Politics and Professional Jobs

[otherscape]

This has just been on my mind recently. Would your political opinions, if found out by a potential customer, harm your chances of them hiring you for a professional job, especially if they shared the opposite opinion?

Not trying to start a political debate here (and I hope it doesn't go that way), but I just want to know what your experience is on this people of CA.

[kev ferrara]

I have personally seen this happen on a number of occasions. I don't think it is the norm.

However, word to the wise, keep your opinions about politics and religion to yourself until you know the score in the room.

[dpaint]

I agree with Kev, no need to talk about politics ,religion or sex with clients. They're clients, not friends, they may become your friends eventually but let that happen naturally. I deal with a lot of individuals and couples, not corporations selling my gallery work and most people don't expect you to hold their beliefs to do business with you, but some do. Better to do the work and cash the check without giving your life story.

[Noah Bradley]

Just keep your mouth shut.

[otherscape]

I agree with Kev, no need to talk about politics ,religion or sex with clients. They're clients, not friends, they may become your friends eventually but let that happen naturally. I deal with a lot of individuals and couples, not corporations selling my gallery work and most people don't expect you to hold their beliefs to do business with you, but some do. Better to do the work and cash the check without giving your life story.

I wouldn't share that information, but in case they ever found out through some other means, I was just curious if that would have an effect. Glad to know that isn't the norm.

[Line]

I had such an experience once. A friend of mine who is a member in the Greek Communist
party told me they needed a poster for the annual elections they have for the student
representatives in the university boards (unfortunately universities around here are directly
controlled by political parties via their youths, I dunno where else it happens). I sent my
portfolio in for review, had an interview, no politics were discussed, they just assumed I
was a communist since my friend sent me. Two days later I get the commission, the very
next day they call me up and cancel it. My friend found out that some other guy we
know discussed the issue with those who interviewed me and told them I wasn't affiliated
with any party, so they decided to give the commission to someone else. It's happened
only this once, and yes it's very very extreme I admit

Would you consider the act of purposely attempting to be favorable with influential people
(even if they are rude) as politics?

[otherscape]

Oh, well that sucks. But hey, if it only happened once, that's a promising sign that it's not so common.

Would you consider the act of purposely attempting to be favorable with influential people
(even if they are rude) as politics?

On some level it's similar, but obviously not the same a governmental politics. If they're nice people, and they can help me get my name out there and get jobs, then I'd just call that networking and making business connections. If they are rude, ideally I'd want nothing to do with them, BUT something tells me it's not that simple. Or maybe it is; I can't properly answer that one with my level of experience (which is obviously not much).

[JeffX99]

Sure...human nature. If the majority of your work is in a particular sector, say aero-space, or Hollywood, or Jehova's Witness Protection Program probably no big deal. If you work for a variety of clients however, from many backgrounds and cultures just keep things under your hat.

[arttorney]

Would you consider the act of purposely attempting to be favorable with influential people
(even if they are rude) as politics?

As far as I could tell, this was the whole point of Barack Obama's World Apology Tour; this and the fact that he likes to be applauded.

[Cory Hinman]

Kind of like his predecessor's holding hands and locking lips with Arab sheiks?

[Falchion]

Keeping job and politics separate? Seems like a no-brainer for job retention. Then again, what do I know?

[George guy]

Generally speaking, unless you want to spend a significant amount of time doing propaganda work, keep your political cards close to your chest.

I don't mean to suggest propaganda is a bad thing. There's nothing about the term that requires it to be necessarily true or false, only that it is the practice of spreading a message. It can be deeply rewarding to work on a project that inspires people to think about important questions (and of course suggest what you think are the right answers). There is work to be had that can only be accessed if you are willing to enter that sphere, but it does come at the cost of other options.

You can say as a general rule not to talk sex, religion, or politics but there are exceptions when it comes to porn, evangelism, and activism.

[Anid Maro]

I have personally seen this happen on a number of occasions. I don't think it is the norm.

However, word to the wise, keep your opinions about politics and religion to yourself until you know the score in the room.

What he said, plain and simple.

There's a saying, "Don't discuss Religion or Politics" and it's true. They're touchy subjects and you shouldn't bring them up unless you know the score or are rearing for a fight.

Neither of which aught to be the case in business.