Voluntary questions.....

29 Comments

1. Deb AllenDecember 17,2024 at 3:09PM UTC

   Those questions should be only for DEI data collection. You can decline to answer, there should be no negative action taken on your application for not answering these questions. Research the company, are they a federal contractor? Faith-based organization? If they are a reputable company they should not be asking about religion or whether you are entitled to school meals, etc. They can ask Gender, Disability, Nationality and maybe military veteran type of questions. The others are suspect and I've worked in large and small corporate environments for 30 years. These answers should never be visible to HR or Hiring teams, just collected behind the scenes for data reporting on DEI, etc.

2. AnonymousDecember 17,2024 at 3:15PM UTC

   The hiring process does not include this standard EEOC form in any raw form. They add your answers to the others who are applying to get an idea of the demographic makeup of the applicants. I have spoken to many HR, Recruiting, and hiring managers, and these forms are not included in the application packets that are forwarded for interview consideration. If you notice, there is always a "prefer not to answer" option, so if providing this information makes you uneasy, you can always choose that one. I choose to answer truthfully, and I haven't noticed it making any difference in the response to my applications.

   I look at it this way: If a company chooses to exclude me for anything I might select on this form, I wouldn't want to work there anyway. I say this as a female over 65 with more than one disability I can claim from the ADA list. They can instinctively know or infer most of the list from the resume's contents (age from job tenures, ethnicity from names, etc.). What they don't infer/assume from the application/resume, they can figure out when you walk through the door on the interview. The other thing to consider is that if companies take DEI initiatives seriously, this is the only way they can track how they are doing with regard to diversity hiring practices. For companies that take DEI seriously, it provides a way to prove it to the public by using numbers, not just rhetoric.

3. AnonymousDecember 18,2024 at 4:40PM UTC

   If they hired everyone fairly and not by their preferences for a lack of diversity in we wouldn't even need to have DEI initiatives but it's the USA

4. AnonymousDecember 19,2024 at 2:21PM UTC

   The problem is that "fairness" is a subjective process. I have been turned away by more companies than I can count for a "better qualified" candidate when I checked off all the boxes in the job requisition. Who decides why the person is "better qualified?" Did she look more like the proposed client? Was he more assertive in the interview? Did their answers hit the hot buttons better than mine? Did she appear able to work there another 30 years and me only 5-10 years? Fairness to me is different than it is to the single mother or the unemployed father supporting a family that was hired. DEI initiatives are there to ensure that these subjective decisions aren't being made based on any bias for groups that are traditionally marginalized.

5. LaDonna CollinsDecember 18,2024 at 1:59PM UTC

   Some employers use this information to see if organization qualifies for tax credits for hiring people with disabilities, veterans, etc. I’ve never seen it used in hiring decisions.

6. AnonymousDecember 18,2024 at 4:36PM UTC

   I usually choose not to answer. I think these question have no place except to continue discrimination. Why do they really need to know this for before they even talk to to you? No reason at all. If they need this info that what the MFKN census is for . Sorry I'm pissed been job hunting a while ..it's all BS

7. AnonymousDecember 18,2024 at 4:59PM UTC

   When I was job hunting, I did a little test. Sometimes I answered them. Sometimes I didn't. Didn't impact my chances at all. They're typically for HR reporting and sometimes are a template (where the hiring folks may not even know it's a part of the process).

   I would say, answer what you want to answer.

   Good luck!

8. maria roseDecember 18,2024 at 6:27PM UTC

   It’s all part of the push trend to use the current verbalization flavor speech in order to sound non bias in selection and to keep numerical record count to appease the pushback clauses of DEI . You are free to be/choose whatever choice you want on this “extra” question for “ survey purposes “. I believe current questionnaires now include the N/A or other choice. They can’t ask these questions in a face to face interview, but using AI filters on these questionnaires can be interpretive in the “weeding out “ process. It’s their loss if they want to limit the pool of candidates by using these qualifier questions.

9. Titra HamiltonDecember 19,2024 at 3:36PM UTC

   I did the same test and saw no difference in responses.

10. AnonymousDecember 19,2024 at 1:57PM UTC

    Your recruiter should not have access to that particular information

11. AnonymousDecember 19,2024 at 2:03PM UTC

    I am a recruiter for a company that has government contracts. These are statistics that the government requires that company to keep track of and report . As a recruiter, I do not have access to the information when looking at someone's application. The person who does the reporting is not a part of the hiring process in any way. I can't guarantee that is the way it is at all companies, but that is how it is where I work.

    The reporting is to show that the company is at or above a certain percentage for diversity, disability and veterans hires. So it is actually a positive when I see my numbers and I am above the benchmark percentages. We also have to show that we are actively recruiting candidates from these groups by posting the job opening on different diversity websites.

12. AnonymousDecember 19,2024 at 2:57PM UTC

    The questions are voluntary - which means you don't have to answer them . Click prefer not to say or leave them blank

13. Kathy DonnaldDecember 19,2024 at 3:00PM UTC

    Most will not let you move on without answering.

14. EMILY KIKUE FRANKDecember 19,2024 at 3:03PM UTC

    In most places, it's about whether they've put the job up in places that let a diverse enough pool of applicants apply. They aren't tying that info to individuals or anything. They just want to know they're giving everyone a chance to see the post and apply.

15. AnonymousDecember 19,2024 at 4:09PM UTC

    These demographic surveys are not used for anything other than to see how they are reaching diversity standards and if they are a major public US company they must report on this to their investment community. It is anonymized however if it is optional don't complete it if you do not want to. Anything about age, sexual orientation, marital status, nationality is off limits and illegal. Leave those blank no matter what.

16. Steph McDonaldDecember 20,2024 at 12:59PM UTC

    Can you share the job post where you had to answer questions about religion, parents education, nationality? If this is in the US, those particular questions are illegal. The others aren't, and government contractors are required to collect and report on them. They want to make sure companies aren't discriminating and the only way to know is via data collected at the application phase.

17. MiaFebruary 21,2025 at 4:12PM UTC

    I live in London and 100% ask for these " voluntary questions.." and I bet they use it anywhere in this globe too..I am applying in 9tjer countries too

18. AnonymousDecember 20,2024 at 1:10PM UTC

    I have noticed a lot of jobs in tech are starting to blatantly ask age ranges. I refuse to answer them. Sadly, I will not be surprised if the EEOC isn't on the short list to be eliminated considering the folks making the decisions these days. It may be illegal but if there's no one to enforce workplace protections, it's going to get worse.

19. AnonymousDecember 20,2024 at 1:54PM UTC

    I absolutely 100% agree with you. I am totally fine with answering other questions. However, giving my age makes me cringe. Especially when I look at the About section and see nothing but people aged 20-35ish and no one looks older than that. I am up to date on new technology. I am an advanced AI prompt engineer. I use the latest apps and constantly take classes to boost my skills. However, I know that when they see I am in the 50-59 age range, they won't look at my skills and experience. They will see my age and I won't ever hear from them again. It's very disheartening.

20. AnonymousDecember 20,2024 at 1:19PM UTC

    They’re trying to comply with diversity hiring practices but it’s anyone’s guess whether your selections factor into their hiring decisions. I’d say they don’t. I’ve never been asked about my religion, however. If I have the option not to participate, I don’t.

21. AnonymousDecember 20,2024 at 1:33PM UTC

    Im a minority woman of color. If u KNOW the company your applying for has a DEI initiative (i.e. 30% women in mgmt by 2030, or 20% more minorities by 2030) it would b in ur best interest to b truthful. However in the US there has been a lot of pushback so it pays to do ur homework.

    Also consider whether u have an androgynous name. If there's no DEI then it may serve u well NOT to answer a gender question and let them make their own conclusions, but note if u were FORCED to answer a Mr., Mrs, Miss question at the beginning of ur app. . . .

22. AnonymousDecember 20,2024 at 5:08PM UTC

    On that one, I always put"Ms." Let them decide if they think you are married or single. That shouldn't have anything to do with getting a job.

23. AnonymousDecember 20,2024 at 7:33PM UTC

    Absolutely THIS! When I run into this issue for travel formalities (i.e. rental car, hotel, etc.) I'll choose "Dr." Hahaha turns out there are some perks/discounts! That's what they get for making requirements on dumb fields!

24. AnonymousJanuary 14,2025 at 6:05PM UTC

    Love this too!

25. AnonymousDecember 20,2024 at 1:46PM UTC

    It's all about analytics. In the long run, not indicating your race/gender/ military status only hurts the organization you are applying to. It isn't used in hiring decisions, but rather meeting reporting requirements and creation of Affirmative Action Plans. Not having accurate data can produce a skewed image of a company's hiring practices.

26. AnonymousDecember 20,2024 at 2:32PM UTC

    HR from a set of data, or an external vendor that is sent a file of the blind information. They do not tie it to any one or group of candidates unless they are not a reputable company.

27. AnonymousDecember 20,2024 at 5:05PM UTC

    I have a disability, so when questions like that are seen at the end of applying for a job, (usually mostly seen on Indeed), I just hit prefer not to answer on everything. It's nobody's business but your own to decide how much you wish to disclose...even if it's supposed to be about geographical areas or race. That information shouldn't make or break your chance at the job, nor should you have to go into detail about what kind of disability you have. In my case, I have neuropathy from some kind of lymphedema that I have that makes my legs sometimes swell up. Depending on the position, such as a desk job, that shouldn't harm your chances of getting the job. I am not forthcoming with any information other than questions I am required to answer about the job. Can I lift 50 pounds? Sure. As long as it's going on a cart that I can push into another part of the office. Other than that, not their business.

28. Michelle StewartDecember 23,2024 at 4:15PM UTC

    I personally choose to not answer if possible, but I'm sure it has hurt me at places that are focused on DE&I because I totally could benefit from it; however, I don't want the position because I check a box. I want the position because I'm the best candidate overall. That was all I cared about when I helped with hiring and if a company cares about more than that, they aren't somewhere I want to be. I want to be recognized for my abilities, not what race, gender, etc., I am.

29. AnonymousFebruary 21,2025 at 4:15PM UTC

    Thanks for your honesty!! otherwise why would they add this on their application online forms.