5 Illegal Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

5 Illegal Interview Questions and How to Answer Them 5 Illegal Interview Questions and How to Answer Them 56The questions are fairly common, but the answers are anything but easy. What year were you born? Are you married? Are you planning to have a family? Where are you from? Why do employers ask illegal interview questions? As a job seeker, how are you supposed to handle it? Let’s start with why these questions shouldn’t be asked. Employers are not allowed to make hiring decisions based on factors such as race, color, sex, religion, national origin, birthplace, age, disability, or marital status. These characteristics are protected under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If a company is asking for any of this information, it could be perceived that the answers are playing a part in the hiring decisions. Sometimes, there is something legitimate the interviewer is trying to find out- they are just asking it in a really wrong way! Here are five commonly asked illegal interview questions and how to respond: Have you ever been arrested? While an arrest record can’t be held against a person, convictions can be. Answer by clarifying that you have never been convicted of a crime. Do you go to church on Sundays? Assuming it is being asked of every candidate, it is okay to ask about weekend availability if it is a requirement of the job. A good response would be, “I can work weekends if needed” or “I am available for some weekend shifts, but would love some flexibility in the schedule for other commitments.” Is English your first language? While your language skills may very well be pertinent to the position, this question speaks to a person’s nationality- that’s a no-no. Give the interviewer a rundown of all the languages that you speak, write, and/or read fluently. I noticed you limping a bit when you came in. Is everything okay? The interviewer may be trying to express a genuine concern for your well-being, but unfortunately this question could speak to a disability. Feel free to respond with something along the lines of, “Thanks for asking. It’s nothing that impacts my ability to do the job!” Are you planning on starting a family? Chances are this question is asked to determine how your future plans will impact your commitment to the job and your career. Problem #1: It’s almost always asked of women- not men. Problem #2: It’s too easy for a company to at least partially make a decision on a candidate based on the response given. A great answer to this would be, “I’m not there yet. I am interested in the possibility for growth and career development with the company. Can you tell me about it?” By trying to determine what the interviewer is trying to discern from their question, you should be able to give them the information without letting them step over a line. Asking thoughtful questions during the interview is a great way to steer the conversation back to the business at hand. What inappropriate questions have you encountered in interviews? How did you respond?