O’BIAS YOUR FUTURE
Overcoming Gender Bias in Career Opportunities
The project

ACTIVITY 4. INTERVIEW

This activity is for

  • HR staff

After going through this activity, you are expected to:

  • Improve the ability to communicate in an unbiased way in order to recognise and avoid such expressions and questions during the selection process.


1. Read the job description:

The company is aiming to improve its international expansion and is recruiting an International Manager that will promote the company outside Europe, visit potential clients, go to sectoral fairs and exhibitions and conduct international meetings. The required professional should be fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese because the company is targeting Asia and South American markets.

2. Watch the videos:

Female candidate:
Male candidate:

3. Note down any biassed questions, attitudes, words or expressions you observed in the videos.

4. Now, check if your answers relate to the following highlighted sentences taken from the video you have just watched:

Recruiter– Hi, welcome. How are you today?

Job applicant– I’m doing well thank you. And you?

Recruiter– I’m good as well thank you so much. So, the company is hiring someone for its international expansion and is recruiting an International manager that will promote the company outside Europe. The job opportunity requires a professional to be fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese, because the company is targeting Asia and South American markets. So, why did you apply for this job?

Job applicant– I would like to have the experience of working with different countries and cultures.

Recruiter– very well! And what languages are you fluent in?

Job applicant– I’m fluent in English and Spanish.

Recruiter– ok. And do you know that this job involves frequent reports to your superior after every meeting. Are you ready to do that?

Job applicant– Sure. I’m usually quite transparent about the way I Work.


Recruiter– Hello Cristina. How are you today?

Job applicant– Hello. I’m fine thanks and you?

Recruiter– I’m doing well thank you. We are very happy to have you here today. For the job description, the company is aiming to improve its international expansion and is recruiting an international manager that will promote the company outside Europe, visiting potential clients, going to sectoral fairs and exhibitions, conducting international meetings. This job opportunity requires the professional to be fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese because the company is targeting Asia and South American markets.

Are you ready to start with some questions?

Job applicant– Yes.

Recruiter– All right. Let’s do it. So, why did you apply for this job?

Job applicant– I would like to have the experience of working with different countries and cultures.

Recruiter– ok, that’s excellent! What languages are you fluent in?

Job applicant– I’m fluent in English and Spanish.

Recruiter– Ok. So, regarding the traveling that this job requires, is your family comfortable with your extended absences?

Job applicant– Why not?

5. Reflect how you would do it differently so that the interview is not biassed.

  • Would you change any words?
  • Would you ask the question differently?

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