We had a vacancy, and an agency sent several candidates along.
One was very appropriately experienced, having worked for one of our closest competitors for 6 years. The interview went well, which was conducted by our trading manager, who is a Muslim.

Interview concluded, we were all fairly sure this was the right candidate.

I did a quick Google on his name, and found amongst other things a short video showing him being arrested at an EDL rally, for public order offenses including spitting at a group of Muslims.

Freedom of expression and speech and all that, but I did conclude maybe this wasn't the right person for the job.
(username failed moderation, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 16:34, 28 replies)

This week is just going to be overflowing with examples of people being proudly incompetent at recruitment and entirely ignorant of employment law, isn't it.

( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 16:57, closed)

I've twice witnessed someone being turned down for a position
on the grounds that, as they were of Pakistani/Nepalese origin, they would "talk funny" and "not fit in".
Equal opportunity employer, my arse.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 17:08, closed)

We can't discriminate on the basis of many things
none of which had any effect on our decision.

We are not obliged to offer someone a job, we are only obliged not to consider race, age, sex or religion when we make that decision. None of those were factors.
(username failed moderation, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 17:17, closed)

Or marital status. Or parental status. Or sexual orientation. Or gender identity.
And the precedent for the definitions of both race and religious belief or lack thereof is broad enough to encompass almost anything short of claiming for being a scouse Jedi.

The only sensible and safe rule is to have an explicit set of requirements and only recruit against those and absolutely nothing else.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 19:29, closed)

Probably about right.
Still seems daft that you can't refuse to employ someone who publicly hates and physically abuses people who share the same religion as his prospective employer.
(username failed moderation, Fri 22 Nov 2013, 8:48, closed)

You could put 'must be able to hold a union jack the right way up and not take a piss against a national monument during a supposedly respectful demonstration'

( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 22 Nov 2013, 9:13, closed)

I am a Scouse Jedi

(IHateSprouts is baking a huge pie shaped like an enormous pie, Fri 22 Nov 2013, 19:51, closed)

Strictly speaking either of those reasons could be fine
if there was a valid business reason and it was clear in the job description.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 19:23, closed)

This is true but
neither of the people involved had any difficulty in making themselves understood, and the jobs involved were data entry.
( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 20:18, closed)

www.b3ta.com/questions/jobinterviewdisasters/post2151907
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 20:37, closed)

I've heard about folk being turned down for roles
because of alleged character flaws somehow found out* from analysis of their handwriting

* read: made up
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 19:33, closed)

It's still dead common in France.
Les fucking imbéciles.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 19:48, closed)

Why are you
trying to answer me when you've got me on ignore, Mr Einstein?
(username failed moderation, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 17:13, closed)

What do you mean 'trying'? I did answer you.
Ignore doesn't work. Unless I update my profile I don't even know who I'm ignoring.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 19:19, closed)

fantastic. It's nice to have an oportunity to fuck-over people like that.

( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Thu 21 Nov 2013, 20:20, closed)

So his political affiliations lost him the job - that's interesting.

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 17:21, closed)

It's almost like racists aren't being given the same opportunities as non-racists.
Like Alanis sung that time about 10,000 Poles when all you want is one darkie to fulfil your quota, eh kids???
( drimble he'd been white, he'd been black, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 19:34, closed)

Training
I did some online training on "equality and diversity" and it specified that you CAN use political affiliation as a reason to not appoint.
(kitescreech still here, Fri 22 Nov 2013, 7:30, closed)

That's interesting.
I wonder what would happen if one used membership of a trade union not to appoint.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Fri 22 Nov 2013, 10:22, closed)

You can't.
That's another protected category.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 22 Nov 2013, 10:52, closed)

probably nothing, if the would-be employer was a sufficiently white-collar London firm

( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Sat 23 Nov 2013, 0:23, closed)

slightly off-topic here,
but what would you do if you'd tried to find a candidate online by googling their name, and totally failed to find them?
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 20:40, closed)

I just got bored trying to find myself through Google.
What does that mean???
(Woodlouse say it with flowers. Send her a Triffid, Thu 21 Nov 2013, 20:51, closed)

I don't see a problem with it.
Maybe if he/she was applying for a social media focused position it'd be odd, but it can't be unusual.

I don't appear anywhere on Google. The first link from my name goes to the website of a wonderfully flamboyant hairdresser.

I sometimes wonder whether any of my old schoolfriends Google my name, find that and assume it's me.
(username failed moderation, Fri 22 Nov 2013, 8:51, closed)

*Googles himself*
First hit comes up with a artist, there are also several doctors...
( snee held his breath since, Fri 22 Nov 2013, 9:30, closed)

I just get pictures of my tattooed cock and balls.

( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 22 Nov 2013, 9:50, closed)

I get a location sound recordist
who looks way cooler than me
(andythepieman Is surfing the waves of indifference on, Fri 22 Nov 2013, 14:21, closed)

I get a company Director
And it's me.... odd thing is I have no memory of being a company director!
(therealche, Sun 24 Nov 2013, 11:49, closed)