NC State Home Student Services Career Services Interview Skills

Illegal Interview Questions

For assistance with the job search, please contact mrodriguez@ncstatecollege.edu.

The following are questions that employers by law can not ask an interview candidate (a few exceptions apply). Remember, these are inappropriate interview questions! They are appropriate on some post-hire forms (including tax and insurance forms)

Any question for the purpose of revealing your marital status...
Are you married?
Is this your married name?

Any question for the purpose of revealing your parental status...
Are you pregnant?
How many kids do you have?
Are you planning to have children?

Any question for the purpose of revealing your age...
How old are you?
When did you graduate from high school?
Note - College graduates can be asked and it does not necessarily reveal your age.

Any question for the purpose of revealing your national origin...
What is your heritage?
Where were you born?

Any question for the purpose of revealing your race or skin color...
What race are you?
Are you a member of a minority group?

Any question for the purpose of revealing your religious affiliation...
What religious holidays will need to be off from work?
Do you attend church regularly?

Any question for the purpose of revealing your criminal record...
Have you been arrested?

Any question for the purpose of revealing a disability...
What is your medical history?
Do you have a disability?

Information Source:
http://jobsearchtech.com.about.com/library/weekly/aa022403-2.htm
Gathered August 18, 2003

Any of the above questions violate Federal employment discrimination laws and are inappropriate when asked during an interview. Please know that if you volunteer any of the responses (i.e. your age) during the course of your interview, the employer is no longer liable. Be careful how you answer any question during an interview.

Should you get an illegal question in an interview...
Your response to the first violation should be a polite "No Comment"... If the employer persists, you have the right to "remind" the employer that they are asking inappropriate questions.

Last Update: October 17, 2008
Maintained by: mrodriguez@ncstatecollege.edu
Disclaimer | Computer and Network Use Policy