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Improper interview questions
An employer’s primary interest should be the applicant’s ability to do a good job for the organization. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, and national origin. As such, the following questions are inappropriate for an interviewer to ask (note that some of these questions, such as medical history and age, are naturally part of the information you need to supply to your employer or their insurance company AFTER you are hired, but not before).
- Where were you born?
- When were you born?
- Are you an American citizen?
- Is your spouse Caucasian/Hispanic/African American/Asian, etc?
- What language is spoken in your home?
- What religious holidays will you be taking off from work?
- Are you straight or gay?
- How many kids do you have? What kind of child care arrangements have you made?
- Is your spouse employed? How much does he/she make?
- What is your medical history? Do you have a handicap?
- Do you take any prescription drugs?
- How many sick days did you take last year?
- Do you smoke or drink alcohol?
The following questions are okay:
- Are you eligible to work in the United States?
- What languages do you speak, read, or write fluently?
- Are you over the age of 18?
- Can you work on Saturdays/Sundays? Can you work overtime?
- Will you be able and willing to travel as needed for this job?
- What are the names of relatives already employed by the company or a competitor?
- Can you perform the specific duties of the job?
- Do you take illegal drugs?
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