Anecdote

Yesterday, I interviewed with a leading management consulting firm. The first question posed to me as I entered the interview room was "Are you Sri Lankan?", to which I responded (caught somewhat off-guard) "Yes, I am." The interviewer commented that he had a Sri Lankan boss once, and I think he had the same first name as me. Then the other guy interviewing asked the first guy "now can you say his last name". Of course he proceeded to butcher the last name (I believe he was trying to say Venkateswaran), but I give him an E for effort at the very least. And so as I took my seat, I wryly remarked, "we all have long, polysyllabic surnames", and both actuaries had a chuckle that.

I suppose I could've been a smartass/wise guy and responded, as Smiley later suggested, "No, I'm Canadian". It would've been interesting to see their reactions, but to do well in interviews, you have to be a sycophant. The interview overall was very casual, and I know they meant to ask that in jest as an icebreaker and with the best of intentions, but I also think that asking someone about their ethnic origins is out of bounds, particularly when it has no bearing on the job whatsoever. I could take these guys to the Ontario Human Rights Commission - particularly if I don't get the job!