Employment applications - reveal race, etc...?

[96Firebird]

Some of you may remember my thread about a month ago about me getting laid off. So, as you can imagine, I've been applying to a ton of jobs. I have a spreadsheet that keeps track, I'm at 75+. I've gotten some interviews, but no offers yet.

Anyways, on most of the applications that are filled out online, they have that area to disclose your race, veteran status, whether or not you have a disability, etc... I usually just fill these in, but I'm wondering if I should opt out of revealing this information. I am a white male, no disability, no veteran status. I may not tick the boxes for equal opportunity employment. There is always the option to not answer the question, but I'm not sure if that would help or hurt my chances of getting an interview. Any input?

Edit - Also, I'm curious as to why a lot of them ask me if I am hispanic as a separate question, and then after that ask my race...

 

[Sooon]

Can an employer ask about an applicant's race on an application form?

Employers may legitimately need information about their employees or applicants race for affirmative action purposes and/or to track applicant flow. One way to obtain racial information and simultaneously guard against discriminatory selection is for employers to use separate forms or otherwise keep the information about an applicant's race separate from the application. In that way, the employer can capture the information it needs but ensure that it is not used in the selection decision.

Unless the information is for such a legitimate purpose, pre-employment questions about race can suggest that race will be used as a basis for making selection decisions. If the information is used in the selection decision and members of particular racial groups are excluded from employment, the inquiries can constitute evidence of discrimination.

What kind of jobs/companies are you applying for? I'd be suspicious if I saw a question about race on an application, but I haven't applied for a job in years.

 

[maddogchen]

Hispanics is not a race so it's separate from the Race question

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States_Census

 

[96Firebird]

What kind of jobs/companies are you applying for? I'd be suspicious if I saw a question about race on an application, but I haven't applied for a job in years.

A lot of the larger companies include the race/veteran/disability questions, ie. ITT Exelis, Xerox, etc...

Seriously considering not answering the questions and see if I get more interviews at least.

I much prefer the companies that just want a resume, a couple clicks and they have it. No need to fill out the same information 10 times a day...

Edit - Good info in the link on hispanic/latino question. :thumbsup:

 

[nickbits]

i don't think it would matter. either they don't care or are looking for more diversity. you filling out white or leaving it blank doesn't help you.

 

[z1ggy]

I tend to not fill those in simply because my profession is filled to the brim with non disabled white males. I figure worst case, not filling it in doesn't hurt, and that filling it in may hurt slightly if a company is trying to diversify.

I know that in my current company, if you're a female or non white, you basically just get a job tossed at you.

 

[rudeguy]

its just for EOE shit.

I always say I'm Mexican. Figure it could only help.

 

[Rhezuss]

Race: Earthling

 

[amdhunter]

I hate those things...it's always

Asian
Black
Hispanic
White.


WTF I am Indian. WTF do I choose? It's never an option to choose "Other."
It's like the whole world hates Indians.

 

[xeemzor]

I hate those things...it's always

Asian
Black
Hispanic
White.


WTF I am Indian. WTF do I choose? It's never an option to choose "Other."
It's like the whole world hates Indians.

Asian = Indian

 

[CountZero]

That information should never be used in the hiring decision (besides in many cases your name alone will betray that information). I believe it is meant to be used by the company for statistics. Say you get 1000 applicants. Half answer the question and of that 500 only three are black. That lets you 1) try to determine why you aren't seeing more black applicants and 2) if your company gets called out on diversity you can at least point to the applicant pool. Alternatively you can see that you got 300 black applicants but the company only has 2% black workers, why is that?

That being said I never fill it out as a white male, what do I have to gain? Though looking around my work place white males aren't exactly dominating.

 

[Midwayman]

As a white male I've stopped filling those out. I figure the info can only hurt me. They'll have to at least interview me to reject me because I'm not 'diverse enough'.

 

[Puppies04]

I hate those things...it's always

Asian
Black
Hispanic
White.


WTF I am Indian. WTF do I choose? It's never an option to choose "Other."
It's like the whole world hates Indians.

Oh I get it, "Asian" people have squinty eyes and yellow skin. You racist....

 

[Imp]

My last name does all the speaking for me. It's probably helped me get at least one gubment job in the past.

 

[BurnItDwn]

oops

 

[BurnItDwn]

Yea they claim all that stuff is just for statistical generation ... but IMO they might use it against you. Trust no one!

 

[Ruptga]

As a white male I've stopped filling those out. I figure the info can only hurt me. They'll have to at least interview me to reject me because I'm not 'diverse enough'.

That's why I always interview with a little Star of David around my neck, a salmon shirt, and a subtle lisp.

 

[PenguinPower]

its just for EOE shit.

I always say I'm Mexican. Figure it could only help.

It's largely for OFCCP/AAP shit. EOE shit would just require collection post-hire.

In most major ATS's, you can't even view the EEO information until after the offer/position closes.

 

[Imp]

Oh I get it, "Asian" people have squinty eyes and yellow skin. You racist....

I grew up with "Asian" being associated with East Asians... probably because I grew up around a lot of them.

Nowadays, I see newspapers and people using Asian to mean anyone from the Asian continent, which has a population of ~3 billion in India and China alone. Google says Asia has over 4 billion people, so >50% of planet. On west side, you have the Middle East, middle you have India, east side you have China. How do I put this... "Asian" doesn't work well as a general identifier or descriptor.

 

[96Firebird]

I think I'll start opting out of answering those questions, even if it doesn't mean much.

 

[Slew Foot]

only thing worse than putting down white male would be putting down indian male