Having a hard to pronounce or ethnic name could affect your chances of securing an interview and then a job. There are a few reasons why.

Discrimination
There are some people who discriminate against cultures, unlike to their own. Is this wrong and illegal? Yes, but it still happens and it’s tough to prove.

Embarrassment
Some recruiters or people screening resumes may avoid calling you for a job because they cannot pronounce your name. They would rather call someone they can talk to with confidence. It’s not a good company strategy, but sometimes the company does not know what their employees are doing.

What to do?
If you feel that your name is preventing you from obtaining a job, especially the first name, change it. You do not have to legally change it, but make an English-friendly version and use it on your job documents. Be sure to tell your employer when you get hired that this is a common name and not your real name. You’ll need your real name for the job letter and other legal documents. Being upfront with the employer is important.

We had a client who had a last name which identified with a particular religious group. He was not getting any responses and decided to use his partner’s sir name. Guess who has a job now?

It’s not right to discriminate, but it happens. Has it happened to you or someone you know?