Should I be worried about my name/background? Forum

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:03 pm

OCI results aren't out till monday. So I have pretty good grades, journal, a lot of relevant work experience, great summer internship. At GW Law, which is preselect for OCI.

I'm wondering for anyone who has experience with this, the question has been on my mind lately--being an Arab/Muslim-American, should I worry that law firm recruiters would lock me out for that reason and not give me an interview? I ask because I've had experiences like this before. For example, before coming to law school, I applied for work at a law firm, got an interview through the secretary etc..., all was good, but right when the interview started, the interviewer was literally and blatantly anti-muslim. Hated me before I even spoke. I'm not going to go into the details, but it happens.

So I'm wondering, should I be worried?

Bronte · Post by **Bronte** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:12 pm

Well worrying's not going to get you anywhere. So no, you shouldn't worry.

cobrachailatte · Post by **cobrachailatte** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:16 pm

Anonymous User wrote:OCI results aren't out till monday. So I have pretty good grades, journal, a lot of relevant work experience, great summer internship. At GW Law, which is preselect for OCI.

I'm wondering for anyone who has experience with this, the question has been on my mind lately--being an Arab/Muslim-American, should I worry that law firm recruiters would lock me out for that reason and not give me an interview? I ask because I've had experiences like this before. For example, before coming to law school, I applied for work at a law firm, got an interview through the secretary etc..., all was good, but right when the interview started, the interviewer was literally and blatantly anti-muslim. Hated me before I even spoke. I'm not going to go into the details, but it happens.

So I'm wondering, should I be worried?

You know Barack Hussein Obama went to Harvard Law, right? I wouldn't worry about it. Use your background to your advantage.

InLikeFlint · Post by **InLikeFlint** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:17 pm

~~probably retake~~

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:19 pm

OP here: Good point. Still, I can't help but worry...Monday can't come soon enough..

Barack is African American though. He could easily just put "Barack Obama" on his resume and employers would never think he was muslim. My name is literally; "hi, I'm muslim," and if the recruiter has any anti-muslim feelings at all, how hard would it be to shut me out of an interview?

fanmingrui · Post by **fanmingrui** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:20 pm

Most educated, rational people I know are not anti-Muslim. It sounds like you just got stuck with a royal douche as an interviewer. I wouldn't worry about it; I'm sure you'll perform about where your grades and qualifications would put you irrespective of other factors.

Horsefeathers · Post by **Horsefeathers** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:20 pm

Yeah - but your name is what it is. You're not (realistically) going to change it. And it doesn't sound like you're going to drop the law either. So it's an exercise in futility to worry about this.

Bronte · Post by **Bronte** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:21 pm

Anonymous User wrote:OP here: Good point. Still, I can't help but worry...Monday can't come soon enough..

Barack is African American though. He could easily just put "Barack Obama" on his resume and employers would never think he was muslim. My name is literally; "hi, I'm muslim," and if the recruiter has any anti-muslim feelings at all, how hard would it be to shut me out of an interview?

Just chill man. I really don't think this is going to be a big problem for you.

fanmingrui · Post by **fanmingrui** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:23 pm

InLikeFlint wrote:probably retake

That joke stopped being funny a long time ago. 120.

Cupidity · Post by **Cupidity** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:28 pm

Just stay away from King & Spalding.

Post by **vanwinkle** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:43 pm

cobrachailatte wrote:You know Barack Hussein Obama went to Harvard Law, right? I wouldn't worry about it. Use your background to your advantage.

Banned for alting.

Eco · Post by **Eco** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:45 pm

What does "alting" mean btw? lol

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:47 pm

Change your name and submit updated resumes ASAP.

Post by **vanwinkle** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:47 pm

Eco wrote:What does "alting" mean btw? lol

It means we normally don't allow having more than one account at the same time. The alt (alternate account) will be banned unless previously authorized.

Anyone who has questions about mod policy should move their discussion here: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 0&t=146657

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:52 pm

I'm Muslim, and I don't think very many recruiters, if any, will hold it against you. I know a number of Muslims who work at big law firms, and one even told me that recruiters saw her background as interesting and diverse.

I'm sure there are some racists that would discriminate agains Muslims, but, like others said, most professionals are smart enough and sophisticated enough to not discriminate. Just be friendly and sociable and show them you're a smart, interesting person. There's not much else you can do.

schooner · Post by **schooner** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:57 pm

My first reaction is, wouldn't it depend on where you're applying? You very likely won't have a problem if you're looking at firms in NYC, DC, San Francisco, etc, but it might be a different story if you're looking at, say, small firms in the midwest or deep south. But this is just based on my own stereotypes about those places.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:57 pm

Cupidity wrote:Just stay away from King & Spalding.

Thanks for the reminder, forgot to mass mail them. Also, why is this?

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 2:02 pm

Ridiculous good 'ol boy rep.

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 2:18 pm

Cupidity wrote:Just stay away from King & Spalding.

care to back this statement up with anything?? or just harmful speculation?

Eco · Post by **Eco** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:09 pm

I think he's being sarcastic, that firm actually has offices in the Middle East etc..

Transferthrowaway · Post by **Transferthrowaway** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:12 pm

Top of your resume, (First Name) "Frank" (Last Name)

Glock · Post by **Glock** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:14 pm

Clearly there is a segment of the population that will actively or passively discriminate against you. I would not worry about it too much, there is nothing you can do except use an alias.

I am not sure what I would do in your case. I know I would use an alias if I had a stupid name like Christmas Day, Adolf Hitler Jones, Armond Hammer, etc. I am not sure what I would do if I had a super-ethnic-discrimination-bait name. Practical sense says use an Americanized first name and your traditional surname, pride says use the real thing.

Rock-N-Roll · Post by **Rock-N-Roll** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:17 pm

I would actually think that your being muslim could add diversity to a firm looking to do so. Good luck.

Transferthrowaway · Post by **Transferthrowaway** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:19 pm

Troll people with an androgynous first name and an impossible-to-pronounce-correctly last name.

Pat Gjeci

Anonymous User · Post by **Anonymous User** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:22 pm

Why would you want to work with an anti-muslim firm or a Tea Party affiliate.
Let your competency, knowledge, and credentials speak for you.
No matter how you twist it, there are racist people in this world.
Stop worrying about the ignorant few and focus on the rational minded people deserving of your consideration.

Be proud of your heritage, culture, religion, and your namesake.
Your parents gave you that name for a specific reason, if certain racists can't handle that so what.

Again, why would you want to work for a firm that hires racist recruiters?

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