In the United States, there is a bias against hiring people who “really don’t need the job.” And unfortunately, this bias sometimes hurts women in two-income households. By law, people in equal positions are supposed to earn the same salaries. But the fact remains that today women are still earning 70 cents to the dollar as men for similar jobs. This salary discrepancy is well documented, which is why, if you are a married woman, some interviewers may automatically assume that your husband is the “primary breadwinner,” and that your salary is incidental. Yes, this is frequently untrue, not to mention totally unfair. Still, in the interviewing game, perception often becomes reality.
So why give anyone the perception that you don’t need the money?
144.
Do you intend to send your kids to private school?A.
I doubt it. The Westchester public school system is great, and my kids have acclimated to it nicely.Alt. A. They’re in private school. Believe me, I would love to send them to public school, but as you know, the public schools around here can be dangerous. So, until I find a good public school that’s safe, private school it is.
Inside Information
You always want to come off as someone who needs the job. This is easy to do if your kids are in public school. However, if your kids are in private school, it makes sense to position the reason as “needs-based.” If the public schools in your area are dangerous, sending your kids to private school becomes a necessity rather than a luxury.
FACT: Most people in the executive suite frown on those who are “to the manor born.” So if you do happen to come from a long line of blue-bloods, never mention it. Or your interviewer will cross you off “the short list” faster than you can say: “Hey, wait a minute! I’m not really an aristocrat.”
145.
Who chauffeurs the kids to soccer practice?A.
There’s an army of people who take care of the kids on a daily basis. The neighbors and babysitters show up with a military precision that’s admirable. Everything works like clockwork so that I can be completely available for my work.146.
Does your spouse work? What does he do?A.
Yes, he works. Fortunately for both of us, he’s in a completely different field from ours. So there is no intra-marriage rivalry between us. And it’s kind of nice after a long day at the office to get home and hear about someone else’s job. But let’s get back to talking about the position that’s open here.Do you have any questions for me about my past experience? Is there anything more that I can tell you to demonstrate that I am your ideal candidate?
If your husband works in job that’s considered lucrative, this question can be an especially trying. Resist the urge to tell an interviewer that your husband is an
“investment banker,” “real estate developer,” or “venture capitalist,” even if he doesn’t happen to be a wealthy one.
147.
Who’s the primary breadwinner in your household?A.
We both do our best to pitch in equally.Why This Technique Works
1. You’ve answered the question without giving up any additional information that could make your interviewer think that you don’t need the job.
2. Your answer is so short and noncommittal that it should encourage your interviewer to move on to more appropriate questions.
148.
When your husband lost his job, how did that affect things on the home front?A.
Well, it was a little weird, because he was suddenly home for the entire day, and probably felt bored. The minute I would walk in the door, he would start asking me all kinds of questions about my sales calls…something that he had never done before! But I appreciated having him around, and his“sabbatical” turned out to be a good thing. He had the opportunity to find himself and discovered that he really wanted to get back to teaching English, while I kept plugging away at my job.
149.
Brenda told me that you and Stanford got divorced last year. Is that why you’re looking for a job now?A.
No, Paul. The divorce was in the works for a long time, and went surprisingly smoothly. But I never was what you’d call a “Stepford wife.” I believe that it’s important for women to continue to work, no matter what their husbands are doing. And the fact that I now live alone will make me work even harder than I ever did in the past, if that’s even possible. I brought some case studies to show you today. Would this be a good time to share them with you?Have a dress rehearsal with yourself. If you have case studies, make sure that you have thoroughly practiced your presentation a couple of times before you walk into your very first interview.
150.
You live in a one-bedroom apartment. How much does it cost?A.
It’s a rental, and fortunately, I started living there a long time ago, so it’s actually pretty affordable.The most important thing to remember is that your interviewer will have no way of actually knowing if the number that you reveal is accurate. You must appear to need the job, so even if you are paying 50 percent of your after-tax salary towards your rent (not uncommon in Manhattan) you may want to fib just a little bit, scaling the number back to what you were paying three years ago. See the answer that follows:
Your answer is appropriate if you are applying for a job anywhere in the United States, except Manhattan. But unfortunately, for whatever reason, in Manhattan people gossip endlessly about the actual price of their apartments. For out-of-towners, this may seem jarring at first. Still, when in NewYork, do as the New Yorkers do…
Alt. A. (for Manhattanites only). It’s a rental, and I have been paying a whopping $2,000 a month for the privilege of living in a miniscule, quote unquote “one bedroom” that’s really a glorified studio apartment. It’s a walk-up, and I live on the fifth floor. So the good news is: I save a lot of money by not going to a gym, because I get tons of exercise each day running up and down the stairs.
151.
How old are you?A.
You know, I never tell anyone my age. But if you really want to find out, just take another peek at my resume, and skip down to the year that I graduated from college. I hope that the fact that I’m a tiny bit older than the last person who held this position won’t impact your hiring decision. Because in those X years, I really got a tremendous amount of experience under my belt. I’m a lot more mature about deadlines, servicing clients, and dealing with pressure than anyone could be who’s right out of school. But at the same time, I’m enthusiastic and very “young” at heart.Alt. A. Old enough to have the experience and “street smarts” to do the job that is required, but young enough to learn everything you have to teach me, and to enjoy working for you for years to
come.
Inside Information
Just because a potential employer asks you something doesn’t mean you have to answer the question. But be playful and light about it so that you don’t offend the interviewer or come off as a hotheaded troublemaker.
152.
Are you sensitive about your weight?A.
Nope. I come from a long line of size-16 women; so actually, I’m considered “the thin one” in my family. I also grew up in a small town, where almost no one was a standard size 8. I think everyone had to carry an extra thirty pounds on them just to survive those frigid Minnesota winters. I hope that my weight won’t weigh on your mind too much when it comes to considering me for this position.Alt. A. Wow! I don’t want to “get heavy” with you, but that’s the first time I’ve ever been asked that on a job interview! Hopefully, my weight won’t prevent you from seriously considering me for this job.