is it easy to land a professional job for someone who observes an Hijab…and how does one get treated at interviews and workplaces…?
I wear a hijab…i havent completed my bachelors yet and haven’t started looking around for work or anything…but i plan to work sometime in the future…so i m trying to find out what to expect…
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
I've always thought of that... and I'm not sure about it... I work downtown Toronto in the Financial district....and to be honest...I dont see a lot of hijabi girls...there r a few....but not that many....that doesn't mean its harder for them to get jobs....just wut I see...or don't see....
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
It wasnt that hard for me to land a job being a hijabi. And Alhamdulillah no one at work treated me like i was any different, which i am not anyways. But since then, i have moved and quit my job and started wearing an abaya. Now my question would be has that been a problem for anyone? I would guess it depends on where you live too. Also, what would you wear to an interview? Certainly they cant see your suit.
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
Which country are you in? Attitudes vary by country (and region of country).
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
Yes depends muchly on where you live and what field you are going into. I worked in tech on wall street for a number of years and its not a women;s field let alone a Hijaabi woman....there are so many things that you'd have to think over - how to handle the very much taken-for-granted handshakes. What to do about business dinners - where you'd be the only woman and most of the others have a glass of wine. How to handle a male boss, male colleagues. Its very typical in the western white collar world to spend at least the occasional lunchtime with colleagues. Note, these are not "get drunk in a bar" types of experiences, they are a normal and business-like part of professional life in usa.
I think the clothing of Hijaab would be taken in stride. Its these other issues that could become a problem for you.
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
I am a Sales Manager at a Marriott Property in Baltimore MD. This is probably the best company to work for. I have loads of hijabi ladies around me. They do wear suits and all but wear a hijab and just don't offer hand shakes but a sweet explanation.
We do take our clients out to wineries and stuff and every reception at our corporate event would have an open bar. Ypu would be surprised to know how many Americans don't drink either. Soem peopel think it's bad for health and uncool. I just get myself a soda or a virgin pina colada, I love those. Nobody cares.
If a company is as professional as they portray, they don't care about beliefs and covereed heads or not. You need to look professional, speak professioanlly and basically know wht you are doing. That's all they need to be concerned about.
You have a bright future ahead of you! Good Luck and if in your bright, stride you come across a company that would have somethign against your Hijab, then you are better off without them. You should not work at an unhealthy place like that!
Good Luck!!
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
Well I work in IT for a big Insurance company, and there a a few hijabis in my company, and no one pays much attention to it...meaning no one seems to be focusing on those particular hijabis and judging them by their hijab. They seem to be interacting quite fine, and one of them works in the Finance Dept as an analyst.
I myself work in the tech sector and am familiar with the luncheons/parties. I don't wear hijab, but I also dont drink etc. I have been to several happy hours to just take part in whatever is happening...but I get my sprite or virgin daquiri and appetizers :) And everyone is aware of my preferences, so they actually watch out for me. But again it depends where you are at.
I think all the "peer pressure" to do haram things is mainly for teenagers. As adults you make your own decisions and people respect you for that. If they don't, then you ignore them and move along. Or you tell them off nicely like I have had to do in the past :)
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
shah & afro, you both have exactly the attitude that will ensure professional success! There are some who would absolutely refuse to attend an event if alcohol were served or to attend a company function in an establishment serving alcohol. Or just refuse to shake hands without explanation, avoid contact with those of the opposite gender, etc etc. These are things which really need to be faced with the type of courage and conviction of self that you two apparently have. You do so nicely, keep to your faith and your way of life while ALSO blending in with a completely different culture. Not a small thing, and I hope that upper management in your companies see this - I'm sure they do and I'm sure that it makes you all the more invaluable for it.
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
AOA,
It depends on two things; where you work, and your own confidence. Don't EVER feel apologetic about wearing a Hijab/ covereing up decently (remember, Allah SWT thinks you are beautiful :) ).
And when it comes to prayer, Eid, etc... my experience is NEVER ask for something, TELL them that you want it (say it nicely of course, but dont give them space to say "no"). E.g, I told my boss (at the beginning when i started working here) that I will be using my lunchtimes to offer 2 prayers (I pray zuhr and asr together), and then I go again for maghrib... he was totally ok with it.
I got a job as a Medical Physicist (Subhanallah) and I wear a Hijab & Abaya. Subhanallah no one at work treats me any differently. You just come in, put your head down and give it your honest best. But I do avoid socialising with them... don't wanna get too free... and just remember, that if your work does require u to do something that is haram, then either say no or quit it, plz don't ever comprimise your deen for anything, its not worth it in the end)
Wassalam... and May Allah SWT help u in your naik endevours.
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
College and university campuses (aside from religious institutions) are very friendly towards hijabis, or any minority group, for that matter. I have always, alhamdulillah, had plenty of job offers. Perhaps this is because diversity is an important goal for these institutions.
I have also seen quite a few hijabi doctors.
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
In this day and age, I think your career choices would be limited, and getting ahead especially in the corporate sector would be tough. Unless you're in the medical field, good luck!
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
^really? I know one that's a lawyer, another who's an Engineer and yet another who's in HR.
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
I wear hijaab and work in IT. never got any problems. I do socialize with my colleagues but try to keep it on a minimum and I dont feel comfortable when they drink.
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
I think all the "peer pressure" to do haram things is mainly for teenagers. As adults you make your own decisions and people respect you for that. If they don't, then you ignore them and move along. Or you tell them off nicely like I have had to do in the past :)
EXCELLENTLY put
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
It certainly depends what type of work you do ... And climbing ladders in the corporate world would be a challenge ..
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
Allah is razzaq. He puts food at your table and he gives you succes in you career life.
Take one step towards Him and He will come 10 steps near you:)
If you are wearing hijaab for the sake of Allah, He will certainly reward you and also He will test you.
So eventhough you might feel discriminated at some places just remember the purpose of your own actions.
Good luck!
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
^ couldn't have said it better...im a hijabi and work at a chemical company...i dont have any issues here...its great! no need to worry about bad hair days!
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
Basit,
I disagree that climbing the corporate ladder is a challenge based solely on the hijab. I mean normal avg people who dress typical amreekan style...even they have a challenge climbing up corporate ladder..but that's based on other things...skills..charisma...even brown nosing...but not based on a piece of fabric on ur head. Why not be prejudice against the men who wear the big hats and curls in their hair :)
And like someone else mentioned, if they do hold the hijab against you, stand firm and move along to a better company with a better diverse atmosphere.
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
At our school, no girl was ever accepted as a hijabi. There is one girl who wears it, but she started wearing it after she got in.
If you're talking about the US - it just usually looks unprofessional to harp up your religion in your application. A lot of girls do this - they talk ad nauseum about how they were involved with Islamic awareness and with their mosques, etc. What I want to know is, if I'm sitting there reading your application for a law school, or medical school, or business school, what the hell do I care how much time you spent talking to people in your neighborhood about God? You would be training to have specific skills for a job, and you need to have a certain level of skill and intelligence and professionalism to hold these sorts of jobs. That's what I'd be looking for in your application, not how many hours you spend at Sunday school. I'd say one exception would be Christian missionaries - if you write about how much you want to do medicine to be a missionary, some school or other might not mind it, because many medical school admission committees don't look so unfavorably upon that sort of thing since some medical school faculty are sympathetic to evangelicals. But that's about it as far as tolerance goes. No one cares whether you wear a hijab or not. Its about you.
Having said that, there is a great deal of Islamophobia in America right now. Very few girls I know who did wear hijabs got into good schools, but then, I don't know if its so much the hijab as it was their personality and lack of maturity to begin with.
Do what you feel is best. If you wear the hijab, just don't make us muslims look like idiots when you represent us with your religious garb. You just make it harder for everyone else that way.
Re: A professional job ...for a hijabi?
I kinda agree with PCG. I would like to add 1 thing though, based on my personal experience, and I don't mean to offend the ladies here:
Sharam/Haya should be in your eyes, not in hijab. I have seen girls who don't wear hijab but they are really good girls (pray, don't have b/fs etc.) and I have also seen girls who wear hijab but also wear tight sweat pants, tight shirts, and have relationships with boys. The purpose of hijab is not to simply hide hair but to practice modesty. Just because you wear hijab but show every other piece of body, that doesn't make you any better than a non-hijabi who wears lose clothes and minds her own business and doesn't mix with boys.