Black' Names A Resume Burden? - CBS News

I just shared this website on my facebook page. The set up is I grew up in Brooklyn, NY. So while I am in another state only people from my hometown where I grew up are on my page. (No offense but no employers, co-workers nor student cohorts allowed). So far I have had 60 comments on the subject. I find it very disturbing that a lot of them never gave any thought to the names they have or what they named their children.

I personally have a very common name, I grew up in an African American neighborhood, however, looking at me you cannot guess my nationality. I find that I land the interview very often, however, the job always escapes me. I don't think it has anything to do with my name, either I don't interview very well, or my African American vibe tends to be strong. What I am trying to say is my name does not fit my persona and it dosen't translate well during an interview.:idea:

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