is there a way to hide your real last name on a resume?

[HImom]

<p>The extremely well-written cover letter should be helpful to demonstrate exceptional fluency. Generally, you could have space to list a few stellar accomplishments, like being editor of your HS newspaper & what HS you graduated from.</p>

<p>It is jarring to me to read poorly written English (typos, poor spelling and/or grammar), including news headlines and articles. I expect that folks sifting through resumes, cover letters and job applications would not be happy to view them either.</p>

[VeryHappy]

<p>

When I was in elementary school I lived in a fairly-privileged predominantly white town (Cape Elizabeth, ME)

</p>

<p>OP, if you now live in or near a major metropolitan area, I don’t think you’d feel the same. I’m not Asian, so of course I can’t say so for sure, but in NYC and Fairfield County, where I spend all my time, Asians are – sorry – nothing special or even unique.</p>

[jvtDad]

<p>I was waiting for a Laura Chan in the lobby. I was expecting an Asian woman. But no, she’s blond, white, 5’10 or something. She wasted my 10 minutes in the lobby… I saw her at the waiting table, but I thought she’s a candidate for some other teams. Another time, I waited to interview this Bruce Hall person. We talked on the phone. He has this thick southern accent. I could hear country music in the background. Turned out, he’s an Asian American, being here a couple generations at least. Why Hall? That’s how the immigration officer jotted his ancestor’s last name, Ho. Personally, I wouldn’t judge based on any last name. How about Lee, for example? That’s very common last name in England and Taiwan (or Korea?)!</p>

[HImom]

<p>We had neighbors whose last name is Jordan. The H is a Korean war orphan who grew up in Oregon. The wife is Chinese who grew up in Hong Kong. Their two boys are Korean-Chinese and look 100% Asian (which they are), but their last name is Jordan and their cousins on dad’s side are blond. The H is by far the success story of the extended family–he’s an architect and very successful; I believe he’s the only one of his relatives who attended college. His race does not appear to have harmed him at all. Both boys have been class president and plan to be engineers as well.</p>

[ucbalumnus]

<p>

@jvtDad

How about Lee, for example? That’s very common last name in England and Taiwan (or Korea?)!

</p>

<p>Yes, don’t be surprised if someone bearing that name is white, black, Korean, from Taiwan or Hong Kong, or from a family who immigrated from China to an English speaking country a few generations ago.</p>

[HImom]

<p>Young is also ambiguous and can be Chinese or Caucasian. Caucasians can also have recently immigrated, as can pretty much any person or name from wherever they left. Focusing on your name & potential prejudice of reviewer seems like a poor use of energy and talents.</p>

[evitaperon]

<p>Exceptions don’t really disprove the rule…statistics show otherwise and suggest that successful Asians succeed despite their last name.</p>

<p>(Plus, if I have any kids they might have to endure affirmative-action in college and magnet school admissions too… even if they are half-white.)</p>

[BCEagle91]

<br>

<p>Exceptions don’t really disprove the rule…statistics show otherwise and suggest that
successful Asians succeed despite their last name.</p>

<br>

<p>Median income of Asians/Pacific Islander Households have been higher than those of Whites in 1990, 1995, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 according to the US Census Bureau.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0697.pdf[/url]”>http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0697.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>In 2009, median income for Asian/Pacific Islander Families was $75, 027. For Whites, it was $62,545.</p>

[evitaperon]

<p>Because a higher median income disproves massive discrimination. Right. You can tell that to the Jews of the Kristallnacht.</p>

<p>

Although Asians achieve a much greater degree of success in the U.S., the “model minority” stereotype is a myth because Asian-Americans still bump into the glass ceiling, receive lower pay even with the same qualifications, and have higher poverty rates. The image of boat people escaping the ravages of war and communism to take full advantage of American opportunities is also a myth, in that Southeast Asians actually have the lowest success rate of all Asians.

</p>

<p>[Myth</a> versus Facts: Asian American and Model Minorities](<a href=“http://academic.udayton.edu/race/01race/model02.htm]Myth”>http://academic.udayton.edu/race/01race/model02.htm)</p>

<p>That is, the AAPI demographic group has a higher median income (this distribution is very inequal btw) because they work much harder. Asians still have to work harder than whites, and be more accomplished, to achieve the same income or same job quality. The higher median income is in spite of this fact.</p>

<p>My ethinic group subclass btw, has a median income of $58k, $4k below the white statistic.</p>

[lookingforward]

<p>This is crazy.
Such certainty that there is prejudice against Asians, employers knocking out resumes becase your name is Asian? Everyone’s got an anecdote or two, sure. That doesn’t mean it’s sensible to assume it’s a universal issue. Every company I worked for (engineering and other) hired based on qualifications, including a sense the person would get along in the group, be collaborative. A number of the employess spoke less than perfect English. So be it. We got the job done. And had fun.</p>

<p>It’s far more difficult to get a good job than blaming others’ prejudice against your ethnicity. So “woe is me.” Not an attitude I would like to hire, in any individual.</p>

<p>Btw, when you see me, you will “know” I am Asian. You just won’t figure, initially, which country. I am not Asian.</p>

<p>OP, successful people succeed because they have the combo of goods and attitude. Exceptions do not prove the rule, but neither do anecdotes or assumptions based on limited experience, limited observations.</p>

<p>Let’s not be racist about racism.</p>

[evitaperon]

<p>I quoted cold, hard statistics and scientific studies in my original post. You are the one arguing from the anecdotes of your personal experience.</p>

<p>I’m not in the postgraduation job market yet (I graduate in a year). However I know from applying to local jobs in Virginia that race was definitely an inhibitory factor. This has not gotten better with Confederate sympathiser Governor McDonnell at the helm. I also know that medical school admissions and college admissions (grad and undergrad alike) have open discrimination against Asians. So did TJHSST, the #1 public high school in the country, up until a few years ago. All of this is proven fact. </p>

<p>In contrast, I got internships at the Department of Energy quite easily, because the public sector culture is different (except for departments dealing with national security and the military, where there are entrenched conservatives – see the Danny Chen case).</p>

[HImom]

<p>OP, we have answered your original question about changing your last name & you don’t seem to like the answers that have been posted. Even if everyone agrees there is discrimination of all sorts by age – against young, old, experienced, inexperienced, gender, lisps, too pretty, too ugly, nationality, weight (some of which can even be illegal, if proven), what do you want us posters to do about it? What are you intending to do about it? Sorry, if you don’t like the anecdotes and info about name changes that have been posted. Good luck with whatever you do.</p>

[lookingforward]

<p>You quoted statistics you found and agreed with. BC quoted alternate stats.
Virginia is a state in which ancient prejudice does exist, primarily against Blacks and liberals, in certain corners of the state. You may want to make the short road trip up to NVA and see merit-based success at work.</p>

<p>You do NOT “know” that med school admissions or UG are discriminatory. You may “believe” it. You have limited experience. You cannot prove it as fact.</p>

[pageagain]

<p>I know many people who have changed their first names. mostly these people were chinese, vietnamese and a few eastern europeans. it can be a hassle. deceiving who and deciving how? do all hispanics have to have a spanish name? do all asians have to have an “asian” name? i guess some want the label to match the box … shouldnt assume anything in such a globalized world.</p>

[evitaperon]

<p>

You do NOT “know” that med school admissions or UG are discriminatory. You may “believe” it. You have limited experience. You cannot prove it as fact.

</p>

<p>No, I was citing this as general knowledge. I can’t believe as a CC’er you don’t know about the implications of affirmative action for Asians? They are well known. Race-based admissions is an “open secret”.</p>

<p>

In 2009, Princeton sociologist Thomas Espenshade and researcher Alexandria Walton Radford, in their book ‘No Longer Separate, Not Yet Equal’, examined data on students applying to college in 1997 and calculated that Asian-Americans needed nearly perfect SAT scores of 1550 to have the same chance of being accepted at a top private university as whites who scored 1410

</p>

<p>([Affirmative</a> action in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirmative_action_in_the_United_States]Affirmative”>Affirmative action in the United States - Wikipedia)) </p>

<p>There are many other studies in the field and you can easily find them in the above article.</p>

<p>

BC quoted alternate stats.

</p>

<p>Ridiculous. He did not quote “alternate stats” – he quoted income data. Income data does not disprove discrimination, much as Jewish median income in early Nazi Germany did not disprove the racism against them. If you actually read the article I posted in response, I pointed out that “Asian-Americans still bump into the glass ceiling, receive lower pay even with the same qualifications, and have higher poverty rates.” Did you read the article? </p>

<p>A fully-assimilated Asian American with the same qualifications / accomplishments as a white person, receives lower income and pay, or a worse job. If the group has a higher income than the population average, this does not mean discrimination does not exist, it also suggests that they work harder.</p>

<p>Might I also point out the fallacy of using median income to represent the whole group?</p>

[evitaperon]

<p>

A University of Hawaii sociology professor Herbert Barringer found that native-born Asian Americans make less than native-born whites, and possibly less than foreign-born whites. The Barringer study concluded that “'most Asian Americans are overeducated compared to whites for the income they earn.”’ Wu argues such a conclusion favors white Americans rather than Asian Americans: “Translated into practical terms, it means that white Americans are paid more than Asian Americans who are equally qualified.” The fact that Asian Americans are better educated yet earn less than their white American counterparts undermines the model minority myth. In fact, the studies demonstrate that Asian Americans are forced to overcompensate in their education, because they receive a lower return on their educational investment.

</p>

<p>[Tax</a> and Race: the Impact on Asian Americans - Race, Racism and the Law](<a href=“http://racism.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1191:income02-1&catid=50&Itemid=173]Tax”>Tax and Race: the Impact on Asian Americans)</p>

<p>Thus, higher median income does not disprove that Asians are at a disadvantage. In fact, there is no statistical evidence supporting Asian American economic advantage when controlling for equal education and qualifications, and every evidence suggesting Asian American disadvantage.</p>

[evitaperon]

<p>

What are you intending to do about it?

</p>

<p>If necessary, change my name. Dye my hair. Get a double eyelid. Other forms of plastic surgery…anything to escape.</p>

[BCEagle91]

<br>

<p>Although Asians achieve a much greater degree of success in the
U.S., the “model minority” stereotype is a myth because
Asian-Americans still bump into the glass ceiling,</p>

<br>

<p>So what? If you think that you’ve run into a glass ceiling, start
your own company. Investors want profits - they don’t particularly
care what the color of your skin is. They care more about the color
of your returns.</p>

<br>

<p>receive lower pay even with the same qualifications,</p>

<br>

<p>I don’t see that.</p>

<br>

<p>and have higher poverty rates.</p>

<br>

<p>Statistics please. There are subpopulations that have more
difficulties but take those out and look at the Chinese, Japanese and
Koreans and I’d like to see your statistics again.</p>

<br>

<p>The image of boat people escaping the ravages of war and communism
to take full advantage of American opportunities is also a myth, in
that Southeast Asians actually have the lowest success rate of all
Asians.</p>

<br>

<p>Fine. Take them out. You aren’t one of these subpopulations, correct?</p>

<br>

<p>That is, the AAPI demographic group has a higher median income (this
distribution is very inequal btw) because they work much
harder. Asians still have to work harder than whites, and be more
accomplished, to achieve the same income or same job quality. The
higher median income is in spite of this fact.</p>

<br>

<p>Rubbish. At least where I work. And where I work is probably
representative of tech companies in general.</p>

<br>

<p>My ethinic group subclass btw, has a median income of $58k, $4k below
the white statistic.</p>

<br>

<p>What is your ethnic subgroup and what are you using as a reference
point?</p>

<br>

<p>I quoted cold, hard statistics and scientific studies in my original
post. You are the one arguing from the anecdotes of your personal
experience.</p>

<br>

<p>You posted a link to garbage.</p>

<br>

<ol>
<li>Carolyn Jung, “Asian-Americans Say They Run into Glass Ceiling,”
San Jose Mercury News, September 10, 1993, p. 1B.</li>
</ol>

<br>

<p>You’re saying that the San Jose Mercury News did a scientific study?</p>

<p>Look at the dates of the publications: 1993, 1996, 1993, 1994, 1985,
1995, 1995. Do you have something a little more recent? Did you read
all of the supporting material? What’s the quality? What is the current
validity?</p>

<br>

<p>I also know that medical school admissions and college admissions
(grad and undergrad alike) have open discrimination against Asians.</p>

<br>

<p>One of my nieces is starting med school at Penn shortly. She was
accepted to a few other schools with full rides. My son works for an
Asian guy that has a Phd and an Md and he also teaches at Harvard.
I wonder if he feels any discrimination. One of the guys that I work
with has an Indian wife and she’s a pediatrician. They built their
million dollar home back in the 1990s when a million was a lot.</p>

<br>

<p>In contrast, I got internships at the Department of Energy quite
easily, because the public sector culture is different (except for
departments dealing with national security and the military, where
there are entrenched conservatives – see the Danny Chen case).</p>

<br>

<p>I work in a place that’s 1/3rd white, 1/3rd indian and 1/3rd chinese.</p>

<p>Politics has nothing to do with the mix.</p>

[evitaperon]

<p>

In 1973, AAPI males had a disproportionately low ratio of managers to employees. Four out of 64 AAPI employees, or 6.3 percent, were managers. By contrast, the ratio given for “non-minority males” was higher, 194 out of 1295, or 15 percent. At that time, AAPI employees in general were 5 percent of the workforce, but only 2 percent of management. A comparison of AAPI males to white males, based on highest educational level achieved (i.e. technical, B.S., Masters, Ph.D. degrees) showed that AAPI males occupied lower pay grades than their white male counterparts despite having the same educational level and having more work experience. As stated in the
summary report for 1973: “American-Asians are approximately one grade lower than the white male in each category. Moreover, American-Asians with M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are at a lower grade than whites with B.S. degrees… Except at the B.S. Level, the American-Asians have more work experience.”

In terms of overall workforce parity, Asian Americans were described as “worse off today than during the mid-1980’s,” with fewer departments meeting parity in 1992 than in 1985 and 1988.

In terms of managerial representation, Asian Americans continued to have the worst promotional record, with the lowest ratio of administrators to professionals. In 1990 they comprised 29 percent of professionals, yet made up only 13.3 percent of administrators.
Their ratio of administrators to professionals was about 1 to 2. Specifically, “Whites show a 1.26 ratio, Blacks show a 1.19 ratio, Hispanics show a .83 ratio, and Asians showa .47 ratio.”

</p>

<p><a href=“http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1130&context=key_workplace[/url]”>http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1130&context=key_workplace&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[Nrdsb4]

<p>

If necessary, change my name. Dye my hair. Get a double eyelid. Other forms of plastic surgery…anything to escape.

</p>

<p>Oh good grief. Hyperbole much? </p>

<p>Whatever, go for it. :rolleyes:</p>

<p>I work in a field with MANY Asians. Who are proud of their heritage, work hard, and are rewarded with success proportional to their work ethic and qualifications, just like anyone else.</p>