Is it fraud to apply for a job with an Anglicised surname?

[Sue]

Good guess, and a REALLY cool-sounding name - I wish it was that! But non. I mean, no. I don't know, maybe we could change it to that. What was that about deed polls?

But seriously, our name has caused website-joining problems before because of that damn apostrophe so maybe changing it to Smith would help in more ways than one.

I have an apostrophe too and it really, really annoys me when online forms etc can't deal with it. Or when someone can't find my name on a database and I have to go through with an apostrophe, without an apostrophe, a couple of other really common misspellings and a combination of all of those. I mean, it's not exactly an uncommon thing.

 

[trashpony]

I used to work with a woman with the surname DEATH. She insisted it was De'ath but I knew better.

I would give it a whirl and see. My BIL uses him middle name (James) as his work surname as his actual surname is really awful. Everyone calls him that - I think HR are probably the only people who know it isn't James

 

[5t3IIa]

Could be that the apostrophe is turning into D&:23423ath on the output of the online forms too

 

[purenarcotic]

I don’t doubt that it could be an issue, but it’s also very competitive at the moment due to so many losing their jobs due to COVID. Also, are you sure he submits a good application? I do a lot of application reviewing in my job and so many are not great and when I give feedback people are genuinely surprised and thought they had done a good job. We are terrible at teaching people to properly share their skills. Recent example; someone with a counselling degree listed in the qualifications section, when asked ‘what skills or experience do you think you could bring to your volunteer helpline role?’, failed to mention their degree at all, and yet the number of transferable skills is enormous. Do any of the places he’s applying to offer feedback, or could he ask?

 

[killer b]

The type of tosser who'd look at the name before the suitability is likely to change their mind when they found out.

This isn’t really true – this kind of stuff mostly happens on an unconscious level: racism isn’t just done by bad people over there, it’s done by people just like us too.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I used to work with a woman with the surname DEATH. She insisted it was De'ath but I knew better.

That is a brilliant surname - certainly make people remember you.

 

[iona]

He could change his name by deed poll for under £20

Not even that. No need to pay for a deed poll at all, aside from maybe printing costs if you don't own or have access to a printer, or know anyone who does and can print it for you.

 

[strung out]

That is a brilliant surname - certainly make people remember you.

I heard it's the reason Judge De'ath changed his name

 

[bmd]

Is there a DBS or anything name checky involved? Otherwise, what does it matter? I would even say that you'd been having problems and wondered if it was your name so you thought you'd give it a go. Then stand up and say "AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE WORKED, DOESN'T IT, EH?!!!!"

 

[Santino]

I used to work with a woman with the surname DEATH. She insisted it was De'ath but I knew better.

I would give it a whirl and see. My BIL uses him middle name (James) as his work surname as his actual surname is really awful. Everyone calls him that - I think HR are probably the only people who know it isn't James

Where I work there are three De'aths, all related. It's like Discworld or something.

 

[Santino]

.

 

[maomao]

The name de'ath was originally death and would have been given to someone who played death in plays and pageants. See also King, Knight and Angel.

 

[Boudicca]

My BIL uses him middle name (James) as his work surname as his actual surname is really awful. Everyone calls him that - I think HR are probably the only people who know it isn't James

This looks like a good idea Helen Back - does he have a suitable middle name? It just feels a bit less dodgy than making up a new surname.

 

[Epona]

I think technically you can call yourself whatever you like but for legal purposes might have to prove that the name has been in use for a while so documentation with the alternative name on it (bills, communications from HMRC or other government dept) helps, along with photo ID - because there will come a point in the process when they need to check that he is eligible to work in the UK, need his NI number, and maybe ID for a DBS check or similar.

However if I made a decision that my name was James now and I wanted to be referred to as James there would be little anyone could do to object about it - I'd just have to have documentation to link back for credit/DBS checks etc.

It is also pretty easy to change name by deed poll if a legal document to back up a name change would be useful - the person who changed their name could still use whatever name they wanted to in day to day life.

 

[strung out]

Unfortunately it's illegal to use a legal name, so this won't be allowed

 

[muscovyduck]

Met lots of people who do this sort of thing and they've never had any problem, in fact they do seem to live a simpler life. Results may vary by job/location.

 

[Yossarian]

Could he give the name Dave Goodworker or whatever then make it his legal name if he gets the job?

 

[ruffneck23]

I used to work with a woman with the surname DEATH. She insisted it was De'ath but I knew better.

I would give it a whirl and see. My BIL uses him middle name (James) as his work surname as his actual surname is really awful. Everyone calls him that - I think HR are probably the only people who know it isn't James

I think I used to work with her husband Mr De'ath.. Seriously...

 

[Badgers]

Could he give the name Dave Goodworker or whatever then make it his legal name if he gets the job?

Rapid Reg?