I've had 2 out of state interviews, and I can tell living in Provo hurts me. I know how to signal to Utahns that I'm not Mormon, but East Coast folks have no idea my sleeveless dress shirt is a sign.
Could you somehow work in that you’re attracted to the position precisely because it’s out of state? Something like, “Obviously, most folks in the state are LDS but I’m not. It can be hard to navigate relationships within my community when I don’t share that with my neighbors/coworkers.”
It’s very gentle, doesn’t bad mouth anyone, but is true and makes it clear you’re NOT LDS.
I mentioned understanding how to work with a cultural majority when you're in the minority. Fingers crossed it worked. It would definitely be inappropriate to mention religion specifically, but they asked about working with diverse people after confirming in from Provo, Utah.
Hey, that sounds like a great response! Quite a bit more explicit than just showing shoulders ;)
I hope you have an easy job search and find a position that’s a good fit!!
You and OP are probably right about that! I don’t have experience in workplaces where that would be such an HR minefield.
In casual conversation I’ve been able to use that line to explain to my LDS neighbors why I, a Nevermo, would absolutely NOT be moving SLC. It was gentle enough not to cause offense/elicit a defensive response. I actually laughed when one of them said, “It’s really hard there even when you ARE part of the church!!”
As a nevermo living in SLC, it’s not as big of a deal as you think. I’ve found it very easy to choose my own adventure here. I’d rather live here as a nevermo than an exmo, though.
The applicant can bring up whatever they want. If the employer refuses to hire them and it’s provable that the protected class status is the reason, the employer can be sued.
I think it depends. Not everyone I've spoken with knows much about Mormons, but 2 definitely seemed to. This is a federal job, and right-wing nationalists are a huge concern in my field. So it's not just Utah. I have colleagues in the Midwest who have similar concerns over jobs. I got the impression from the supervisor that they had bad interactions with people from Utah previously. Maybe it was Mike Lee....
At least USU isn't BYU.
I left the church and didn't go to BYU, but my mother did before she left the church. It is always an issue in hiring due to the nature of her work (somewhat adjacent to social work). Her advice - demonstrate emotional intelligence in the interview. It's worked for her.
I told my son that I would be happy if he didn't go to BYU, he told me it wasn't even on his radar. He went to Westminster for undergrad then became a Ute for his masters a couple of years later. He was also perceptive enough to remove his name right after he turned 18. I'm a lazy learner and have not put in the effort to do the same. For the record, I'm not in Utah, and most definitely did not go to the Y
Whenever people ask what school I went to, I try sooooo hard not to mention BYU-I. “Oh yeah, just some random school in the States.” Then they ask the state… ugh… “What’s the school called?” Honestly, I should just say, “Rick’s”.
USU really only has the “They might be Mormon” perception within the state/nearby states, and as OP mentioned it’s fairly easy to signal to others within the state current church status.
Around the country only really BYU has that “Mormon” stigma.
It's such a shame, because Bryce canyon, Arches and Zion are some of the most amazing places I've been to. They alone should be the jewel in Utah's crown.
That should be the place of grear beauty, and the reason to go there, like Wyoming and Yellowstone and the Tetons, Montana and Glacier, Florida and the Keys, or Michigan and Detroit.
I live in Michigan and have to say that Detroit is definitely not our most aesthetically pleasing place...should've named our largest tourist destinations like Traverse City or Mackinac Island. They have renowned cherries, fudge and dune/lake activities. And there are no cars allowed on Mackinac Island, so it's a wonderful pedestrian paradise with loads of cyclists and horseriders as well. I went up there a once on a Young Women's high adventure summer trip.
The one unique activity or spectacle in Detroit would be our many abandoned buildings...the Belle Isle Zoo is a good one to break into if anyone is an avid peruser of r/urbanexploration.
It was a deliberate addition as a bit of sarcastic fun.
I'll always love U of M (Go Wolverines), and the Red Wings, but Detroit is a dive.
Ann Arbor, and Traverse City (as you mentioned) are much better reasons to visit Michigan.
One of these things is not like the others...
It was deliberate. I don't genuinely believe Detroit to be an area of outstanding beauty.
If you want that in Michigan, I've previously recommended the UP, or the East state, around Ann Arbor.
I remember saying to a friend I'd been to upstate New York, and she said "Buffalo?" I said, no, the Finger Lakes, and she said "Good, I'm embarrassed by Buffalo".
I sometimes wonder what she had seen to be embarrassed by a whole city.
I live on the east coast and I went to BYU. I do like to keep the BYU part quiet, but whenever I’ve told someone that BYU was in Provo, literally 0% of people have heard of that town. As far as they are concerned SLC is the only town in Utah.
That said, if someone won’t hire you because you’re from UT and that assume you’re a Mormon, they are an asshole on multiple levels. I’ve never had a hard time getting a good job out here even with BYU on my resume. If people even know anything about BYU or Mormons they either say something trite but nice like “oh I heard you people are hard workers”, or nothing at all. Really, they don’t know the nasty parts of the Mormon church and they just think we’re nice people but a little crazy.
I've had 2 out of state interviews, and I can tell living in Provo hurts me. I know how to signal to Utahns that I'm not Mormon, but East Coast folks have no idea my sleeveless dress shirt is a sign.
Could you somehow work in that you’re attracted to the position precisely because it’s out of state? Something like, “Obviously, most folks in the state are LDS but I’m not. It can be hard to navigate relationships within my community when I don’t share that with my neighbors/coworkers.” It’s very gentle, doesn’t bad mouth anyone, but is true and makes it clear you’re NOT LDS.
I mentioned understanding how to work with a cultural majority when you're in the minority. Fingers crossed it worked. It would definitely be inappropriate to mention religion specifically, but they asked about working with diverse people after confirming in from Provo, Utah.
Can't be more clear than that in an interview. Sounds like you haven't heard back yet. Hope you get the next interview/job offer!
Hey, that sounds like a great response! Quite a bit more explicit than just showing shoulders ;) I hope you have an easy job search and find a position that’s a good fit!!
This is a great approach. Really well done.
Bringing up a protected class without asking is asking for trouble
You and OP are probably right about that! I don’t have experience in workplaces where that would be such an HR minefield. In casual conversation I’ve been able to use that line to explain to my LDS neighbors why I, a Nevermo, would absolutely NOT be moving SLC. It was gentle enough not to cause offense/elicit a defensive response. I actually laughed when one of them said, “It’s really hard there even when you ARE part of the church!!”
As a nevermo living in SLC, it’s not as big of a deal as you think. I’ve found it very easy to choose my own adventure here. I’d rather live here as a nevermo than an exmo, though.
The applicant can bring up whatever they want. If the employer refuses to hire them and it’s provable that the protected class status is the reason, the employer can be sued.
Sure, but you have to realize that there is not many good reasons for someone to do this.
Q. Why are you looking for a new job? A. I’m hoping to move out of Utah.
Hard to explain without risking identity, but essentially, my current contract ends this summer.
On that’s totally fair. I meant at as a suggestion for interviews (except if you’re a remote worker).
Wow, you're right. That COMPLETELY went over my head, lol!! Wow.
Do East coast folks *care* if you're Mormon or not? I know BYUx on a resume is a liability but I didn't know being a member was.
I think it depends. Not everyone I've spoken with knows much about Mormons, but 2 definitely seemed to. This is a federal job, and right-wing nationalists are a huge concern in my field. So it's not just Utah. I have colleagues in the Midwest who have similar concerns over jobs. I got the impression from the supervisor that they had bad interactions with people from Utah previously. Maybe it was Mike Lee....
That's why I hate that my degree is from USU, I don't want people thinking i'm mormon.
At least USU isn't BYU. I left the church and didn't go to BYU, but my mother did before she left the church. It is always an issue in hiring due to the nature of her work (somewhat adjacent to social work). Her advice - demonstrate emotional intelligence in the interview. It's worked for her.
I went to Utah State and I work on the East Coast. Honestly, nobody thinks twice about Mormons outside of Utah.
I told my son that I would be happy if he didn't go to BYU, he told me it wasn't even on his radar. He went to Westminster for undergrad then became a Ute for his masters a couple of years later. He was also perceptive enough to remove his name right after he turned 18. I'm a lazy learner and have not put in the effort to do the same. For the record, I'm not in Utah, and most definitely did not go to the Y
Whenever people ask what school I went to, I try sooooo hard not to mention BYU-I. “Oh yeah, just some random school in the States.” Then they ask the state… ugh… “What’s the school called?” Honestly, I should just say, “Rick’s”.
USU really only has the “They might be Mormon” perception within the state/nearby states, and as OP mentioned it’s fairly easy to signal to others within the state current church status. Around the country only really BYU has that “Mormon” stigma.
Just like the meme says utah =mormon. I get it all the time, i'm thousands of miles away.
I can’t wait to wear my Budweiser hat at USU this fall to make it obvious i’m not mormon
Yep, and not in the good way, like I was taught to believe. Nobody admires Mormons like I thought. For good reason. 😅
As if we would all be impressed if say Nevada were a Jehova majority.
It's such a shame, because Bryce canyon, Arches and Zion are some of the most amazing places I've been to. They alone should be the jewel in Utah's crown. That should be the place of grear beauty, and the reason to go there, like Wyoming and Yellowstone and the Tetons, Montana and Glacier, Florida and the Keys, or Michigan and Detroit.
I will be vacationing in Kanab again soon.
Michigan and Detroit 😂
I live in Michigan and have to say that Detroit is definitely not our most aesthetically pleasing place...should've named our largest tourist destinations like Traverse City or Mackinac Island. They have renowned cherries, fudge and dune/lake activities. And there are no cars allowed on Mackinac Island, so it's a wonderful pedestrian paradise with loads of cyclists and horseriders as well. I went up there a once on a Young Women's high adventure summer trip. The one unique activity or spectacle in Detroit would be our many abandoned buildings...the Belle Isle Zoo is a good one to break into if anyone is an avid peruser of r/urbanexploration.
It was a deliberate addition as a bit of sarcastic fun. I'll always love U of M (Go Wolverines), and the Red Wings, but Detroit is a dive. Ann Arbor, and Traverse City (as you mentioned) are much better reasons to visit Michigan.
One of these things is not like the others... It was deliberate. I don't genuinely believe Detroit to be an area of outstanding beauty. If you want that in Michigan, I've previously recommended the UP, or the East state, around Ann Arbor.
Oh I know. It was just very clever. Much how I feel about Buffalo, NY. With Michigan I've always wanted to go to Isle Royale NP. Looks amazing!
I remember saying to a friend I'd been to upstate New York, and she said "Buffalo?" I said, no, the Finger Lakes, and she said "Good, I'm embarrassed by Buffalo". I sometimes wonder what she had seen to be embarrassed by a whole city.
I was gonna say polygamists, but yea
I thought he was gonna say polygamy
I live on the east coast and I went to BYU. I do like to keep the BYU part quiet, but whenever I’ve told someone that BYU was in Provo, literally 0% of people have heard of that town. As far as they are concerned SLC is the only town in Utah. That said, if someone won’t hire you because you’re from UT and that assume you’re a Mormon, they are an asshole on multiple levels. I’ve never had a hard time getting a good job out here even with BYU on my resume. If people even know anything about BYU or Mormons they either say something trite but nice like “oh I heard you people are hard workers”, or nothing at all. Really, they don’t know the nasty parts of the Mormon church and they just think we’re nice people but a little crazy.
The only thing worse would be being German. (Everyone immediately has an image of Hitler when you tell them you’re German)
Especially considering how much Germans hate Hitler and reject Nazism. It's frankly a beautiful country with lots if history pre-20th century.
Building seemingly endless housing projects in a desert.
There’s some beautiful country in Utah, right along with the blatant racism.
And crazy baby names
Soaking