Examples of illegal interview questions

These are questions that should NOT be asked in an interview by an employer:

• Are you married?
• How old are you?
• Do you have children?
• What is your sexual preference?
• Do you go to church?
• Do you have a disability? If so, what is it?
• How much do you weigh?
• How tall are you?
• Is your childcare taken care of and who is your provider?
• Do you own your home or rent?
• Do you plan on having children/more children?
• Would you like to go out with me?
• Tell us something about any personal, family, or health issues that will prevent you from doing your job.
• What does your spouse do?
• What political party do you belong to?
• How much money did you make last year?
• Have you been arrested and if so, what was the charge?
• What is your opinion on (politics, social groups, religion)?
• Do you drink, take drugs, both?

If you are asked any illegal question, your options include the following:

• Answer the question
• Gently refuse to answer the question
• Change the subject
• Make a "joke" about the question (Be Careful - this can be difficult)
• Return the question to the interviewer with another question:
  • "Why do you ask?"
  • "How does this apply to the job?"
  • "If I don't answer, will I automatically not get the job?"
  • "Are you aware that you have just asked me an illegal question?"