‘Don’t Ask Me How Many People I’ve Killed.’ HP Reveals the Awful Questions Asked to Veterans
Adweek: November 12, 2018. By Doug Zanger.
Since its launch last year, HP’s “Reinvent Mindsets” campaign has shown how unconscious bias negatively impacts talent. Powerful and moving ads targeting the African-American, female, LGBTQ and Latino communities have demonstrated the range of issues each face, whether it’s in the workplace or life. The brand continues to tackle the issues head-on with a commitment to diversity and inclusion that is proving to be among the best in the tech industry.
In a new ad released today, HP shows the bias that America’s military veterans can endure in the recruiting and interview process. “Ask Me About,” a film around 2 minutes created by Badgers and Winters, starts with veterans discussing their roles in the service. One was an aviation electronic technician, another was a medic and one was a signals intelligence analyst in the Marine Corps for five years. What’s revealed is the shocking insensitivity that interviewers exhibit by asking questions around veterans’ service.