Inappropriate Interview Questions

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During the interview process the interviewer and interviewee must be aware of questions that may be illegal, discriminatory, or inappropriate. Summarized below are a few examples of those types of questions and how to answer them appropriately and professionally if asked.

Interview Questions That Cannot Be Asked

Age

Questions pertaining to age such as, “How old are you?” are forbidden and is considered illegal if asked during the interview process (Raisbeck, 2010). Other questions relating to age that are considered illegal include: “What is your birthdate?”, “When did you graduate?”, and “How much longer do you plan to work before you retire?” (Guiliana, 2006). The only question relating to age that can be asked is “Are you over the age of 18?” It should be asked only if knowledge of the applicant’s age is needed to ensure the candidate is legally old enough to work for the company (Guiliana, 2006).

Race/Religion/ National Origin

Inquiring about a job applicant’s race, color, religion, or nation of origin during an interview is also prohibited and considered illegal (Grohar-Murray & Langan, 2011). Questions related to birthplace, ancestry, or descent of applicant if asked during the course of the interview is illegal (Guiliana, 2006). An example of illegal questions regarding an applicant’s race is “Are you considered to be part of a minority group?” or “Are you a United States Citizen?’(Guiliana, 2006). An employer can only ask if you are legally entitled to work in this country.

Religion is a subject that should be treaded on lightly during an interview. Questions regarding religious preference cannot be asked. An interviewer cannot even ask the question of “Which religious holidays do you observe?” instead if the in...

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...to age, race, religion, nation of origin, marital/family status, gender preference, personal health, and personal information cannot be asked due to legality. In addition, reviewed above are a few techniques on how an interviewee can respond when asked.

Works Cited

Grohar-Murray, M., & Langan, J. (2011). Leadership and Management in Nursing. : Pearson Education.

Guiliana, J. V. (2006, April/May). The Case of the Illegal Question. Podiatry Management, 47-48. Retrieved from http://www.podiatrym.com

Raisbeck, E. (2010, June 11). Dealing With Difficult Interview Questions. Practice Nurse, 39(11), 46. Retrieved from CINAHL Plus with full text

The Student Center TSCPA. (n.d.). http://www.tncpa.org

Washington, T. (n.d.). Handling Illegal Interview Questions. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from http://www.tncpa.org/student/career/advice_on_answering_illegal_questions.aspx

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