Pastrami and peanut butter, hot dogs with strawberry jelly, lasagna with chopped dill pickles, etc. are not among the recipes I would recommend when trying to host a successful dinner party. The same could be said for mixing politics into a discussion when taking a job interview.
I decided to address this topic as we have roughly 8 weeks to go before we elect the President of the United States. It would not be surprising to me if interviewers brought up the topic over the next few months, partly because they might be curious as to who people are voting for in general but it also could be a way of eliminating candidates. For better or for worse, some employers have a close minded culture and prefer to hire people who align themselves with their political beliefs.
My suggestion to candidates is to steer clear of politics if asked. Simply reply that you are not terribly motivated to discuss the upcoming elections and are very excited to hear more about the job opportunity. If they espouse their beliefs anyway, just acknowledge politely and try to redirect to the position being discussed.
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You should keep something in mind if you are in job search mode. Many recruiters and hiring managers are checking out Social Media sites such as Linked In, Facebook, and Twitter. If you subscribe to any such services, keep the political banter off those places for now. Also, keep an eye on items being posted to your page which could potentially offend a hiring manager! Politics and job searching definitely do not blend well so do your best to keep them apart!
