Employers Sometimes Ask People Applying For Jobs For Personal Information- IELTS Writing Task2

Employers sometimes ask people applying for jobs for personal information such as their hobbies and interests and whether they are married or single. Some people say this information may be relevant and useful. Others disagree. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Outline

Essay Type

Discussion essay

Introduction 

Providing a brief outline of the topic, its importance and how an argument can be raised against the relevance of such information. I agree with this information being relevant.

Paragraph 1 – Companies screen potential employees about their marital status because it shows whether the applicant will be willing to accept transfers or not. Hobbies and interests shed light on the applicant’s personality, giving the company a better purview of the applicant.

Paragraph 2 – Arguments against these pointers’ relevance – how interviews and conversations give a better and more detailed outline of the applicant, how one’s knowledge of the field and job should be given priority instead of his hobbies and interests.

Conclusion 

Realizing that these pointers may be of less relevance, but still possess importance as they give more information which ultimately helps the company screen better. End by restating your views.

Sample Essay

Some companies want to know certain personal details about the applicants like their hobbies and interests, whether they’re married or not etc. In my opinion, the company tries to identify the person’s stability and workability through these details. While an argument can be raised against collecting such information, I feel companies are not wrong, and these markers are relevant for the company.

To begin with, an important aspect of screening potential employees includes their marital status. It gives the company a remote idea of how long they will continue the job. Further, their marital status can show their inclination towards accepting transfers and new projects because it is possible that the applicant will not want to uproot his family to settle down into a new surrounding. On the other hand, hobbies and interests allow gauging the person’s personality, thus throwing some light on whether he is a team player or a good addition to the team, and so on. These pointers showcase whether the applicant possesses the capability to handle the job.

On the flip side, it can be argued that these pointers never give a detailed outline. Numerous human resource executives stress the importance of an interview and how a live interaction gives them a better perspective of the applicant. They believe that selection must be based on a person’s knowledge and experience for the particular job and that one’s hobbies and interests should not be given excess importance while he is screened. One might even argue that such pointers seem redundant and outdated. Furthermore, one can choose to contribute more working hours to the company even if he’s married. Thus, the selection criteria of the job should be from the knowledge and experience of the person.

To summarise, some employers consider personal information unimportant and may think of it as a mere formality. In contrast, others feel being aware of one’s abilities and interests improve their performance and aid the selection process. Having these pieces of information is always beneficial for a company as it gives a greater peek into a potential employee.

Vocabulary

• Stability

Meaning: the state of being stable.
Example – Every person desires stability in their lives.

• Workability

Meaning:able to be worked, fashioned, or manipulated.
Example – The manager is very impressed by his workability.

• Relevant

Meaning:closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered.
Example – What small companies need is relevant advice.

• Screening

Meaning: to assess suitability for a particular role or purpose.
Example – I have heard that this year’s physical examination screening is very tough.

• Marital

Meaning: relating to marriage or the relations between a married couple.
Example – She wanted to talk about their marital problems.

• Inclination

Meaning: a person’s natural tendency or urge to act or feel in a particular way; a disposition.
Example – John was a scientist by training and inclination.

• Uproot

Meaning: move (someone) from their home or a familiar location.
Example – My father travelled constantly, uprooting the family several times.

• Formality

Meaning: a thing that is done simply to comply with convention, regulations, or custom.
Example – “All that remains now are the legal formalities, then the house is yours.”

• Far-fetched

Meaning: unlikely and unconvincing; implausible.
Example – The theory sounded bizarre and far-fetched.

• Peek

Meaning: a quick or furtive look.
Example – He sneaked a peek at the map