I applied online. I interviewed at MUFG (Jersey City, NJ) in Aug 2017
Interview
Got a call from the HR that they would set up a online webex chat with the hiring manager.
The web ex chat is going well - talking about technical experience, knowledge when out of left field I get asked the following question:
- Do you have a son or daughter?
Thoughts in my head - at what point did I tell him I was a mother? Because I didn't. I'm talking about my past experience and my technical knowledge. So where did this come from.
What do I say?
- I answer girl. Then he asks me - Do you just have one?
- I say just the one.
- He then proceeds to ask me how old she is?
- This line of questioning made me really uncomfortable. I can't believe he went personal like that. It was inappropriate. You can ask personal questions - like hobby, etc. but this was not appropriate.
He then proceeds to mention that this job would require work beyond 9 to 5. I kind of understand why he was grilling me about having children. I think it was an incorrect assumption on his part that being a mother would deter me from working.
He turned me off from the job/organization based on his sexist views and discriminatory line of questioning. My way of thinking is - if you get harassed at the interview and you go on to take the job - then you are just asking to be the victim. Similarly knowing how they think - I didn't want to work there. I reported to HR/recruiter and turned it down. I hope that HR took note and if they hear something similar - they do something about it. Though I know places like these, the HR is usually complacent in the discriminatory practices.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Personal questions related to children. know how you want to handle this. I read that you should ideally not answer and change the subject. I froze at first but ended up answering.