Employers Sometimes Ask For The Personal Information Of Employees | Band 7.5 IELTS Essay Sample

Employers sometimes ask people applying for jobs for personal information, such as their hobbies and interests, and whether they are married or single. Some people say that this information may be relevant and useful. Others disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

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Band 7.5 IELTS essay sample

Companies are ditching the traditional method of selecting candidates. They are looking beyond the core job competencies. Employers are collecting personal data on interests, hobbies and marital statuses. In my opinion, such information can be useful for the employer; however, there is a possibility of its being misused.

One of the crucial reasons of obtaining personal information is to align the organization’s vision with that of the candidate’s goals. In other words, it is a way of figuring out whether the potential candidate is a right fit. To illustrate further, an applicant who pursues painting or graphic designing as a hobby may add value to the innovative framework / creative department of a company. Pastime interest in organising community events, conducting open forums and sessions could make a candidate more suitable for the role of an Event Manager. Furthermore, avocations such as mountaineering, sports, and fitness with some achievement records could imply attributes of perseverance and diligence. Leisure undertakings of exploring different places, photography and meeting new people could make one’s candidature favourable in the tourism industry.

There is another school of thought that does not support the idea of harvesting personal data. This is due to the unreliability of the data furnished by job seekers. For instance, one of the job surveys revealed that around 40% of the applicants record fake hobbies on their resumes. Most of which are often borrowed from standard templates on the net. Sometimes, there is a possibility that the employers could use the personal information against the employee. For example, in the case of female candidates if she is recently married, they may refuse to hire her because of her chances of becoming pregnant in the near future.

In conclusion, I feel employers can get some valuable insight from the personal information of prospective candidates. The practice of obtaining personal information can be beneficial in the long run. However, we cannot overlook the possibility of this data being used against the employee.

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