12.9 Be Aware of Illegal Interview Questions

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (2024) highlights it is illegal to ask interview questions that are not related to the job. The following list includes questions considered illegal:

• Are you biracial?
• Are you pregnant?
• Have you ever been arrested?
• Do you plan to have children within the next year?
• Do you attend church?
• What languages do you speak at home?
• I hear an accent. Where are you from?
• Are you a US citizen?
• Are you married?
• How many children do you have?
• Who takes care of your kids when you are at work?
• Is your spouse currently employed?
• List all your mental and physical disabilities.
• List the medications you are currently taking.
• Have you ever filed any workers’ compensation claims?
• Do you have any relatives that have been diagnosed with cancer?

Venus Gentile, a contributor to Monster.com offers tips on how one can respond to illegal interview questions. Be aware of laws that prohibit illegal interview questions and be prepared to respond tactfully so you can steer the conversation to the role for which you are interviewing.