EXPERIENCE:
INTERVIEW SKILLS -
INAPPROPRIATE QUESTIONS
There
are certain questions that employers should not ask you according
to theU.S. Equal EmploymentOpportunity Act. These include questions
that may have any kind of discriminatory effects, or questions that
are not job related. Examples of these types of questions include
those regarding:
- Marital
and family status;
- Religious
or political affiliations;
- Age
(except to establish minimum requirements);
- Ancestry,
national origin, race;
- Sex
or sexual orientation;
- Disabilities.
Following
are some suggestions on how to hand these questions if you should
encounter them:
-
You
need not answer the question; however, you should be aware that
this may ruin your chances of getting the job.
-
You
can simply answer the question by giving an honest, assertive,
but non-antagonistic reply.
You
can ask the interviewer for clarification as to how the question
relates to the position you are applying for and your ability
to “get the job done.”
-
Be
prepared in advance for the possibility of being asked such
questions, and think about whether or not you would want to
answer.
Sample
Questions and Responses:
-
Are
you planning on having children anytime soon?
I
do not understand the relevance of that information to the position.
Can you please clarify this.
-
Do
you plan on getting married soon?
I
am confident that I can do the job no matter what I decide to
do in the future.
Consider
very carefully whether or not you would want to work for an organization
that asks you these types of questions. If you come across any
of these situations, please inform a career professional at The
Career Center.
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