‘‘Where do you see yourself in five years?” “What are your greatest strengths?” These are some routine interview questions most job seekers can anticipate and prepare for in advance. But if an interviewer starts probing into someone’s personal life by inquiring about marital status, dependents, age, national origin or religion, they are treading dangerous ground. It is illegal for a prospective employer to make hiring decisions based on personal details that are not directly job-related. The motivation behind illegal questioning varies. Some interviewers are ill trained and simply unaware of the law, while others may want to subtly (or not so subtly) weed out candidates who could become a financial burden, such as a pregnant woman needing maternity leave. Federal, state and local laws prohibit certain interview questions and job applicants are not obligated to answer them. Here are 10 illegal job interview questions, and what to do if you encounter one (or more) on a job interview.
