March 11th 2024.
Would you choose your team members based on their star signs? It may sound like a strange concept, but for some people, this is a serious consideration. Jarir Mallah, an HR manager at the language app Ling, was surprised when a candidate turned down a job offer because they discovered their potential supervisor was an Aries. According to the candidate, Aries are known for being abrupt, rude, and overbearing. Jarir found it odd when the candidate asked for the birthdays of the recruiting panel, and things only went downhill from there. The candidate's face dropped upon hearing the potential manager's birthday, and they ultimately declined the position. When Jarir followed up, the candidate explained that they had negative experiences with Aries supervisors in the past and would never work under one again. Jarir considers it a lucky escape for their company, as he can't imagine someone letting their life be dictated by their zodiac sign.
This incident also gave Jarir more insights into the Virgo candidate and how they would fit into their company culture. But this story is not as unusual as one might think. While researching for her book, The Psychic Tests, author Coralie Rose discovered that many workplaces in the UK are influenced by what she calls "woo woo" beliefs. In fact, it happened secretly in her own workplace. Her former boss, who managed her in a media office of a major UK children's charity, admitted that Coralie may not have been hired if she wasn't a "well-balanced Libra." The boss confessed to using star sign compatibility as a deciding factor when faced with two equally qualified candidates. And since Coralie's date of birth was on her CV, her boss had all the information she needed to make her decision.
It's not just small companies that are influenced by zodiac signs. Coralie, who owns her own casting company, Road Casting, follows the position of Mercury to determine how her day will go. When Mercury is in retrograde, she becomes extra cautious and triple checks everything to avoid errors or technical issues. It could also be a positive time for old clients to return, so she takes the opportunity to revisit projects or relationships. Coralie even hired an astrologer and a numerologist to guide her business decisions. She consults with them monthly, and they have become an integral part of her team.
Numerology also plays a role in Coralie's business. She uses it to plan, forecast, and even change the date of her company's anniversary to align with a more auspicious number for business success. When it comes to new business clients, Coralie even considers the numerical value of their company name to see if they align with her own. She also takes note of the lunar cycle and writes down her company goals during a new moon to manifest them and let go of any negative energy. While some of her casting assistants and directors may not understand her beliefs, Coralie does not force them to follow suit. It's simply an invitation for those who are interested and provides her with more information and data.
But this concept of incorporating zodiac signs into business practices is nothing new. In 2009, Madonna famously invited DJ David Guetta to lunch, only to end the meeting abruptly upon learning he was a Scorpio. And in the same year, an Austrian insurance company posted a job advert that specifically stated they were looking for people with certain star signs due to their statistical research showing that those signs produced the best employees. While this may seem absurd, it is gaining popularity among younger generations. Nicola Britton, a communications professional, noticed that many of the young team members she managed relied heavily on star sign apps to guide their daily lives. One ambitious account manager even requested to reschedule her annual review because of the alignment of the stars on that day. While Nicola declined the request, the account manager was upset, claiming that her cultural preferences were not being taken seriously. However, according to legal experts, recruiting based on star signs is not considered discrimination under UK laws.
While using zodiac signs may be technically legal, it also comes with a risk of damaging a company's reputation. As HR consultant Jim Moore puts it, "If you're hiring team members based on the movements of Mars and Jupiter, you're clearly talking out of Uranus." Nicola remains unconverted to this practice, finding it "batshit" and fascinating at the same time. So, would you build a team based on the stars? That's a decision you'll have to make for yourself.
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