UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
Jun 15th 2009, 3:35 am
#1
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UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
Just wondered if anyone has had a problem with this.
My 19 year old daughter took months to find a job and eventually started waitressing at a local surf club. She worked for a week and a half before being told that she wasn't what they were looking for as there was a "language barrier". :curse: Just what a young girl needs when she's not sure if she wants to be here in the first place.
Does this mean that because she has a Scottish accent she will continue to have difficulties in keeping a job in Australia?
My 19 year old daughter took months to find a job and eventually started waitressing at a local surf club. She worked for a week and a half before being told that she wasn't what they were looking for as there was a "language barrier". :curse: Just what a young girl needs when she's not sure if she wants to be here in the first place.
Does this mean that because she has a Scottish accent she will continue to have difficulties in keeping a job in Australia?
Jun 15th 2009, 3:41 am
#2
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Re: UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
Just wondered if anyone has had a problem with this.
My 19 year old daughter took months to find a job and eventually started waitressing at a local surf club. She worked for a week and a half before being told that she wasn't what they were looking for as there was a "language barrier". :curse: Just what a young girl needs when she's not sure if she wants to be here in the first place.
Does this mean that because she has a Scottish accent she will continue to have difficulties in keeping a job in Australia?
My 19 year old daughter took months to find a job and eventually started waitressing at a local surf club. She worked for a week and a half before being told that she wasn't what they were looking for as there was a "language barrier". :curse: Just what a young girl needs when she's not sure if she wants to be here in the first place.
Does this mean that because she has a Scottish accent she will continue to have difficulties in keeping a job in Australia?
Jun 15th 2009, 3:54 am
#3
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Re: UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
Like the Scottish woman in KFC Joondalup - I haven't a clue what she's on about - it's like watching the Rab C Nesbit show on the telly.
Jun 15th 2009, 5:28 am
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Re: UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
She asked for feedback at the time and her supervisor said that the only thing that let her down was her accent.
Jun 15th 2009, 5:29 am
#5
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Re: UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
She probably hasn't a clue what you're saying either!
Last edited by LauraV; Jun 15th 2009 at 5:35 am.
Jun 15th 2009, 8:17 am
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Re: UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
Just wondered if anyone has had a problem with this.
My 19 year old daughter took months to find a job and eventually started waitressing at a local surf club. She worked for a week and a half before being told that she wasn't what they were looking for as there was a "language barrier". :curse: Just what a young girl needs when she's not sure if she wants to be here in the first place.
Does this mean that because she has a Scottish accent she will continue to have difficulties in keeping a job in Australia?
My 19 year old daughter took months to find a job and eventually started waitressing at a local surf club. She worked for a week and a half before being told that she wasn't what they were looking for as there was a "language barrier". :curse: Just what a young girl needs when she's not sure if she wants to be here in the first place.
Does this mean that because she has a Scottish accent she will continue to have difficulties in keeping a job in Australia?
Jun 15th 2009, 10:58 am
#7
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Re: UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
I find most Aussies love the Scottish accent.
She's better out of there coz they must have been wierdos.
Jun 15th 2009, 11:03 am
#8
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Re: UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
My wife says that I've lost my Aussie accent, so perhaps I'd better watch out when I get home!
Jun 15th 2009, 11:10 am
#9
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Re: UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
I have a ridiculously strong Irish accent.... never had any problem with employers, but it has got me into plenty of trouble especially when I used to wear my Kilt to the Races.
Must say that Aussies usually get confused when pronounce the letter 'A' or 'I'
Must say that Aussies usually get confused when pronounce the letter 'A' or 'I'
Jun 15th 2009, 11:12 am
#10
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Re: UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
I worked for Telstra when I was first in Oz and my accent was a bit of a problem at first until I learnt to americanise it around customers. It just takes a wee bit of practice, I never lost my accent just had to learn how to be understood by everyone.
I did find occassionally people would not understand a word I said and I know I was being clear. I think for some people the presence of an accent makes them shut down (like the weight watcher woman in Little Britain)
I did find occassionally people would not understand a word I said and I know I was being clear. I think for some people the presence of an accent makes them shut down (like the weight watcher woman in Little Britain
)
Jun 15th 2009, 11:31 am
#11
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Re: UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
well den, there ain't much ope for me, cooze i'm from Essex an dey wont ave a clue wot i is talking bout
Jun 15th 2009, 1:17 pm
#14
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Re: UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
how can any one who pronounces maroon as marone ever have a go at any one elses accent?
no one understands a flamin word i say - until i swop my u's for a's and stop pronouncing my g's and add but on the end of every sentence - then they get me!
no one understands a flamin word i say - until i swop my u's for a's and stop pronouncing my g's and add but on the end of every sentence - then they get me!
Jun 15th 2009, 1:27 pm
#15
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Re: UK Accents - Does it Put Employers Off?
If you have a strong accent which makes you intelligible to people around you, then yes. But this may moderate in time!
Naturally, it would work the same anywhere, even within the UK. There are employers who do not select on accent, but if they can't understand you, it ain't easy..
Lots of people in Australia and the Uk have what is considered an 'international accent' which is understood by people in a wide number of English speaking countries including but not limited to, the UK, the US, and the Antipodes. I meet people in everyday working life who you can not place as being Australian or English.
That is a standard I suggest we all should be aiming for, and might come about in tens of years!
Oh - diction is more important than accent!
Naturally, it would work the same anywhere, even within the UK. There are employers who do not select on accent, but if they can't understand you, it ain't easy..
Lots of people in Australia and the Uk have what is considered an 'international accent' which is understood by people in a wide number of English speaking countries including but not limited to, the UK, the US, and the Antipodes. I meet people in everyday working life who you can not place as being Australian or English.
That is a standard I suggest we all should be aiming for, and might come about in tens of years!
Oh - diction is more important than accent!