Interview

Cee

Went for a second interview for a job as a mechanical engineer in a heavy industrial factory. I’ve worked in a similar setting as the only female engineer in a factory for the last 4 years, but the interviewer still felt he had to ask if it would be a problem for me working in an all male environment. I said I get on well with people and never had any problems in the workplace. The second panelist then said he had hired a woman recently and she said she missed female company, and would I not feel the same? I responded that having spent 8 years in a mostly male environment between university and work I was well used to it and would be fine, and that I expected a male nurse felt the same. They were both shocked by my answer and moved on to the next question. What I should have asked them was whether or not it would be a problem for them to hire a female engineer, and what was their HR policy for equality in the workplace. I was offered the job, but decided not to take it.