Are you looking for a new job at the moment? Then probably you’re already googling what questions you should expect to be asked about and what is the correct answer to each of them in order to be in favor of getting the job. I am sure there are a lot of information on the Internet regarding the ways you can format the perfect CV or how you can answer smartly in each question. However, have you ever thought about the types of questions that are inappropriate for an interviewer to ask you? I you’re about to get interviewed it is important to know your rights as a job seeker and to identify interview questions that are off limits. An interview is not only about a candidate being considered for a position, but it is also about a company being the right fit for you.

With that in mind, here are some examples of questions that should cause you to raise an eyebrow of concern.

 

Age

When were you born?

How old are you?

What’s your birth date?

 

Asking how old you are, even in a roundabout way, is just something an interviewer is expected to avoid when conducting a job interview, as it is discriminatory, especially for people of older age. Ageism is frequently defined as the negative attitude towards an individual because he or she is old and may include the following: unfair treatment, disproportionately lower pay, preferential treatment for younger workers.

 

Gender/ Gender Identity

 

What’s your gender?

What’s your sexual orientation?

How do you identify?

 

 Asking about gender and sexual preferences can be deemed overboard and this can further be claimed as harassment.

 

Marital or Family Status / Pregnancy

 

Are you married?

Do you have children?

Are you single?

 

To be extremely crystal clear, an interviewer should never ask an applicant whether they are married, in a relationship or single as these are personal sensitive information. Furthermore,  interviewers cannot ask an applicant if she is pregnant, how many children she has, or if she plans on having more. These questions can violate familial-status or pregnancy discrimination laws, and can also be discriminatory based on gender if you ask these questions of female applicants, but don’t ask the men.

 

Disabilities/ Medical History

 

Do you have a disability/medical condition?

How did you lose your leg/arm?

 

At no point should an interviewer ask whether the applicant is disabled or has a health condition as this gives the appearance of discrimination. Applicants can't be forced to disclose this information unless it relates directly to the job role itself.

 

If you’re asked inappropriate interview questions about any of these areas, first of all, remain calm and composed. Getting angry and immediately accusing your interviewer of discriminatory tactics or aggressively pointing out the error in their line of questioning can only escalate the situation. In some circumstances, the interviewer may truly not realize they’ve asked an inappropriate question. Instead, consider repeating the question back to them and asking how this might relate to your job duties or responsibilities. If they keep pushing for an answer to an obviously off-limits question, politely yet clearly and firmly state that you’d prefer not to answer the question.

 

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I hope this might help!

For you #NOTHINKER,

Eli