During a job interview, you might feel as if your interviewer is on the driver’s seat taking you to places you are wary to go. But this is not true. In fact, many laws are in place to protect you from illicit interview questions that subtly denote undue biases.
What Are Illicit Interview Questions
The federal and state laws prohibit firms from asking questions irrelevant to the vacant job post. Unless the questions are crucial to the job opening, an interviewer should never drag or force you to answer. Turning down a fitting applicant only because he/she refuses to answer such queries is unfair and punishable by law.
How to Dodge the Questions and “Flip the Script” to Your Advantage
1. Ancestry
During your interview, the hiring manager may ask on the number of languages you can speak fluently or your ability to work in the US. But he/she cannot oblige you to disclose your birthplace, ethnic origin, and/or other native languages unless you say yes. If you’re at ease to talk about your private life, re-purpose your answer to show that multiple citizenship or bilingualism is a big plus to the workplace.
2. Gender
Unless it directly relates to the job, hirers should avoid asking you about your gender or sexuality. If it comes up, the best approach is to answer the question without citing gender.
3. Marital and Family Status
“Are you married?” This may seem like a small talk, but it’s one of the trickiest illicit interview questions. The answer can reveal more info about yourself than you can think. Questions about your marital status, number of children, childcare situation, or spouse’s job and income are all illegal. Answer these queries gracefully by assuring the hirer that you can perform all the duties that the job entails regardless of your marital and family status.
4. Age
Questions about your age, birthday, or date of graduation may seem okay but many hidden agendas lurk behind such queries. Yes, employers may ask you this question but only to check if you are of legal age to work. Unless it concerns the job, they couldn’t just dig into your birthday and disfavor you for your age. If the hirer asks, refocus your answer on your years of experience instead.
5. Disability
The law does not allow questions regarding your height, weight, or any physical or mental limitations, except if they’re related to the job requirements. If you choose to reply, state that you’re confidently able to handle the requisites of the job.
Other Illicit Interview Questions
The laws also forbid questions about religion, financial status, military discharge, and criminal record. If you believe that an employer, employment agency, or the labor union violated such policies and discriminated you, you may file a charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or EEOC. Contact an attorney who handles labor issues or your local EEOC office.
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Sources: thebalance.com | monster.ca | forbes.com | lifehack.org
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