Employers Sometimes Ask People Applying For Jobs For Personal Information | Band 8 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 the views and give your own opinion.
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Band 8 IELTS essay sample
During the time of an interview, candidates are required to disclose their personal information such as their favorite pastimes, interests and their marital status. Some people argue that / a few people argue that these details play a vital role in choosing the appropriate candidate, whereas others think they are not required.
In my opinion, revealing personal information can do more harm than good to both the applicant and the organization. Those who believe that personal interests serve a pivotal role want to understand the personality of the interviewee beyond the boundary of their professional capabilities.
It is recommended that the employer should know as much as possible about the potential employee beforehand especially about the likes, dislikes, hobbies and marital status, as it not only helps in finding the most suitable candidate but also strengthens the bond between them and the organization.
However, this may also give rise to pre- conceived notions which could be detrimental for both. For instance, many employers believe that if a female job applicant is newly married, she may soon go on maternity leave and hence they may choose not to hire her. However, this is not always the case and by not employing young and married women the organization may lose skilled workers who could add value to them.
By contrast, if a company decides to select a candidate purely based on their professional aptitudes, it will undoubtedly be an unbiased decision. It is quite possible for an individual to behave differently in their personal and professional space. Moreover, it is not possible to understand the character of someone from their hobbies as people often behave quite differently in their personal and professional space. For example, my friend is extremely calm and composed in the midst of work environment and overwhelmed and over excited when she is around her loved ones. Thus, this proves that such personal information may mask the real personality and prove useless for the employer.
I maintain that it is not beneficial to ask for any information which is outside the scope of professional competence. With the advent of cutting-edge technology, nowadays, multinational companies leverage social media accounts of the interviewee prior to the scheduled interview to dig out more about his/her personal interests. I am totally against it and I reckon that work should remain within the realm of professional boundaries.
To sum up, although the motive behind learning more about an employee may be good, it can prove rather detrimental for both the employee and the employer.
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