5 questions you can’t ask during an interview and how to answer them

There is nothing like being asked an illegal question during a job interview to increase your stress level by a few thousand points. In theory, there is a long list of questions that cannot be asked. However, you will be. You will be asked by interviewers who don’t know any better and, unfortunately, by those who do.

In theory, you could simply claim that you asked an inappropriate question and that you are refusing to answer. You have every right to point out that this is a problem for the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity.

And I recommend it, if they ask or continue to be shy about asking illegal questions during the interview. However, assuming the interviewer did not intend to violate your privacy, how do you answer these types of questions without jeopardizing your chances?

I do not know. I am not a job guru who has the answers. Still, if I were asked these questions, I could answer as follows:

1. How old are you? I am 49 years old and I think it is a good age for this position. Not only do I have the skills and experience to do this job, but 49 gives you a person with maturity and a great sense of responsibility. Becoming a part of your organization, a productive part of your organization, without the hand is something that I think everyone will appreciate.

2. Are you married? Yes I am. Part of my past success is due to having a stable family life and a committed spouse to do well. When I first got married, I got a little stressed about balancing work and family, like it was a juggling act. Not so. Having a family has taught me to be aware of others and to work in the context of a team, my family. That approach helps me to be a stronger supporter and facilitator at work. Of course, having a spouse who supports me and wants me to do well is always an advantage, for me and where I work.

3. Well, any disabilities that we should know about? I think I am a very good fit in this position and you will be the happy beneficiary of the talents and experience that I bring to the table. So, in every way, your needs will be solved by attracting me.

4. Are you a US citizen born in the country or where are you from? With all due respect, is that relevant to this job? My family is originally from Colombia, but I’m proud to be an American for whatever it’s worth.

5. Are you pregnant? With all due respect, is that relevant to this job? As we discussed and agreed, your needs for a business analyst are a great match for my skills and experience. As I understand it, and I am sure you know, being pregnant does not disqualify me for this or any position. Not a problem, right?

But there are questions that are legal to ask, but are vague enough to get you in trouble.

1. Here is a gap of 2 years, what happened? The company he worked for collapsed. The owner was a good man, but he was overloaded and evidently when the bills were due, he could not meet his obligations. They basically let us all go without much warning. Since then, I have been doing 3 things. First, I have been working a temporary position to help pay the bills. Second, I have been taking evening financial management courses at our local community college. And I volunteer for the local museum, raising funds. All of which makes me a great candidate for this sales position.

2. So tell me what your weaknesses are. There’s that old saying, “where angels fear to tread …” I’ve always gotten high marks for being proactive and really looking for responsibility. That said, I understand that the other side of the coin is being reckless. At this point though, having matured, having made a few mistakes, I feel like I’m in a position, now, to better balance taking the initiative with caution. And I have made it one of the strengths that I will bring to this position. Also, my Achilles heel is from Ho-ho, but now it’s much better.

Obviously I’m not trying to say that these are the answers, rather, I just wanted to give you some examples to think about when formulating your approach. And you should formulate your approaches before going to the interview.

I think it is important to understand that the vast majority of interviewers are good people and would not intentionally ask an illegal question. Your goal is simply to find the one that best suits the opening you have.

But regardless of the reasons, you have your rights. And you have the right not to be asked questions that are illegal, that violate your privacy, that discriminate against you. If you think you are a victim of such questions, you should of course contact your local Equal Employment Opportunity Office.