Bad Interview Questions
Conducting an interview can be difficult. You worry about asking the questions that will get you the information to choose the right person for your open position. People focus so much on asking the right questions in an interview that they often forget about the questions that should not be asked. These are the questions that could get you and your company in hot water. Many questions that interviewers look at as innocent can be considered discriminatory. The passing of the anti-discrimination and consumer protection legislation in the 1960 restricts the types of questions that can be asked prior to employment.
As you prepare to start interviewing the next group of applicants for your company, it is best to know what questions to avoid. This will keep any possible legal interpretations of the way that you conduct your interview questions. The following are some of the interview questions that you will want to avoid asking in your next interview session.
What kind of name is that?
Questions about background and heritage should not be asked. This question may seem innocent enough, but what passes as small talk in the outside world will not work when it comes to interviewing. Other questions that should be avoided are ones that deal with citizenship.
Are you pregnant?
There are times when you will be talking to woman and think to yourself that she may be pregnant. This is never a good question to ask any woman, if she is not pregnant, you will have embarrassed yourself and her. Besides the fact that it is rude to ask this question, it is illegal. It is a good idea to avoid all questions having to do with family and marital status when you are conducting an interview.
Is English your first language?
This is a question that will get you and your company into hot water when it comes to discriminatory question. This question falls into the realm of asking about national origin and heritage.
Article courtesy of Designer Meetup
