By Ilya Magid

A Job Interview 2
(New version)
(A Possible Case in the Soviet Union)

Applicant (App.) Ilya
Job interviewer (J.I.) Irina
Leader of Personel Department (LPD) Larisa.

App: I read your advertisement about help wanted for computer worker. Is that job still open?

LPD: What is your name?

App: My name is Ivanov. *
[The Leader of the Personnel Department is called the Leader of the Computer Division that needs a computer worker. The applicant is waiting. The leader of the Personnel department continues with his work. The leader of the Computer Division (J.I) appears. The job Interview continues.]

J.I.: Yes that is right. We need a computer worker. Have you ever worked as a computer worker?

App.: Yes, I have. I have had good experience.

J.I.: What education do you have?

App.: I graduated from the Polytechnic Institute 10 years ago.

J.I.: Are you currently employed?

App.: Yes, I am. I work at the plant "Leninetch."

J.I.: What is your position now and where else did you work?

App.: I'm a computer engineer. I only worked at the plant "Leninetch" and nowhere else.

J.I.: Do you have any reference from your job?

App.: No, I don't. I can't ask my boss to give me a reference until I am sure that I'll be hired for another job. Otherwise I'll lose my job and be on unemployment. I can't risk that.

J.I.: What kind of computer program do you know and are you able to fix computer machines?

App.: I know all programs and can fix all computers. If I don't know something, I can learn it quickly.

J.I.: Very good. I'm glad to meet you. Good luck!

App.: Can you tell me about the work schedule and the salary?

J.I.: Yes, of course. You'll work from 8 to 4:30 with a lunch break for 30 minutes. I can offer you 250 rubles a month salary.

App.: That is good for me. This job is suitable for me.
[The Leader of the Personnel Department tells the Leader of the Computer Department, that he is free to leave. (He goes out).]

LPD: Good! You can take an application from my secretary and fill it out. After that you can begin to work. Just one moment, I want to see your passport, (reads passport). You said to me that your name is Ivanov. Why are you identified Jewish in your passport? ah....** You took the last name of your wife. Oh, I have made a mistake. That job is already closed. Good by, my dear! Good by, my dear!

_____________________

*Ivanov is a typical Russian last name.
**Each Soviet citizen had an internal passport where his nationality was marked. It was impossible to alter. When a citizen was getting married, that citizen, for exempla, a husband, could keep his last name or take last name of his wife in his passport. For wife the situation was the same.

11/17/02