There is no doubt that women face unique challenges in the working world, and often, these can arise as early as the job interview process.
Even in today’s society, where measures are typically in place to ensure equality in the workplace – check out our Inclusion Training if you know a local company that lacks this – research reveals that men and women have significantly different experiences when applying for a job. Sound familiar?
Then read on as we explore what to expect, how to prepare, and the effective techniques to help you project confidence – so that a hiring manager sees your competence – during the job interview process.
Table of contents:
- How can the job interview process differ for women?
- How can women prepare for a job interview
- Interview tips roundup
How can the interview process differ for women?
More often than not, women have a contrasting experience to their male counterparts when being interviewed for a job. But why is this? The differences for women in the job interview process can stem from a variety of factors. These include:
Bias and stereotyping
Unconscious biases affect the way interviewers weigh up their candidates. Gender-based stereotypes can lead to different expectations towards roles and abilities of women and men.
For example, women might be perceived as more appropriate for administrative or nurturing positions, while men might be seen as better suited to leadership roles. These outdated biases can unfairly influence the questions asked, the evaluation criteria used, and the overall assessment of candidates.
Questioning style
Studies typically show that interviewers ask women and men different types of questions. For example, women are more frequently quizzed on their interpersonal skills, teamwork and communication abilities, while men discuss strategic and technical topics.
A 2020 survey highlighted how women are expected to prove their worth. Compared to men, women face more questions about their strengths, weaknesses and failures as well as why they should be hired, why they want the job, and whether they’re team players.
While these interview questions are relatively common, the fact that men are less likely to be asked them poses a huge question mark over unconscious bias – particularly where capability is concerned. And yet the interviewer has already determined whether a candidate is qualified for a role, long before the interview stage.
Family and personal life
As well as proving their worth, women are also asked to prove their staying power. Time and time again, women face questions related to family planning, caregiving responsibilities and work-life balance, which are not asked as frequently to men. Not only are these questions invasive, but can influence perceptions about a candidate’s commitment and availability for the job.
Interestingly, the survey also found that women are much more likely to be asked where they see themselves in five years – which could be argued is a subtle way of asking women whether they plan to start a family.
