Written by: Emily Joswiak • September 7, 2022• Business

Illegal Interview Questions Employers Cannot Ask You

Many job applicants aren’t aware of their legal rights, making them susceptible to illegal interview questions. Learn about the questions employers can’t ask.

When preparing for an interview, applicants often wonder about an employer’s questions and how to answer them. However, many applicants aren’t aware of the questions an employer might ask but shouldn’t. Understanding your rights as an employee is important and can save you from working in a potentially toxic work environment. This article will help review illegal interview questions employers cannot ask you.

Age

While some jobs require that you be a certain age, such as working in a bar or any adult entertainment facility, an employer cannot ask you about your age. If you appear younger, they can ask you if you are of working age. However, avoid answering questions about which year you were born or when you graduated high school or college.

Religion

Only two circumstances allow an employer to ask about your religion. They can ask about your religion if it falls under a bona fide qualification, which would be something that bars you from doing the job, such as working in a religious position. Additionally, the Title VII laws that protect employees do not apply to employers with less than 15 full-time employees. Other than that, there is no legal circumstance where it is acceptable for an employer to ask you about your religion.

Marriage and Family Status

Employers may try to ask you about your marriage and family status to see how much time you’re able to dedicate to your job. An employer cannot ask about your relationship status. They also cannot ask you if you have any children, are currently pregnant, or plan to have children. However, if an employer asks you about outside commitments, they’re likely asking you about your relationships and not just other hobbies, so keep that in mind when answering.

Financial Information

Employers cannot directly ask you if you own a home, have a car, or anything else that might indicate how much money you currently make. The only circumstance when it is appropriate is if it is a job requirement. But an employer can ask you if you have a mode of transportation to get to the job. Any other questions about your financial status are illegal.

As a general rule, if it doesn’t strictly apply to fulfilling the job’s requirements, it is likely an illegal interview question that an employer is not allowed to ask.

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Last modified: September 7, 2022