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 One might even argue that such pointers seem redundant and outdated.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.