| This helpful and insightful article will keep you alert of | | | | 1. How tall are you? |
| illegal interview questions and strategies on how to | | | | 2. Are you a US Citizen? |
| best deal with them if they do arise. This information | | | | 3. How old are you? |
| can help you when you are interviewing for a position | | | | 4. Are you really a man? |
| and also when you conduct interviews yourself. | | | | 5. Are you Chinese or Japanese? |
| I'll quickly cover the following: | | | | 6. What religion are you? |
| 1. Why Employer Ask Illegal Interview Questions. | | | | 7. Have you ever filed for bankruptcy? |
| 2. Examples of Illegal Interview Questions. | | | | 8. Have you ever been arrested? |
| 3. Tips on How To Respond to Illegal Interview | | | | 9. Are you married? |
| Questions. | | | | 10. How many children do you have? |
| FACT | | | | C) TIPS ON HOW TO RESPOND TO ILLEGAL |
| U.S. law prohibits certain types of questions and you | | | | INTERVIEW QUESTIONS. |
| are by no means required or obligated to answer | | | | First and foremost, avoid reacting in a hostile fashion - |
| these questions. These questions are prohibited for a | | | | remember that you can always decide later to decline |
| reason: to keep employers from unfairly trying to | | | | the job offer. Your goal during the interview is to try |
| weed you out as a possible employee. | | | | and get the job offer. |
| A) WHY EMPLOYERS ASK ILLEGAL INTERVIEW | | | | Response 1: |
| QUESTIONS. | | | | Go ahead and answer the question. If you don't feel |
| The interview is where you get your chance to sell | | | | uncomfortable and you think your answer is in your |
| yourself directly to the employer. During the interview | | | | favor, why worry? Go ahead and answer the |
| the employer is obviously trying to learn more about | | | | question and make no mention that you think its |
| you and how you may or may not fit in the company. | | | | improper or illegal. Just remember that you run the risk |
| The main reason why an employer might purposely | | | | of harming your candidacy if you give an answer not |
| slip in some illegal questions is basically to try and get | | | | favorable to what the interviewer has in mind. |
| information to keep you from getting a job. Most illegal | | | | Response 2: |
| questions revolve around personal information and | | | | Refuse to answer the question. You are within your |
| asking them is usually not related to the job and is | | | | rights but in a delicate and sensitive area with regards |
| often discriminatory in nature. | | | | to the potential job offer. You can say politely that you |
| Another reason some employers ask illegal questions | | | | don't feel comfortable answering the question and ask |
| is because they just don't know any better. Many | | | | to move on. You may even want to mention to the |
| interviewers are not trained at all and simply don't | | | | interviewer that the question is illegal and doesn't |
| know what is legal versus illegal. Please keep this in | | | | pertain to the job. The key here is to be as tactful as |
| mind, it may just be a poorly trained, inexperienced or | | | | possible. But keep in mind, you may come across as |
| just curious interviewer and not meant to be harmful or | | | | confrontational or not a "team player" in the eyes of |
| discriminatory at all. | | | | the interviewer. |
| B) EXAMPLES OF ILLEGAL INTERVIEW | | | | Generally speaking, its better not to confront or debate |
| QUESTIONS. | | | | the interviewer about the legality of a question. But if |
| Illegal questions generally fall into 4 categories: | | | | you have any uncertainty about the questions, you |
| 1. Disabilities & Physical Skills | | | | should be alert to any pattern of |
| 2. Personal Background | | | | discrimination...especially if you notice several illegal |
| 3. Race, Creed, or Color | | | | questions. Try and remember the questions and speak |
| 4. Family & Relationship Items | | | | the employer's HR director and get answers to what |
| 10 Sample Illegal Questions: | | | | may have happened. |