| As part of my efforts to get myself from behind a | | | | you'll have no special challenges with me." |
| desk, and out into the real world, I volunteer with a | | | | That is actually my personal answer (and a visit to my |
| phenomenal local initiative that pairs local professionals | | | | website will confirm the white hair!), and obviously each |
| and business owners with local schools, and builds | | | | person would have his or her own "health highlights" to |
| students' knowledge of the career options available to | | | | share! You might refer to your exemplary attendance |
| them. | | | | record or award, or you might share that your sick |
| I speak to teens about resume and interview | | | | days are half of the company's average. |
| strategies, and occasionally hear of illegal questions | | | | I would actually not finish the answer there. I urge |
| that recruiters or interviewers pose during the | | | | interviewees to use the interview to their advantage, |
| interview. It would be my guess that employers refrain | | | | and add onto answers whenever possible. In the case |
| from posing these to more savvy recruits-those who | | | | above, I might add something like this: "In fact, at my |
| have been "around the block" so to speak, or | | | | current position, this is a typical day. First I ...." And then |
| professionals who are well aware of legal vs. illegal | | | | go on to position yourself as an energetic go-getter, |
| questions. Having a strategy to deal with illegal | | | | working in examples that are, of course, relevant to |
| questions is a good idea for everyone. | | | | the position you are interviewing for. You may choose |
| What is an illegal question? | | | | to address a once-a-month challenging workload; |
| Truth is, this differs according to country, and according | | | | another may quote a colleague who remarked on his |
| to job requirements. To work in a bar, for example, a | | | | stamina ("You're amazing; I swear you get more done |
| candidate must meet a minimum age requirement, | | | | in a day than me and I'm half your age."); and yet |
| meaning that it is not illegal to ask a candidate's age. | | | | another may point to her weekly 40 km. bike rides. |
| Each job hunter must take the initiative to discover | | | | More strategies |
| what the illegal questions are in his or her area. | | | | Here is another example. One young lady shared that |
| How does one handle an illegal question? | | | | she had been asked whether she has any children. |
| But how does one deal with an illegal question. For | | | | Now this girl was very young, maybe 16, so the inquiry |
| example, if you are white-haired and clearly no longer | | | | was questionable in its intent. I advised an answer |
| claiming to be 39, and the interviewer asks your age, | | | | along these lines. |
| what are you to do? If the interview is going badly, and | | | | "In asking that, I assume that you are really wondering |
| you are uninterested in the opportunity, you could | | | | whether I will be reliable and punctual and let me |
| simply confront the interviewer and say, "I believe that | | | | assure you yes. I am always on time for school, do not |
| that question is illegal." However, if you would prefer | | | | skip classes, am rarely sick ... in fact, one of my |
| not to burn your bridges (and that is almost always my | | | | teachers recently said to me 'Tara, if all my students |
| recommendation), you need only to think of the | | | | were as dedicated as you, I'd be a happy teacher.'" |
| concern behind the question to devise an appropriate | | | | Tara could go on to add "Once I land my first part-time |
| answer. In this case, the concern is likely "I'm afraid that | | | | job, I am going to be the best employee. I know that |
| you won't be a reliable and healthy employee." Your | | | | that job will begin building my resume for the future, so |
| answer might sound like this. | | | | I will take it very seriously." |
| "Hmm...in asking my age, I am assuming that you might | | | | What employer could resist that!? |
| be worried that I will only stick around a few years, or | | | | In conclusion |
| that I may have health challenges. Let me assure you | | | | Keep in mind the concern behind the question. Address |
| that I have many more years before retirement, I am | | | | that concern to position yourself as a perceptive |
| very fit - in fact I work out three days a week and | | | | communicator, and to maintain good "interview karma" |
| feel better now than I did as a 30-year old - and I am | | | | by not burning bridges. Make good use of your answer |
| healthy - my doctor tells me at each annual that I am | | | | by adding a little extra information to be ranked |
| one of her healthiest patients - so yes, I am reliable and | | | | amongst the best candidates. |