I saw this ad at pjstar.com tonight:
Professional/Technical
WPEO Christian Radio Assistant to the Manager/Community Relations Director
As some may know, I’m in the business of radio, so I always read these kinds of ads to see what other stations are looking for, and sometimes if I’ve got a buddy looking for work I can direct them that way.
The rest of the ad, with the key words in bold:
Work directly with the General Manager; Onair broadcast experience and talent required; College degree preferred. Skilled in public relations/communication. Coordinate/host public affairs program. Must be a christian and be knowledgeable of local christian organizations. WPEO is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Send resume to WPEO , P.O. Box 1, Peoria, IL 61650 or WPEO@WPEO.com
Okay, two observations.
1. The part in bold really didn’t need to be there, did it? Can we all pretty much assume that to be the case based on what we’ve already read to that point?
2. Is this not some kind of discriminatory phrase? I mean, if I ran an ad for an employee and said “Must be a male” or “Must be a black person”, would people not have the right to question my judgment and my practices? For that matter, what if someone ran an ad that said “must NOT be a christian”? Would those who WERE christians have every right to be upset?
Miss Diane has added a third query: Could someone who is NOT a christian be capable of doing this job just as well as someone who is? Great question, and the answer is actually yes…there COULD be someone out there who could fill that position just as well.
Anyway, just wondering.
8 responses so far ↓
1
jenjw4
// Jul 27, 2007 at 1:13 pm
It’s pretty funny that it mentions being an “equal opportunity employer” (That is unless you are Muslim, atheist, Jehovah’s Witness, etc…)
2
Vonster
// Jul 30, 2007 at 6:06 pm
That “must be black” thing is already in a lot of job descriptions – just not in so many words. Must be Muslim too.
3
bjstone
// Jul 31, 2007 at 3:56 am
Jenjw – excellent point. I’ve noticed the ad quickly disappeared…could it be? Nah, nobody reads this. But I bet they saw it on Billy’s site.
I’d like to see one of those, Von. Having it implied is certainly different than laying it out in black and white, but that’s why I said what I did in my first reaction…isn’t that already kind of implied? But they added it anyway. At least I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone dumb enough to write “must be black” in an ad, and particularly when you follow it with “Equal Opportunity Employer”, as Jenjw pointed out.
4
Vonster
// Jul 31, 2007 at 3:46 pm
How about this. We just ignore and promise do the same if we come across an add that says must be Muslim or Jewish? In context, it’s kind of a non-issue, IMHO.
5
bjstone
// Jul 31, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Yeah, like that (”ignore”) will ever happen. christians would come unglued if an ad like that ran in the pjstar.
Again, I’m being serious, I’d like to see one of those ads that says “must be…”, because I’ll jump on them just as friggin’ hard as I jumped on this one, and I really didn’t jump on it too hard, in fact I may have helped them correct something before it got them in trouble, because like I said, I haven’t seen the ad in the last few days.
6
Vonster
// Aug 1, 2007 at 2:20 pm
I’m a Christian and it wouldn’t bother me. I think we all need to be a little less offended at the drop of a hat.
Oh, and if it’s a opening with NAACP management Joe Whiteguy need not apply.
7
BJ Aberle
// Aug 3, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Yeah, I am not sure where the problem is here. Seems pretty legit for a business who caters to a Christian audience want their employees to have the same religious faith. I think this is put in there to only protect the employer and the potential employee. Because if one professes to be a Christian then they are to be held to a higher standard, ethicly and/or morally, than a secular person. This person would realize that if they engage in behavior or activities that do not fall into God’s standard then termination is an appropriate action by the station and the employee would not really have a justifiable reason to sue the employer.
8
Vonster
// Aug 6, 2007 at 5:08 pm
The morals clause usually takes care of that. Get caught bonking the sheep – lose your job.
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