should i talk about firearms during office visit/interview?

[desidog]

Also, no swearing.

...and bring copies of your resume.

After the interview, send an email to the interviewer:

"Thank you for your time; i enjoyed our conversation about x. I like your firm, and hope to work there. Many thanks, shooterfromtexas"

 

[desidog]

double post.

 

[TAB]

#1 be honest.

I'd much rather have a employee with views/ activetys that I disapprove of, then one that lies to me.

#2 be yourself.

if they don't want hire you, for you, its not a place you want to work.


if they bring it up, by all means answer thier Qs, but just answer the q, don't tell your life story.

Example:

"do you own guns?"

"yes" is the correct answer, not. "yes, I ownXXX of them, I go shooting every week and I CCW every where."

 

[Rockwell1]

Example:

"do you own guns?"

"yes" is the correct answer,

I disagree ( and I DO work around a bunch of hard core, middle aged, female, antis)

The proper answer to that question is " How is my ownership (or lack there of) of firearms relevant to this position? "

I don't discuss firearms or shooting at work, I rarely discuss my personal life period. I keep pictures of the grandkids in my cube and limit my discussions to them.

Again, people like to talk about themselves not listen to you talk about yourself. IF it comes up ask them about their hobbies or does the company have a bowling team?

 

[TAB]

See as a employer, I see that as a dodge to my question.( not that I would ask that question) Pretty much means I will toss your app and resume.

Honesty and directness are two of the big things I look for in a employee.

 

[Rockwell1]

See as a employer, I see that as a dodge to my question.( not that I would ask that question) Pretty much means I will toss your app and resume.

See, as an employee I see it as a prohibited question that you can't legally ask me. Sooooo, should my app get tossed on the basis of my refusal to answer it you may well be hearing from my lawyer.

 

[TAB]

Its not a prohibited q. its just not valid one for my line of work. Now if I owned say a gun store or a secruity company, it would be a valid one and one I would ask.

 

[Rockwell1]

Its not a prohibited Q

Between you and me it's a moot point because you'll never see my resumé and ,as you pointed out, you'd never ask the question.

But I'd like to see an employer justify asking the question outside the firearms industry. And if I were not selected for employement based on my refusal to answer that question (My field is medical admin.) I would involve my lawyer.

Just to be clear I'm talking about being asked that question just out of the blue during an interview. As in " I see here that you received your training in the Military, do you own a gun Mr. Rockwell?"

 

[TAB]

If I were to ask a question like, what do you like to do in your free time? your in medical adminstation you know that Medical ins costs are very high. If you could site a study saying its going to cost you $$$$ more if some one owns a gun.( granted thats a strech) Then its very good question. Smoking has been the hot ticket as of late. ( BTW, I will not hire smokers)

What really ticks me off is there are lots of questions I can't ask, that I feel are both good biz practices and in my industry a moral question.

#1 on the list is are you pregant and do you plan to become preganat. I can not ask that question, even if they are about ready to pop. I generally need people right now, so me hiring some one that is about ready to give birth, does not really help me one bit. the other side of that is I have a very strong moral obligation to the health and welfare of my employees and thier children. In my line of work you will be exposed to heavy metals and many other nasty chemicals, that have been known to cuase probs with unborn children. I could not knowingly subject the unborn to those dangers. All of that does not really matter as I can't ask that question.

 

[elliost]

Firearms and Office Visits

I worked for one of the big 5 at the time (EY) and knowing the corporate culture I would not mention anything relate to firearms at all.

The culture at these firms is very much "why do you need a gun?";

Just my $.02 worth

 

[Rockwell1]

If I were to ask a question like, what do you like to do in your free time?

That's a very legitimate question and I'd tell you I spend it spoiling my grandkids, hiking and camping the front range.

In my line of work you will be exposed to heavy metals and many other nasty chemicals, that have been known to cuase probs with unborn children.

Is there no way you can warn prospective female employees?

 

[rbernie]

what do you like to do in your free time?

One benign answer:

"I'm a [dad/homeowner - pick one] and I try to help out my spouse in my spare time."

That's it. Keep your personal life, well, personal.

 

[DFW1911]

One of the best questions you can ask of a prospective employer is "What can I do when I start that will have an immediate and positive impact on your firm?"

You'll get some replies to that one.

Avoid trying to discuss too much personal stuff: you're trying to build rapport, sure, but do so without giving an autobiography. Remember to avoid topics that may have strong opinions associated with them - firearms would fall into this category.

Good luck,
DFW1911

 

[PT1911]

many of the answers to these "personal" questions just seem like dodging the issue, whatever it may be. What do you like doing in your free time? hunt, fish, lift weights, etc.

what do they hear?... I have a life outside of work and I am concerned about my own health. Not to mention it allows the conversation to drift from just business and shows them who you are when you relax a bit from the suit and tie that walked in the door. personal questions answer more than just the obvious... or is that just too difficult to fathom?

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

And if I were not selected for employement based on my refusal to answer that question (My field is medical admin.) I would involve my lawyer.

Your lawyer, unless he just wants to seperate you from your money, would most likely ask you to not waste his time as the question is not related to a protected class. In most states, you have almost no standing for hiring discrimination unless you fall under one of the protected classes specificed by the various EEO acts. I have no doubt you could find some shyster who would certainly take your cash in return for filing a lawsuit, but you're going to have a hell of a time getting your money back out of it. It's kind of a moot point anyway, as no HR department or hiring manager worth their salt would ever specify something like regarding a hiring decision.

 

[shaggy430]

if I dont mention guns, what is a good subject to bring up that is interesting to accountants?

Accounting.

 

[PT1911]

Your lawyer would most likely ask you to not waste his time as the question is not related to a protected class. In most states, you have almost no standing for hiring discrimination unless you fall under one of the protected classes specificed by the various EEO acts

not to mention, although the question or your OLE' answer to it may have been the reason the decided to look past you, do you really think they would come out and say that... I am sure in their stack of resumes there is a least one more qualified or equally qualified. Sorry Judge, the other candidates were just a better fit, honestly I dont even remember asking that question... all because you are worried about someone knowing you own a gun or enjoy shooting them.... are you ashamed? or perhaps the foil hat is a little too tight....

 

[searcher451]

I wouldn't bring up the subject unless it's broached; if it is raised, of course, then be honest and be yourself. But by and large, if you bring it up yourself, it would be akin to wearing dreadlocks for the interview ... and that's an almost perfect ploy to never get hired for the job.

 

[mg.mikael]

Rememeber the people interviewing you want to know if your the best qualified person for the job. Not the best qualified person to take to a gun show. They will ask you questions about why you should get the job, not what your hobbies are. Simply put, they aren't your friends, so don't start talking about your private life.

Plus with all the mass shootings happening lately(some with layed off workers), it wouldn't be the best thing to mention to a possible employer.

By the way, let us know if you get the job or not.

 

[PT1911]

it would be akin to wearing dreadlocks for the interview ... and that's an almost perfect ploy to never get hired for the job

but they you could sue them right?

 

[Javelin]

Unless your a competative shooter and have won numerous awards at the collegiate and national level I would leave it out.

 

[22-rimfire]

Never discuss potentially controversial topics at interviews unless it is part of the job.

My general approach is to only discuss topics where you would not be offended if the conversation was recorded. That includes after you get the job too. Guns are out. Save it for the range.

 

[shooterfromtexas]

THANK YOU ALL! GREAT ADVICE.

I've already finished the first part of the recruiting process, on campus interview. I guess the second stage in the office visit, what can be done to really make you stand out from the other 16 people who visit the office?

Any tips on that who have been in recruiting/hiring?

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I guess the second stage in the office visit, what can be done to really make you stand out from the other 16 people who visit the office?

Any tips on that who have been in recruiting/hiring?

That's really not on topic for THR. I'm sure some folks will send along tips via PM as to keep the board focused on the gun question. Also, there are tons of tips out there.

 

[shooterfromtexas]

You're right Jorg, thanks for all the tips again. I'll just try to know a little about the company and take it from there.

Will be saving up for a MG if I get the internship and hopefully FT hire.