“Tell me about yourself.”
“If you were a superhero, who would you be and why?”
But did you know there are a number of interview questions that you should never be asked?
While you might think interviewers have carte blanche to grill you on a range of subjects once they have you in the hot seat, they are legally obligated to avoid questions that are discriminatory, sexist or biased, even if these questions seem harmless on the face of things.
Here are some of the questions that are technically off-limits and how you can handle them if they do arise during an interview.
Where are you originally from?
Racial discrimination during the hiring process is nothing new and according to recent research, it continues to be a persistent problem in the U.S.—the study found that an applicant of color has a one in 30 chance of getting a callback for an interview compared to a one in 20 chance for a white applicant.
In an interview setting, an interviewer should never ask you where you are from originally based on the color of your skin or your family name. And while it isn’t illegal for them to ask you if you have permission to work in the U.S., this question needs to be asked outright and not inferred by asking other questions about your nationality or ethnicity.
Do you plan on having children?
Often an employer will want to gauge whether or not a prospective employee will stay in the job they’re interviewing for or if they’ll need to give them time off at some point in the near future.
That said, whether you plan on never having children or want to breed your own soccer team, it is illegal for an employer to ask employees about their plans to procreate.
Similarly, you cannot be asked about your marital status, plans to marry in the future or if you will still want to work after having children.
What religion are you?
Religion is a divisive issue at the best of times but at the moment, religious tensions in the U.S. are particularly high in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
It’s fine for an employer to ask if you can work on Sundays if the job demands weekend work, however it’s not OK for them to ask if you go to church on Sundays, and questions around scheduling should never be linked to religion or the religious holidays you observe — or don’t.
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This article was written by Aoibhinn McBride
