Adoptionally Challenged: What’s in a name?

On Thursday I read an article  about ethnic sounding names impeding people’s chances of securing a job interview in Australia.
I was appalled but not surprised at all. It made me think about how grateful I am that my last name has always been Anglo-Saxon despite my Asian appearance. I’ve always been lucky enough to get my foot in the door for a job interview.
I just feel that it’s sad that it even has to be that way. According to the study, people with Chinese or Asian sounding names seemed to fare the worst.

I believe that whoever is the most qualified, has the best skill set, most valuable experience and qualifications, the best social and communication skills deserves the job. Not the “Whitest” sounding person who just seems “safer” but doesn’t tick all the boxes. Let me clarify here by saying that if a person that seems best for the job is actually Anglo-Saxon by name (and/or appearance) then that’s great too. I don’t believe in tokenism for the sake of it.In an ideal world, the best person for a job should get it no matter what their race or ethnic background!

My maiden name was one of the most common Anglo-Saxon names in the world. Literally. Up there with the Jones’ and the Smiths’. I liked it because I honestly felt it made people think twice about me. I thought that it was ‘proof’ of my assimilation (well it’s all I know) into White Australia. It helped me with some of the less racially educated people I came across. I could say, “See! My last name is just like yours! I must be acceptable!”
Sad, huh. I shouldn’t have to feel like I have to live up to anyone who thinks like that. But it happens.

A few years ago, I took time out from university. I wasn’t sure about my degree and needed to get myself back on track. I had been distracted by a new relationship, my first experiences living out of home and the fact that I had only entered my degree because I thought it seemed “safe” – not because it was what I really wanted to do.

I decided to spend a couple of years working and earning some money. Contributing to our household costs a bit more and getting life experience in the work force before I re-entered the academic world. I seemed to have no trouble securing job interviews, but funny things would happen when I turned up…

I could see it on the faces of my interviewers. Now if you think I’m reading into it too much, just know that once you’ve seen that face many times, it’s something you recognise easily.
“Her face doesn’t match that name. What the hell? I thought I was getting a white girl in here.”

One such employer stands out in my mind ever since that time. He was the manager of a well known franchise that specialises in selling second hand goods and I had applied to work in the jewellery department. I knew it was not beyond my abilities and that I would be an asset to anyone who took me on in a position like this.
He told me about the position, outlined what hours I would be required to work should I get the job, told me about on the job training (as offered in the advertisement) and all of those administrative things.
He then kept asking me the same damn question but with different wording.
“We can’t have shy people on the job. You have to be able to sell, sell, sell!”
“Are you shy?”
“Our last girl was shy and she just couldn’t move the stuff. You can’t be too quiet.”

Now, if you know me, you know that I am anything but shy. I’m always polite and act appropriately in certain situations but I am a bubbly, friendly, outgoing person by nature. I had to learn how to be like that so that people wouldn’t judge a book by its cover so to speak. I had to get in there first to prove I speak English, have an Australian accent and that I am more than meets the eye. Otherwise people’s preconceived ideas about me from my appearance can get out of hand!! Sometimes even to the point where they start imagining that I have an Asian accent as I’m speaking to them!!!!

I thought, “Come on. This guy is being racist. He’s subscribing to the stereotype that Asian women are submissive, quiet, unassuming and shy.”
Then I shook myself out of it.
“No, don’t read into this. Maybe it’s just something he’s been burnt by before and he’s making sure I’m the right person. Turn  up the outgoing charm!”

I was doing pretty nicely, talking clearly and audibly in my broad Australian accent. I laughed at him when he kept asking about any shyness as if to say, “Dude – anyone who knows me knows I’m not some shrinking violet!”

But then he threw this in the mix:
“Yeah, the last girl was too shy. You need to be outgoing and use your own initiative and she just couldn’t get herself to do it. She left the job and WENT BACK TO SINGAPORE WITH HER BOYFRIEND.”
And yes, he was that pointed about it.

I was gobsmacked. Of course, I didn’t get the job. But I wouldn’t accept the “Someone better filled the position” crap. I asked him bluntly, “I’m just looking for some feedback. I was wondering if you could give me any constructive criticism about my interviewing style or about my qualifications as you saw them on my resume.”
The dude was speechless. He had nothing bad to say about me. He fumbled around and couldn’t give me a straight answer except to say I was wonderful in the interview.

LOSER. And the worst part is, he’s not the only employer out there who thinks that way, as indicated in the aforementioned study.I would have to say that getting an interview is a huge part of the job process, but making it past that interview is difficult for those who look ethnic too.

A person is so much more than their name or their appearance. I hope this study brings to light the issue, as I honestly believe that a lot of employers don’t mean to do this and don’t consider themselves racist. It may be subconscious and I’m hoping that articles like this will make people think twice.