When you finally land an interview in these challenging times, it may be disheartening to find yourself being asked questions that make you uncomfortable. It helps to know employment discrimination is illegal and that you have rights. It also helps to know what questions are legal and illegal for potential employers to ask. You may decide to answer the questions anyway, but you will be on notice that this is a company with a corporate culture that may not be right for you.
Interview Questions That Are Considered Discrimination
You should not be asked or subjected to the following:
- Questions about sexual orientation
- Questions about ancestry, national origin, or prior marital status, e.g., “Where were you born?”
- Comments about height, weight, complexion, or color
- Questions about previous sick leave use
- Questions about workers comp claims from former positions
- Questions about your health
- Questions about age (other than those made to ensure you are old enough to do the work)
- A request for your birth certificate
- Asking if you live with anyone
- Asking if you own your home
- Asking what your childcare arrangements are
- Asking whether you are married, divorced, or single
- Questions about arrests unless they relate to the position
- Questions about your membership in organizations that are not related to the job
- Questions about degrees or education that have nothing to do with the position
- Questions about dates you attended school
- Questions about dates of your service in the military
- Questions about what holidays you celebrate
Contact the New Jersey employment lawyers of Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, P.C. for help with employment law issues.
Neil H. Deutsch On G+