Job interview questions can be challenging, like, “What is your greatest weakness?” They can also be unexpected, like ,“If you could be an ice cream flavor, which one would you be?” However, did you know that there are also some questions that are out of bounds for employers to ask during an interview? As a job seeker, it’s important to be aware of which questions are considered to be illegal job interview questions.
Setting Hiring Guidelines
First, let’s take a look at how employment guidelines are set in place. In the United States, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee. The laws set forth apply to all types of work situations, including firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, benefits and, of course, hiring.
Therefore, when it comes to illegal job interview questions, the commission ensures that employers do not ask questions regarding areas including, but not limited to:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation)
- National Origin
- Age
- Disability
Impact Podcast: Episode 31 – Illegal Interview Questions
Are you unsure of whether or not a particular question is considered illegal? You are not alone! To help clear up the confusion around potentially illegal job interview questions, we welcomed Kristen, Executive Director of Field Operations for the Medix Delivery Team, back to the Impact Podcast. Based on her years of hiring experience, she shares the red flags to pay attention to during your next job interview, and four tactics for responding to problematic lines of questioning.
Tune into the episode 31 of the Medix Impact Podcast below! Then, prepare for your next job interview by visiting www.medixteam.com/podcast for more information on this and many more of today’s top career topics.
