‘Interviewing while Black’: Master’s graduate says she was asked to prove she could use Google after interviewer saw her appearance
They eventually ghosted her.
Landing a job in today’s market isn’t easy, and sometimes applicants have to try unconventional tactics. But for one woman, her job search has been made even more challenging—allegedly because of her skin color.
BeanieBaby (@beaniebaby821) shared her recent job interview experience in a TikTok video, which she prefaced by adding on-screen, “Interviewing while Black.” BeanieBaby, who has a master’s degree in biology, said she applied for a research assistant position at a medical college. But the moment she arrived for her interview, she already felt that something wasn’t right.
“From the second I walked up to the interviewer, I could tell that I was not what he was expecting,” BeanieBaby told viewers, adding in her caption that “the face didn’t match the resume” as an explanation. According to her account, she had to ask the interviewer if he had an interview scheduled at that time. But the awkward silence that ensued prompted BeanieBaby to let him know that she was the applicant.
Interviewer allegedly told her to leave and prove her research skills
The information supposedly surprised the interviewer before he shook her hand and led her to a different room where another interviewer sat waiting. This time, BeanieBaby claimed that the other man had a huge smile on his face, as if “trying to hold back a laugh.” The interview, however, allegedly didn’t get any better based on BeanieBaby’s recollection.
Despite holding a master’s degree in biology, a program that would require a thesis submission after extensive research, BeanieBaby was thrown off when she was allegedly questioned whether she had ever read a scientific paper. “[The interviewer] opens up by asking me if I’ve ever read a scientific text,” she said. “Mind you, I have a master’s in biology. You start reading scientific texts, in like, what, your first year of undergraduate?”
BeanieBaby said she told the interviewers that she had read a scientific paper just a few days prior to the interview and even explained what it was about. But the interview seemingly devolved from there.
BeanieBaby claimed she was told to go home and prove she could use Google for research by finding their scientific texts and reviewing the papers to get a sense of the responsibilities the research assistant position would involve. “I’m like, ‘Okay, is there a paper that you want me to read?’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, but I wanna see if you can find it first,’” BeanieBaby said. “He wants to see if I can find his paper online.”
BeanieBaby told the interviewers she was “very confident” in her research abilities. She eventually went home, completed the task, and later contacted the interviewer to let him know she had found his paper and even provided a summary of the research—a task she described as “not complicated.”
Yet, the interviewer ghosted BeanieBaby and continued interviewing other applicants despite allegedly implying that she would get the job if she found the scientific paper. BeanieBaby left the initial interview under the impression that the task was part of the interview process, only for the experience to leave her feeling like she was simply sent away because of her skin color.
Title VII protects people from workplace discrimination
“Worst part is I’m only out of a job because of racism in the first place,” BeanieBaby said. She later summed up the incident as “so draining.” This isn’t the first time workplace diversity has come under scrutiny; one applicant claimed her question on the topic was dismissed during a job interview.
Viewers were left bewildered by the interview itself, especially by the questions they allegedly asked someone who seemed qualified. “Having a masters degree in biology and being asked can you read scientific text is CRAZY!!!” one commenter wrote.
Some commenters provided their own observations on what could have prompted her to get ghosted: ”Maybe it was the red braids ?” Others demanded she drop the institution’s name, while some called for her to file a lawsuit.
Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, federal law states that employers are prohibited from discriminating against applicants based on their religion, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, and national origin. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for upholding this federal law and investigating discrimination claims in the workforce.
If BeanieBaby felt she was genuinely discriminated against that led to her losing the job opportunity, she might have a case against the medical college through the EEOC if she can provide evidence. However, the claim would need to be filed within 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination, or 300 days depending on state laws.
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