Have you ever "played it straight" for a job interview?

I work at Fareway, and they never asked me anything about my sexual orientation during my job interview.

 

I don't think the'yre supposed to ask you about that kinda stuff
but I've never had a job interview so I don't know

 

I applied to work in a Fortune 100 company and got a phone interview. I was asked during the interview why I wanted to work there and said the usual "good reinvesting in workforce, culture of diversity, etc." After the interview by phone, I sent a thank you email and stated that in addiction to all I said I really liked their non-discrimination policies that went above and beyond state/federal law. When you subtract what state law covers and what they covered, only LGBT issues were left on the table. This is actually what I wrote:

I knew they were good with LGBT rights so I decided to be open and at the same time beat around the bush (anyone worth their salt in HR could read between the lines). I actually got a face-to-face interview, but they later called me and said the position was cancelled. But I would only do this with select major corporations because not everyone here is LGBT-friendly. Honestly, I'm not sure if I'd do this again lol.

 

True, but every level of government has enacted anti-discrimination statutes that cover race and ethnicity.

 

No, I just played myself. It worked, I got the job.

But then again, I work in fashion. Nobody cares about sexuality there.

 

Wait, hide their gender? I'm confused on what you mean, because if the person gets the job they're going to know whether they're a male or female.

 

Oh I see what you mean. I think whenever I attend things like that I tend to inadvertantly try to act more feminine since I'm somewhat of a tomboy.

 

Yes, of course I have. I'm a transfeminine bisexual, which is none of the things you're allowed to be in a straight white male dominated profession.

 

I don't have to. Everyone assumes I'm straight anyways. I don't have to change my behavior.

 

Well, sort of. There's only been a couple times I've come right and said that I was trans and that was because I was working a job that required legal info I hadn't yet changed. Most of the time, clients just assume I'm a typical college aged guy. I am open about the fact that I have a partner (especially when I have to write a bio for a blog or column) but I don't usually specify that my partner's male.

Most of the time I'm not intentionally hiding anything. My personal life just doesn't really come up. It does help that I freelance and don't usually have to physically be around a client.

My voice can be a huge concern so I try to avoid phone calls and video chats when I can. Luckily, I have hearing problems and that's the only time I can actually say I'm lucky to have them because I then have an excuse to avoid talking on the phone.

 

I can't say I've not played straight, that would mean I normally act gay. My natural demeanour is 'masculine'.

 

No, never. I seriously doubt that they'd catch on anyway.

 

I don't know if there is much I could do in that regard. In a job interview or any formal setting such as that, I will of course be wearing traditional masculine formal clothing. The fact that my voice is a bit soft and higher than many other males' is something I can't help and I will not attempt to change it during an interview (not that it has anything to do with homosexuality anyway).

 

Nope, people always assume that i was straight so they don't bother to ask. I believe that question regarding sexuality is pretty uncommon to be asked during any interviews. But i dont know, my experience on job search are pretty limited, i'm still a student and the only interview i had is when i applied for a part time Teaching Assistant position.

 

I'm just myself but I don't come across as bi anyway .

 

I've never had it come up unless I brought it up. I have sort of brought it up in the last few interviews as I need it to at least be an option to insure my partner.

 

No not really, they're more interested about the experience I've had rather than who I am as a person. We're all just numbers when we're interviewing for a job, and no one really gives a toss if your number is in a coloured font instead of a regular black.