Did you know that an employer cannot ask you if you're married? Or about your religion? According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, employers cannot ask you the following types of questions when you are being interviewed for a job:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Gender identity or sexual orientation
- If you're pregnant
- National origin
- Age
- Disability or genetic information.
Here are some examples of how an interviewer might ask you about these topics during an interview. Remember, it is illegal for them to ask you any of these questions!
- What arrangements are you able to make for child care while you work?
- How old are your children?
- When did you graduate from high school?
- Are you a U.S. citizen? (*they can legally ask if you are authorized to work in the U.S., but NOT if you are a citizen)
- What does your wife do for a living?
- Where did you live while you were growing up?
- Will you need personal time off for particular religious holidays?
- Are you comfortable working for a female boss?
- There is a large disparity between your age and that of the position’s coworkers. Is this a problem for you?
- How long do you plan to work until you retire?
- Have you experienced any serious illnesses in the past year?
So, what should you do if any employer asks you a question like this? You could politely say something like, "I am confident that I meet the requirements for this position" or "This question does not affect my ability to do the job well." If they asked about your family, you could say, "I am able to work the schedule stated in the job description."
You can read more about these rules at https://www.eeoc.gov/prohibited-employment-policiespractices#application_and_hiring.
