11.14.07
Asking the right interview questions
There’s a right way to do something and the wrong way to do something. Unfortunately, sometimes doing something the wrong way can end up costing you big time. This is definitely true when it comes to interviewing potential candidates for a job. Violate federal law in terms of asking questions that may be considered discriminatory and find yourself on the receiving end of a lawsuit.
Ira S Wolfe with Success Performance Solutions provides some assistance in the interview process:
Interviewers should ask themselves two questions before interviewing a job applicant:
1) Is the question relevant to the particular job for which the candidate is applying? Should interview questions be used to prove discrimination against you in court, the EEOC will evaluate the merit of the charges based on “business necessity.” But just because it is a business necessity, it might not be legal. And even if it is legal, it might not be deemed a business necessity. Asking questions that aren’t legal or aren’t necessary or appropriate could get you into a whole heap of trouble.
2) Am I asking all applicants for this job the same questions? If you need to ask a
candidate a question about race or religion, for example, out of “business necessity,” make sure you ask those questions to anyone else who applies for that particular position.
Which job interview questions are illegal? Here are a few examples of illegal job interview questions.
Topic: Race/Color
Wrong: What is the color of your skin?
Right: ?
Topic: Religion
Wrong: What religion are you? Do you believe in God? How often do you attend worship services? What are your religious denomination and/or affiliations?
Right: ?
Topic: Nationality/Language
Wrong: You’ve got a strong accent; did you just cross the Mexican border? Where were you/your parents born? What’s your citizenship status? What’s your maiden name? What’s your first language? How did you learn to speak ____?
Right: ?
Topic: Age
Wrong: How old are you? Are you planning to retire?Right: ?
Topic: Sex
Wrong: What’s your marital status? Are you pregnant? Do you plan on having a family anytime soon? How many kids do you have? What are your childcare arrangements?
Right: ?
Topic: Affiliations
Wrong: List all the clubs and social organizations to which you belong.
Right: ?
Topic: Personal
Wrong: How tall are you? How much do you weigh? Why do you wear your hair like that? What kind of music do you listen to?
Right: ?
Topic: Disabilities
Wrong: Do you have a particular disability? How severe is it? Do you have any diseases? Fill out this medical history for you and your family.
Right: ?
