Interview Questions - Illegal Questions
Some questions are illegal for potential employers to ask, although some interviewers are not trained and may unwillingly ask an illegal question to show interest in you. Some people may be inclined to answer them, but it is good to know that you don’t have to answer certain questions.
In particular, an interviewer may not ask you about your religion, political beliefs, ancestry, native language, age, date of birth, ages of your children, marital status, maiden name, or spouse’s occupation. Following are popular questions often slipped in to an interview, yet are illegal to ask:
- Questions about your age are not allowed during an interview because it should not be a factor upon hiring you.
- Questions about your marital status are inappropriate and can easily be mistaken for sexual harassment. This question also applies to whether or not you have children, child care plans, etc.
- Questions about your personal health are also off limits.
- Questions about your ethnicity should not be asked by an interviewer or answered by the person being given the interview.
- Your sexual preference cannot be a factor in your chances of being hired either.
- Whether or not you have disabilities is a question that should not be asked.
- Your arrest record is information that doesn’t have to be answered. All an interviewer can ask you is if you have ever been convicted of a crime, they cannot ask you what for or how many times.
Basically, personal information cannot be asked by an interviewer. It is illegal, and you do not have to respond.
Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com (http://www.myguidesusa.com), you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.
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