Job Application, and the problems that goes with it

[شمله ور خراساني]

As salaamu aleikoum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

Do you have reaccuring problems when you apply for a job?

What are they?

[شمله ور خراساني]

In Holland almost all job applications I have had in the past were with a woman. So first, you have to shake their hands. Which I don't want to. Second, they sometimes look at my picture in my passport where I have a much shorter beard. So they make comments like hmmm, you looked better with a shorter beard.

And I am always too shy to ask if the job provides the facilities for me to pray at work?

Another problem I always face is to explain them my CV. I've done lots of different jobs all across the Netherlands. These office clerks get confused and don't understand it. They assume that everyone suppose to work in the same industry, the same branch for all their life. Well I Dont. I like to do a little bit of everything. To keep my life interesting. But that seems to be a problem with them. They say...well how come you changed jobs every year or two?

Another major problem is that they cannot pronounce my name accurately.

[Admin Khan]

In Holland almost all job applications I have had in the past were with a woman.

This is something that you and I would have to expect in the west.

So first, you have to shake their hands. Which I don't want to. Second, they sometimes look at my picture in my passport where I have a much shorter beard. So they make comments like hmmm, you looked better with a shorter beard.

I know how exactly how you feel, sometimes you just have to brush it off and ignore such snark comments.

And I am always too shy to ask if the job provides the facilities for me to pray at work?

A little brotherly advice, you should never be shy, and don't usually(not saying that you do)throw such questions at the interviewer in your very first interview. It kind of makes the person behind the seat wonder, "Hm he seems like has a lot of requests, lets pass on him". But as soon as the position is yours and secured, It never hurts to smile and to have a little chit-chat with your manager in regards to this.

I am employed for one of the largest companies in the world, they offer me a "paid" break to go and pray at the local mosque. Why? cause I get a long with the staff. I used to work for another giant technological company, They also did not mind. In the beginning, you should take it slow and easy. Show them you can get the job done.

Another problem I always face is to explain them my CV. I've done lots of different jobs all across the Netherlands. These office clerks get confused and don't understand it. They assume that everyone suppose to work in the same industry, the same branch for all their life.

If you really need assistance, you can PM me with your CV and I can try to assist you. I'm not so sure about the Netherlands, but in the USA there are tons of websites that help improve your Resume. Id say you should try it out.

Well I Dont. I like to do a little bit of everything. To keep my life interesting.

Employers do not like to hear that at all, They are going to think, "Hmm so Sangar Khan here is just going to be here for 6 months and he is going to leave us just like he left all those other companies." Or they are going to assume the minute you get bored, You will call it a day and never return.

Another major problem is that they cannot pronounce my name accurately.

That happens, but its not really a problem at all dear brother.

[شمله ور خراساني]

Actually, there is nothing wrong with my CV. I have fixed it recently. But that doesn't change the fact that in the past 10 years I had 8 different employers.

[Admin Khan]

Actually, there is nothing wrong with my CV. I have fixed it recently. But that doesn't change the fact that in the past 10 years I had 8 different employers.

What is your response when they ask you why you have had so many employers?

[شمله ور خراساني]

I have to explain why I left each and every job.

But one thing I do feel comfortable with is, telling them to contact my previous employers. None of them can say anything negative about me except, he was a hard worker, he was good with the rest of the staff, and then he left... LOL.

[Admin Khan]

I have to explain why I left each and every job.

But one thing I do feel comfortable with is, telling them to contact my previous employers. None of them can say anything negative about me except, he was a hard worker, he was good with the rest of the staff, and then he left... LOL.

That's a good thing, I was worried about that actually. As long as you left in good terms you should be super positive.

laat de rest aan Allah. Hij geeft

[شمله ور خراساني]

That's a good thing, I was worried about that actually. As long as you left in good terms you should be super positive.

laat de rest aan Allah. Hij geeft

zo zo! ik ben onder indruk.

[Admin Khan]

Niet stress jezelf. Alles gebeurt met een reden.

Mijn gebeden zijn met jullie.

[شمله ور خراساني]

Niet stress jezelf. Alles gebeurt met een reden.

Mijn gebeden zijn met jullie.

moge allah jou belonen

[*Mahzala*]

... never been in the workforce ... wouldn't have a clue ...

[شمله ور خراساني]

thanks everybody for the kind comments.

[Feroza_Banu]

May Allah swt make it easy for you. I live in California... i don't feel uncomfortable wearing anything i want and/or asking for anything i desire at work. i have worked for about 3 different companies before working here... i have told them i need breaks to pray for about 10 minutes at these times throughout the day and mostly i get a reaction like "u pray 5 times? huh? wow that is sooo good, good girl!" and they gladly give me what i want. i have yet to face a racist boss or an employer Alhamdulilah... but i am not saying that they don't exist. i have worked with a company , one of the biggest communication companies in US that the branch i was working at had more than 20 muslim employees, they had allowed them to even do adhan and call for prayers, they had breaks, they were all off for 2 hours every friday to go to jummah prayer... they all had beards... its the beauty of living in california... i am not saying its all good and perfect but its better than other places.

[شمله ور خراساني]

I notice that in America & UK employers are more tolerant to Muslims and Muslim attire or beards and scarfs.

Europeans don't like that stuff.

[Feroza_Banu]

^yeah i agree. i am not sure about the rest of US because i haven't lived anywhere else here other than California... but i know that many pakistanis reside in texas and other southern states and most of them wear hijab and have beards.