How To Evade The Illegal Question | Important Interview Questions

The illegal question is one which doesn’t affect your job candidature in any way. In some cases, you may find it too personal. The interviewer may still ask you such kind of information.

TRAP: Illegal questions include any regarding your age, number and ages of your children or other dependents, marital status, maiden name, religion, political affiliation, ancestry, national origin, birthplace, naturalization of your parents, spouse or children, diseases, disabilities, clubs, or spouse’s occupation unless any of the above are directly related to your performance of the job. You can’t even be asked about arrests, though you can be asked about convictions.

ACCEPTABLE ANSWER: Under the ever-present threat of lawsuits, most interviewers are well aware of these taboos. Yet you may encounter, usually on a second or third interview, a senior executive who doesn’t interview much and forgets he can’t ask such questions.
You can handle an illegal question in several ways. First, you can assert your legal right not to answer. But this will frighten or embarrass your interviewer and destroy any rapport you had.

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Second, you could swallow your concerns over privacy and answer the question straightforward if you feel the answer could help you. For example, your interviewer, a devout Baptist, recognizes you from church and mentions it. Here, you could gain by talking about your church.
Third, if you don’t want your privacy invaded, you can diplomatically answer the concern behind the question without answering the question itself.

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Example: If you are over 50 and are asked, “How old are you,” you can answer with a friendly, smiling question of your own on whether there’s a concern that your age may affect your performance. Follow this up by reassuring the interviewer that there’s nothing in this job you can’t do and, in fact, your age and experience are the most important advantages you offer to the employer.

Another example: If asked, “Do you plan to have children,” you could answer, “I am wholeheartedly dedicated to my career“. You can also add, “I have no plans regarding children.” You needn’t fear you’ve pledged eternal childlessness. You have every right to change your plans later. Get the job first and then enjoy all your options.

Most importantly, remember that illegal questions arise from fear that you won’t perform well. The best answer of all is to get the job and perform brilliantly. All concerns and fears will then varnish, replaced by respect, and appreciation for your work.

In retrospect, if you want to identify situations where you might have been encountered the illegal question (whether mild or severe), imagine yourself as the interviewer and introspect whether you would ask the candidate something like that or not.

What tips would you offer on how to answer illegal interview questions? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

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