Most people find the process of going through job interviews to be strenuous at best. Even though the interviewer is the one in control of the hiring process there are certain questions that they aren’t allowed to ask you during the interview. As a job seeker you should be aware of what these questions are and how to deal with them if asked.
“What is your military status?” “What type of discharge did you receive?”
Many people don’t realize that military status is federally protected class and companies cannot make a decision to employ you based on your past, current or future military service.
“Do you plan on starting a family?” “Who cares for your children when you’re at work?
A candidate’s sex as well is considered a federally protected class; therefore an employer cannot discriminate against an applicant based upon it.
“What religion are you?” “Do you need any religious holidays off?”
Religious discrimination is prohibited; therefore asking questions that pertain to one’s religious beliefs are illegal.
“Do you have any physical or mental disabilities?”
If you are a private employer with 15 or more employees or state and local government you must abide by the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination against an applicant with a disability.
“What country do you and your family come from?”
Another federally protected class is nation of origin. An applicant cannot be discriminated against based on their ethnicity or country of origin
If you find yourself in an interview where you are being asked these types of questions, you may want to consider the following. Respond to the inquiry by replying that the question isn’t pertinent to your ability to perform the job. Also remember in many ways you are interviewing the company as well, so why would you want to work for a company that clearly doesn’t follow protocol from the outset.
