Illegal Interview Questions
You want to know what? What does me being married or not have to do with this job? Questions like the one above are personal in nature and it is illegal for employers to ask these kinds of questions. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, specifically Title VII makes it against the law for employers to discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. People 40 years of age or older are protected by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) and Title I and V prohibit employment discrimination against people with disabilities. Interview questions that are illegal to ask are ones that could be classified under any of the laws above. Employers can face legal action at the Civic, State, and Federal level. Ultimately, it's up to you whether or not you answer any of the questions an employer asks, especially if they're illegal interview questions . If an employer asks you a question that you may think is illegal simply follow this advice: Politely tell the employer that while you're at work you will be dedicated to the job, but what happens in your personal life is personal. Another way to handle it is to ask them how the question directly relates to the job you're being interviewed for and why they would like to know. Any question that’s related to sexual orientation, age, race, physical capability, etc. is illegal to ask in the interview. You do not have to reply to these questions. You can obtain up-to-date information on what an employer can ask by contacting your local government office (labor relations). A quick Internet search will also reveal the types of questions that are illegal in an interview. SIGN up for your FREE Account at Monster.com for more advice on resume writing & interview success tips!
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