How to Handle Illegal Interview Questions
As most people know, the interview process is a difficult one on both jobseekers and employers. Employers are trying to find qualified applicants who fit well in their corporate culture while job seekers are looking for opportunities with companies which will allow them to thrive and succeed. It is very costly for employers to hire the unqualified candidates and very difficult for jobseekers who take the wrong job.
In our society, we have developed a whole slew of laws, rules and regulations that govern the interview process to avoid potential discrimination. Our goal is for the best applicant to get the job regardless of sex, race and other irrelevant considerations. Even with these extensive guidelines on how to conduct an interview, sometimes an interviewer asks an inappropriate or illegal question.
I would recommend that in all cases you should respond in a professional and diplomatic manner regardless of the specifics of the question. The best way to answer this type of question is to respond that you do not feel comfortable answering. In most cases, the interviewer will realize that he or she has stepped over the line and apologize for the question.
If the interviewer does realize the inappropriate nature of his question, it may tell you something about the nature of this employer. One of your goals in this process is to learn as much about the company and culture as you can to determine if this company is the right fit for you. As you evaluate possible employment opportunities, please keep in mind that high on the list of the reasons why employees leave their jobs is their discomfort with the people they work with and the corporate culture of their company. So if you are offended by something in an interview, you should remember this when the time comes to make a decision about accepting an offer at this company.
For more information about illegal interview questions and other recruitment related topics, please visit http://www.employmentmetrix.com/blog/
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