Questions you do NOT have to answer in a job interview

• April 20, 2024

Have you been asked personal questions in your job interview as if you plan to get pregnant or what do you do on your weekends? They may not seem aggressive to you, but you may not want to answer them, and you are in all your rights.

We know that a job interview It can be very stressful, however, it is basic that you know you have rights. Check out these 10 illegal work questions that you do NOT have to answer.

1. How old are you?

Probably the most common illegal question you have been asked. Although this information must be included in your CV, the person who interviews you does not have to ask how old you are.

In the US, for example, there is an Age Discrimination Act (ADEA), a law that protects people over 40 years of age from such questioning in a job interview. The same happens in the United Kingdom, where it is also illegal to ask this information.

2. Are you married?

There is a term in labor law called pregnancy discrimination, which was created to prevent employers from treating undocumented mothers or women applicants.

This law prohibits employers from requesting any type of information regarding the family plans that the candidate has.

If you are asked this question, you can answer that you do not feel comfortable or you are not interested in talking about your private life in a professional environment.

3. What is your sexual orientation?

The fundamental laws of discrimination prohibit recruiters from asking any questions related to the candidate's sex life. It does not have relevance for the job position for which it competes.

Any director of Human Resources that asks you about this subject is committing a clear crime.

4. Have you been arrested?

This question represents a gray area in the labor legislation, and is that although employers have the right to ask if the candidate has ever been convicted of a crime, they have no right to request information about the arrest record.

5. Can we have the passwords of your social networks?

In 2012 this was a problem in the US because many of the recruiters asked the candidates for this information. Many refused to provide the information, others gave them in their attempt to get the job.

However, it is completely forbidden to ask for this information, however, the recruiter can perform independent searches of your public profiles on social networks.

6. What is your country of origin?

For anyone with a mixed ancestry, dual nationality or foreign accent, this question may seem like a simple curiosity on the part of the employer.

However, you are not required to disclose this type of information since in your background described in your CV you can determine your origin of birth.

Sometimes, the recruiter may ask you to know how much you have to work elsewhere.

7. Are you a social drinker?

This question can not be asked because, under legal terms, the privacy of people with alcohol problems who are in recovery is protected.

For this reason, it is common for some companies to carry out alcohol and drug tests at random on their employees in order to know this information.

8. What is your religion?

This question has a reason to be: employers can anticipate the holidays or specials that the employee may request, according to their religious beliefs, but this does not justify the recruiter asking your religion.

You are in all your right not to answer this question.

9. How did you get that scar or physical anomaly?

This is deeply personal and insensitive and has nothing to contribute to the job interview. On the other hand, it could be a clear discrimination against the company against people with disabilities.

If you were to ask this you just have to say that you are in your right not to answer and that you feel uncomfortable.

10. How do you feel about supervising an exclusive team of women or men?

It is illegal to ask any type of question related to gender issues or to make assumptions based on perceived differences between candidates.

Video Medicine: 08 common Interview question and answers - Job Interview Skills (April 2024).