Illegal job interview questions are important to be aware of, whether you are conducting an interview or being interviewed. The general rule of thumb is that anything involving gender, age, religion, disabilities, marital status, sexual preference, ethnicity, and parental status are things to be avoided (especially here in the United States).
In addition to our article on standard interview questions, this article aims to help increase your awareness and ability to ace any interview thrown your way. Just because these questions are illegal, it doesn’t mean that they won’t be asked in an interview. After this primer, you’ll be aware of what you don’t have to answer.
What Makes an Interview Question Illegal?
For the most part, common social graces dictate the legality of an interview question. Any information that can be used for discriminatory practices would be defined as illegal. From the interviewers point of view, these questions should be avoided not only for their legality, but also for liability reasons (not to mention poor taste). From the interviewees perspective, know that you do not have to answer the question.
Keep in mind that most illegal questions are asked simply out of ignorance of the law. Outside of the workplace, many illegal job interview questions would seem like small talk. In our hyper-sensitive culture however, they can be used as proof of
