Interview Questions you don’t have to Answer

Imagine you’re in a job interview, and the interviewer asks you one of the following questions:

• Are you married or in a relationship?
• Will potential relationship problems affect your ability to work?
• Do you have children, and if so are there situations where you might need time off without warning?
• Are you planning to start a family in the near future?

How would you answer those questions in a way that won’t jeopardize your chances of getting the job?

In fact, you don’t have to answer those questions at all. In the US and many other countries, any questions about ethnic origins, health status, sexual orientation, marital status and family planning are illegal. In short, any question that might be used to discriminate on the grounds of any other factor than your ability to carry out the tasks outlined in the job description is an illegal question.

If you do get asked these types of questions, it’s important that you choose how to answer them carefully. If you feel comfortable with answering the question honestly, you can choose to do so. You are, of course, well within your rights to refuse to answer any questions that relate to these subjects. In either case, you risk giving the “wrong” answer or giving offense to the employer by refusing to answer.

If it’s just one or two inappropriate questions, consider avoiding both of these types of answers, and instead opt for one that approaches the question from a different angle. For example, if an employer asks you whether you’re in a long-term relationship or marriage, you might answer that you make a point of keeping your work and relationships separate, and add that your partner is very supportive of your work.

It’s worth noting that most interviewers don’t ask such questions deliberately with the awareness that they are illegal. In most situations they simply want to be reassured that you will be a good fit for the company—so if one or two of these questions pop up, it’s not necessarily an indication of discrimination within the company. However, if an interviewer asks several of these types of questions, this may be a warning sign that company-wide attitudes are inappropriate. If you do come up against such questions, your own judgment of the situation is usually the best way of determining the intent behind them.

Still Stuck?  Try using the "The Job Interview Secret"

Also, please review our Free Interview Tips section.  If you need more help, please consider using a Career Counselor.