Interviewing for a new job or a promotion can be unnerving.
But not all job interview questions are kosher.
In fact, there are some which you are legally protected fromhaving to answer.
How old are you?
TheAge Discrimination in Employment Act(ADEA) is designed to protect you from ageism down the road.
Keep an eye out for questions that can reveal your age indirectly, too.
They might ask how long have you been working?
or when did you graduate high school?
These might seem like harmless inquiries, but they may be designed to figure out your age.
In the same vein, they cant ask when you plan to retire.
Have you ever been arrested?
What they cant ask, however, is if youve ever been arrested in general.
The more serious the offense, the more convincing you have to be.
It all depends on the situation, so see to it youre prepared beforehand.
How is your health?
Questions relating to your general health and physical ability can be a very tricky subject.
Its also illegal for them to directly ask if you have any disabilities.
Are you married?
This could also be a subtle way to question someone about their sexual orientationanother protected class.
Questions like who will take care of your children while youre at work?
or could you get a babysitter on short notice?
Remember, anything regarding your personal relationships, marital status, family, or sexual orientation are all protected.
What is your religion?
Neither of those questions are illegal and could potentially reveal that information whether you tell them or not.
Religious corporations, associations, educational institutions, or societies are exempt from the federal laws that the U.S.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces when it comes to the employment of individuals based on their particular religion.
What is your nationality?
Anything in the realm of what country are you from?
or what country are you from originally?
Do you like to drink socially?
Whether youre a recovering alcoholic or not, they arent supposed to ask.
And if you choose to answer and say no, they cant discriminate against you.
Any questions regarding whether you drink or even smoke cigarettes are off limits.
Have you ever used drugs in the past?
This is another example of a loaded question that can mean a lot of things.
And even then, its a sketchy subject to bring up without a good reason.
What theycanask you isif you are using any illegal drugs currently.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
