Difficult and Illegal Questions

Anyone who has had a number of employment interviews has experienced the difficulty of responding to questions which appear to be illegal. These questions may arise because the employer is unaware of the equal opportunity laws and regulations or, in fact, intends to ignore the nondiscrimination requirements of civil rights legislation. Such questions pose a dilemma for job seekers. Refusal to respond will likely damage your chances of a successful interview. On the other hand, responding to these kinds of questions may divulge information which could be used to exclude you. This section provides examples of questions which potentially discriminate against an applicant based on sex, race, or other protected class characteristics. Your responses should be formulated to provide the relevant information the interviewer needs in making a decision.

Problem questions which have occurred in interviews with women and minorities are listed below. The suggested appropriate responses that follow are not "pat" answers. It is important to find a way to handle difficult situations. Appropriate use of humor might work for one individual, while confronting the interviewer would work better for another individual. Your career goals will also influence the way in which you choose to respond. Keep these things in mind as you organize your thoughts.

Q. Do you know how to type? (When applying for a managerial position)

A. I did not understand that typing was required for this position; I assumed that this service would be available to assist me in my managerial role.

Q. What will your marital status be in the future?

A. I do not anticipate any change in my marital status in the near future, and I do not believe it is related to my job performance.

Q. Are you married? If yes, do you plan to go where your spouse locates employment after graduation?

A. I am looking for a career opportunity which I feel your organization can provide. If I am hired, my spouse will attempt to locate a position near my job.

Q. Are you planning to have a family?

A. I have no present plans for having children, but if I do, I would expect to take a short leave of absence and return to my career.

Q. Do you think people find it difficult to work for a woman? A minority?

A. If a supervisor has received the proper training and has a mature, sincere approach to supervising employees, which I feel I have, then potential difficulties can be overcome.

Q. Do you think that the morale and harmony among peers could be adversely affected by the presence of a woman or minority in an administrative position? A. If employees perform their jobs conscientiously and relate to others on a professional basis, I feel that there should be no more problems than those associated with any group of peers.

Q. Do you feel that as a member of a minority group you would have problems living in a conservative community?

A. I have been a member of a minority group all of my life and feel able to cope with any difficulties and problems I may encounter.