Has anti-greek sentiment hurt you?
 

Recently, I was interviewed for a job and it was going pretty well until I told her I was in a sorority in college. After that, it went down hill. I think the main reason why I didnt receive the job offer is because she learned I was in a sorority. Has anybody else experienced something similar to this? Has anti-greek sentiment affected you? This makes me so pissed :mad:

Re: Has anti-greek sentiment hurt you?
 

It cuts both ways. I know a ton of people that have gotten jobs because of their Greek ties.

If the person conducting the interview starts bashing Greeks then just don't mention that you are Greek.

Anti-Greek sentiments have never been an issue in my life. People have said things, but they go in one ear and out the other.

madmax, I don't think someone conducting an interview will just start randomly going off on Greeks. If so, it shows they're pretty unprofessional.

If there was a way to prove it, then you'd have just cause to go at them for unfair hiring practices.

There is no reason you should be rejected based on a legal affiliation, one which if viewed properly, would actually strengthen your chances rather than hurt them.

Being in a sorority or fraternity shows you have social skills, are able to work well with others, are familiar with working within an organization ..etc.

Whomever rules that out is blinded by preconceived notions...

Travis, you never cease to amaze me, (in a Nice ), for you insightful posts!

If a person had ever told me that I would not be a candidate for a job because of Greek affiliation, they would have had to call the dog catcher to get me off of their faces! I would be THE ANIMAL!!!!!:mad:

Today tho one if a Greek Org. can justly so point out the Fourtune 500 Listings!

If they would check, yes Greeks are in a minority, but in an upper % that have been doing and will do for the U. S. A.

It is because of the training and learning that no other Student can will ever learn and do not know that of which they miss!!!:confused:

He/She that has never seen what We Have is a lost soul!:(

As Greeks we may scare them until they really find out what it is like!:cool:

Re: Has anti-greek sentiment hurt you?
 

The only time that I experienced first hand anti-Greek sentiment was when I was interviewing for a long term temp assignment with an airline (customer service rep) about 4 years ago. This required a security interview with an overseas police officer. I told her that I am member of sorority and she thought that is was a cult. I told that it was a friendship organization and tried to explain to her what a sorority is as calmly as possibly. I didn't get the job (put on stand-by or waiting list). I didn't really want the job anyway! Other than that, I received nothing but curiosity and positive feedback!

http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/pyth.gif http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmili...ani_smiles.gif http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmili.../pinkieone.gif

I am worried about the indirect and subtle discrimination against greeks. I think we have all experienced anti-greek sentiments in college and I feel those sentiments exist in the work place as well, but in an indirect and subtle way.

Re: Re: Has anti-greek sentiment hurt you?
 

GASP!! You didnt tell her about the "Pledge Sheep of Carnal Rights"? Did you???

;)

A cult...now *that* is a new one..hehe

Never hurt me - some people have made offhanded comments and stuff like that, but nothing that has hurt me job-wise or otherwise.

I put my affiliation under extra-curricular activities. Then again, I doubt they cared much that I'm in a fraternity outside the States.

My greek affiliation is on my resume under campus activities only because I have my leadership positions listed. It has never been brought up in an interview (none of my campus activities have) and at work a colleague usually only brings it up because they're curious.

The only hostility I ever received was from a high school friend of mine who went to college at a VERY southern school and all that she knew of sororities was the exclusive rush process at her school.

Gee, thats kinda weird. You hear how almost every president was greek and how most of the CEO's of fortune 500 co. are greek etc., you think they wouldnt give being greek such a bad rap when you went to look for a job.

starting out at the bottom, you might want to keep your greek affiliation to yourself depending on the region or area you live in. In some places, it could serve an advantage to you, in others, a discriminating career trap. I had mine on a resume for when i was going for internships and summer employment (who cares if they know or don't know, some of those jobs were only experience and no money). But for a real resume, post-grad career hunting, I'd leave your proud positions as Pledgemom or VP of Greek Relations out of it. Maybe re-word your activities so they are just general descriptions of a student organization. You never know what kind of job opportunities you'll miss if the interviewer hates greeks. Besides, it looks better when someone finds out later you're greek, makes your status at work a bit more respectful. Besides, getting a job because you're greek may make you appear less qualified.

Of course there are people like me who'll take anything for a dollar:D


RUgreek

No, you wouldn't. Your affiliations are generally fair game for an interviewer trying to determine in 30 minutes or less whether you're suited for a position. The exception would be affiliation with a group traditionally associated with members of a legally protected class – NAACP for example, or possibly a BGLO. And in that case, the interviewer would probably notice you’re black long before reading DSTheta on a resume. So if the interviewer was inclined to racial discrimination, it would be based on your appearance, and your affiliations wouldn’t much matter.

Remember that discrimination is not a bad thing. The interviewer’s sole job is to discriminate - between good candidates and bad candidates. Discrimination is only a bad thing when it’s done on certain bases which our law defines as illegal.

Are you saying I couldn’t reject an applicant for my daycare business after seeing his NAMBLA membership on his resume?

I have a problem with the word “properly” in this sentence. To you, it’s improper to characterize sorority girls as shallow, vapid, elitist, promiscuous substance abusing hazers. But I know plenty of people who would consider that characterization perfectly accurate and proper.

I tend to agree with you that GLO affiliation is more often a sign of strength than weakness, but we are not necessarily in the majority.

It is not illegal to be blinded by preconceived notions about sorority girls.

And in my opinion it’s not even inappropriate. My business is a reflection of me, my beliefs and my ideals. If based on my experience and perceptions, a sorority girl is not suited to my workplace, then that’s really none of anyone else’s business.

wptw

the problem w/ that wptw, is that in a job interview you shouldn't look at someone as a "sorority girl." She is a girl that happens to be in a sorority. It depends on the business. If you work for Catholic Charities you probably won't get hired if you are a member of the National Atheists Inc. However, your membership in ASA, Amnest Int'l or NOW should have nothing to do with working for the Limited or McDonald's if you're not proselytizing on the job site.

The other problem with being biased against someone based on Greek affiliation is that you are going by YOUR experience at YOUR college. Maybe you went to LSU and hated Greeks, but maybe if you went to Pitt, you would have liked them and even joined. Greeks are not homogenous. And as far as I know, assuming a group is homogenous is a component of discrimination.

It *IS* improper. If this person being interviewed is professional acting, is well dressed, is well spoken, why should I let her affiliation cloud my judgement? She's not a gum smacking bubblehead...she's looking for work and I'll bet she's pretty damn serious about it too.

It can be the interviewer's *GENERAL* perception...but in no way should it come into play when doing a new interview...unless of course she's / he's giving every indication of fitting the stereotype....ie; unshaven / smells of booze...late to the interview...etc.

Point being is that if that person is doing interviews and is already sporting preconcieved ideas as to what he / she feels sorority / fraternity person(s) are like, then they are in the wrong job.




What are you basing this from? Neither of us has any substantial evidence proving this one way or the other, hence my keeping it "hypothetical". I know if I were in the position of hiring, I'd probe the greek affiliation a bit..asking what they did etc and get a feel for their answers. True, not all are the same...but I'd hope most greeks are striving to do their best.




Perhaps not, so long as it's kept as a personal opinion and not used to solely base one's employment.



I would hope she's not suited to your business because of WHO she is, not WHAT she is. If her personality isnt fitting the company line, then sure....you have reasons. But sorority / fraternity should play a small, if minute part in all of this..it should *never* be the deciding factor.

I think you have to be careful what you put on your resume for "interests", as it can hurt you. For example, if you are applying to a very conservative place, putting down that you are a member of Greenpeace is probably not wise. Similarly, if you are applying to a meat packing plant, don't put down that you're a member of PETA. I could go on, but I am sure that you catch my drift......

True...We as a GLO community make it a point to tout who is famous in our ranks, and most of them are business person's or politicians. Some are sports / actors...

Putting that we are in a GLO on our resume (to me) represents many things based on how you look at it.

I dont think it hurts to say you are in one...as long as you represent your chapter in a dignified, professional manner.

As I said..I think its not something that should weigh heavily either way on a resume....unless of course your prospective boss is an alum... ;)


*EDIT*

I do think, however, that the "reality" shows of fraternities and sororities are giving us all a *very* bad name...producers are looking to sensationalize it for ratings..so they edit it ...makes it look way worse than it is or can be

Discrimination is not okay, and it sounds like as long as you follow the law, you don't care who you end up discriminating. Truth is, once you feel you've been discriminated, you can resort to one of the protected classes for legal relief. Unless your business has a BFOQ, your hiring practices are other people's business. You can create any image you want for yourself and your customers, but unless it follows the industry standard for your business, that image won't be an excuse for discrimination in court.

Sorry:cool:

I don't think wptw is speaking from a personal standpoint, just a hypothetical one. And from a hypothetical standpoint, it's completely legal to discriminate against someone because of their sorority or fraternity membership. It may not be RIGHT, but there's nothing to stop them from doing it . . . so it's up to you to guage properly whether or not it's going to help you or hurt you to put your Greek affiliation down on a resume.

You are correct...highly rare that someone would say "this is why we didnt hire you". We can only *hope* that they are a fair person.

Personally..if someone was that shallow..I wouldnt want to work for them. (as in just saying "You were greek? No thanks!")

No, discrimination is not ok. Certainly discriminating against someone just because they're in a GLO is wrong... but sadly, a lot of people do still subscribe to the theory that all sorority members are ditzes and all fraternity members are drunken louts. Let's face it, if the interviewer is biased against greeks, s/he will find some other way to justify the decision to hire the GDI instead of the XYZ.

Let me throw this out for discussion in regards to listing your GLO affiliation on your resume. A lot of people, even a lot of greeks, think that greek life is something that's just for college. So if you list your GLO affiliation on your resume (other than for an internship or a first job out of college) it can look like you're just adding filler - even if you're actively involved on the alum level.

Discuss :)

Re: Re: Re: Has anti-greek sentiment hurt you?
 

Don't worry SlipRock229, I didn't tell her about the "Pledge Sheep of Carnal Rights". I tried to set her straight about her assumptions.

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CP2000 is right, once again. :)

I'm always cautious about resumes - for instance, I was president of College Democrats, but I will not mention that on resumes when applying for jobs in my home county. It's the 2nd most Republican county in the nation, so I don't think being a Democrat will help me much. ;) I also held 5 offices in my sorority as an active, but my resume simply says "Gamma Phi Beta, Member." If they want to confuse that with an honor society, go for it. ;)

Like everyone's saying, it depends on your audience. With many of the more liberal organizations I have volunteered for, placing my affiliation could hurt me, since Greek organizations have the stereotype of being bastions of conservatism. On the other hand, when I am applying to jobs at home, I list my affiliation--and all of the major offices (presidential/vice-presidential) that I have had. Why? I'm from the South, and my interviewers there have almost always had questions about my affiliation (if I know so-and-so, if their child is going through Recruitment--what they should know, etc.), while most don't know anything about my school(confusing it with a HBCU or thinking it's in Long Island when it's in Rhode Island).

Last summer, I volunteered with an organization, and when my (independent) supervisor found out that I was in a sorority (via my resume), she was actually really excited. It turned out that the other intern was in a fraternity, and she was hoping we could encourage our organizations to work together with their organization. Nothing came of it, but you never know what doors will be opened!