{"id":1627,"date":"2021-10-21T18:55:46","date_gmt":"2021-10-21T17:55:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/?p=1627"},"modified":"2022-11-02T19:36:18","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T19:36:18","slug":"illegal-interview-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/illegal-interview-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are Interviewers Not Allowed To Ask, That Every Candidate Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/illegal-interview-questions.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Illegal interview questions\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/illegal-interview-questions.jpeg 534w, https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/illegal-interview-questions-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Image Courtesy: arada.org) <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"0632\">We all know that there are some questions that interviewers can\u2019t ask during an interview. What are they? There is a lot of speculation about these questions, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/german-job-seekers-visa-for-non-eu-citizens-to-work-in-germany\/\" title=\"Are you a non-EU Citizen & Want to work in Germany? \u2013 Job Seekers Visa Is All You Need\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">job seekers need<\/a> to understand the line between illegal and not illegal. This post will cover some of those things, so you\u2019ll know what your <a title=\"Some Good Questions To Ask An Interviewer: Plus One Tip for Successful Afterwards\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/what-questions-to-ask-an-interviewer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">interviewer isn\u2019t allowed to ask<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"4d2f\">If you are responsible for hiring employees, you must be very careful when interviewing possible candidates for employment. Some questions, while seemingly innocent, can result in a discrimination lawsuit against your organization. Fortunately, there are ways to get the information you need without making your company vulnerable to a case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"e578\"><strong>Illegal Question #1: \u201cWhat Religious Holidays do you observe?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"7d98\">It is natural to know about any potential scheduling issues before hiring an employee as an employer. The law forbids discrimination based on religion. However, asking this type of question could make your business susceptible to a lawsuit, even if the candidate\u2019s faith had no part in your hiring decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"c86a\">You can ask about the candidate\u2019s availability without mentioning religion to avoid a potential lawsuit. A candidate\u2019s faith should never be a part of your conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"f016\"><strong>Illegal Question #2: \u201cTypically, we employ a man\/woman for this position. Can you handle this job?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"2f03\">Discrimination based on gender is illegal. Therefore, bringing gender into the conversation should be avoided at all costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"afd8\">If you talk about the candidate\u2019s gender, they could believe your decision is based on their gender. So if you want to avoid a lawsuit, leave gender out of the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"5a13\"><strong>Illegal Question #3: \u201cAre you planning to have children?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"eedd\">Asking questions that could involve marital or parental status can also open you up to a lawsuit. Therefore, while it is understandable that you would be worried about a candidate\u2019s lack of accessibility due to parental obligations, this is still not a legitimate question to ask during an interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"7ac0\">If you require this inquiry and then employ somebody else, it could cause the rejected candidate to believe that you didn\u2019t hire them because they have children or are married. So, just like the religion question, you want to ask questions about availability directly without bringing up children or marital status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"0c10\"><strong>Illegal Question #4: \u201cHow old are you?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"3bc5\">Discrimination based on age can also be considered actionable. However, the only good line of inquiry is whether or not the candidate is legally old enough to work when it comes to age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"e5a7\">One of the reasons interviewers will wonder about a candidate\u2019s age is because they want to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/how-to-stop-sexual-harassment-at-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">know how long the candidate plans on working<\/a> at their company. In this case, the interviewer should ask about their long-term career plans instead of bringing up their age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"7ba0\"><strong>Illegal Question #5: \u201cDo you take drugs?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"fc32\">This question may seem legitimate, but it\u2019s an illegal question. In addition, asking this question could lead the candidate to believe that they are being asked about prescription medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"4f9b\">It is illegal to discriminate against a candidate based on a disability or medical condition. This type of question can leave your company-wide open for a lawsuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"5af8\">It is easy to get sued for discrimination, but you can avoid having issues arise if you exercise sound judgment when interviewing candidates. If the candidate brings up any of these subjects themselves, you will need to steer the conversation away from that subject as smoothly as possible. If you\u2019re unsure which questions are acceptable, consult an attorney or HR professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4322\">How to Deal with Illegal Interview Questions Without Losing Your Cool<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"ee97\">What to do when an interviewer asks illegal questions? This is a question that many people ask themselves. Unfortunately, one wrong answer can cost you the job, so knowing how to react in these situations is essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"9782\">You should keep three things in mind when an interviewer asks illegal questions. First, never answer any unfair question honestly. Even if one of these questions might be interesting, the potential employer doesn\u2019t have the right to know this information about you. Second, if you are unsure about something being an illegal question, don\u2019t take any risks and ask the <a title=\"Interview Anxiety \u2013 Know How to get your nerves under control\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/interview-anxiety-know-how-to-get-your-nerves-under-control\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">interviewer what they want to know<\/a> in more detail. And finally, if possible, use humour when answering these questions without giving anything <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/how-to-identify-fake-job-advertisements\/\" title=\"Spotting Fake Job Advertisements From Miles Away\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">away that could hurt your chances of getting the job<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4418\">What are the Reasons behind the Ban on Some Interview Questions?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"1083\">In many cases, interviewers are banned from asking questions about race, religion, national origin, age, sex or marital status. This is because these questions are not related to the interview position. At the same time, it is essential to note that some of these topics can be asked concerning the work environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"8e72\">Interviewers should ask only relevant questions that will help gauge if the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/mistakes-to-avoid-in-job-application-follow-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">applicant has what it takes for this particular job<\/a>. Before interviewing, they should also have a well-defined plan to know what kind of people they want to hire and why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"872b\">What Questions Should Interviewer Ask at the End of an Interview?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"2bf0\">It is essential to ask the candidate if they have any questions about the position or company. This will enable you to see if they are interested in the job and their concerns before deciding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"f941\">To conclude a job interview, offer the candidate a chance to ask more about the position or company. If you have not done so, this is your last chance to find out more information from them that you may have overlooked during your interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"77fa\">We hope this article has helped help you understand what interviewers are not allowed to ask. If you have more questions about the topic, please get in touch with us at any time. Good luck with your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/how-to-write-follow-up-email-after-interview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">following interview<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"8b61\">(Image Courtesy: arada.org)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Reference:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eeoc.gov\/employers\/small-business\/4-what-cant-i-ask-when-hiring\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">https:\/\/www.eeoc.gov\/employers\/small-business\/4-what-cant-i-ask-when-hiring<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/shr.ucsc.edu\/talent-acquisition\/fair_hiring\/interviews.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">https:\/\/shr.ucsc.edu\/talent-acquisition\/fair_hiring\/interviews.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shrm.org\/resourcesandtools\/tools-and-samples\/toolkits\/pages\/interviewingcandidatesforemployment.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">https:\/\/www.shrm.org\/resourcesandtools\/tools-and-samples\/toolkits\/pages\/interviewingcandidatesforemployment.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/knowhow.ncvo.org.uk\/how-to\/how-to-avoid-illegal-or-innapropriate-interview-questions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">https:\/\/knowhow.ncvo.org.uk\/how-to\/how-to-avoid-illegal-or-innapropriate-interview-questions<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/odep\/publications\/fact-sheets\/focus-on-ability-interviewing-applicants-with-disabilities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/odep\/publications\/fact-sheets\/focus-on-ability-interviewing-applicants-with-disabilities<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eeoc.gov\/pre-employment-inquiries-and-religious-affiliation-or-beliefs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">https:\/\/www.eeoc.gov\/pre-employment-inquiries-and-religious-affiliation-or-beliefs<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you are responsible for hiring employees, you must be very careful when interviewing possible candidates for employment. Some questions, while seemingly innocent, can result in a discrimination lawsuit against your organization<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1631,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[32,100,102,103,214,215,216,224,225,280,309,327,350],"class_list":["post-1627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interview-tips","tag-anti-discrimination-laws","tag-employment-act","tag-employment-discrimination","tag-employment-law","tag-illegal-interview-question","tag-illegal-interview-questions","tag-inappropriate-interview-questions","tag-interview-questions","tag-interview-tips","tag-preparation-for-an-interview","tag-the-hiring-process","tag-what-are-illegal-interview-questions","tag-wrong-interview-questions"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1627","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1627"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1627\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3531,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1627\/revisions\/3531"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1627"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1627"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jobsrmine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1627"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}