Comments on: 32 Forbidden Interview Questions

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:07:49 +0000

sfs

Ever wonder why?

It’s because of the ridiculous restraints placed on the employers by the list of what you can’t ask. Illness or health status -why not? Disability (physical or psychological, including the use of drugs and alcohol) - wouldn’t you want to know? Emergency contact information - huh? Legal record, except for crimes specifically related to the job duties - crooks are crooks.

Because they are not allowed to ask questions that DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE - employers must break the law.

By: Jack Payne

Jack Payne — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 23:10:42 +0000

From the viewpoint of a Publishing Company Personnel Manager–me–50 years ago, I can only say, what a difference a half century makes.

In my day NONE of these questions were illegal. Some of the very first things I always wanted to know were age, maritial status, and religious affiliations. And, I freely asked these questions, as well as most of the other questions on this “forbidden” list.

By: Web Design in Malta by RudiBela

Web Design in Malta by RudiBela — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:12:42 +0000

[…] while you are choosing and interviewing your potential developers, an article about forbidden job interview questions or what not to […]

By: john’s log » Learn Today!

john’s log » Learn Today! — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:42:22 +0000

[…] there’s such thing as the 32 Forbidden Interview Questions, be more creative on the questions, and that’s hard especially with candidates with no […]

By: admin

admin — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:01:26 +0000

sfs don’t be so pessimistic. After reading your comment I got little paranoid.

Market laws are stronger than any state imposed ones.

If there is a will there is a way.

By: sfs

sfs — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:54:14 +0000

Well they ask these things all the time and if you don’t answer them or object, what do you think you’re going to do? Sue them? Do you know there’s a lawsuit database that HR checks before hiring and if you’re on it, no job for you? Trust me, your suit, which will be very expensive for you to pursue, will insure that you never work again.

Employers are criminals. Those aren’t my words, those are the words of an IRS agent who knows well what employers do. They routinely break the law with impunity. Just type in “grigsby and cohen” in youtube and see what goes on without repercussion .

Employers verbally demand information they’re not entitled to and if you hesitate at all, you never hear from them again. What case do you have?

It’s the wild west out there, complete with inter-company do not hire blacklists for “bad” employees. There is no law.

Just do yourself a favor and refuse to work for someone else. If you’re selling your services by taking a job, find another way to sell those same services and skills.

I know what I am saying is not happy-sounding, but it’s very real. You may also want to look at the book “corporate confidential” by a long time HR insider if you want to know what really goes on in the hiring process.

By: Izabela Bogdanovic

Izabela Bogdanovic — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 08:56:16 +0000

Hello,
asking the question itself is not illegal.

If you are clearly qualified for the job and this problem in question would not prevent you from performing your best on the job but you were denied employment, you can consider yourself discriminated.

Discrimination is illegal.

In fact, asking the question and judging people according to their answer is how our brains work. If you do not want to discriminate then you just do not ask these possibly problematic questions at all.

By: durrob

durrob — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 04:07:35 +0000

I think some of these things you cant ask during a job interview are rediculous, especially not being able to ask if they use drugs or alchohol.

By: Jim Bethancourt

Jim Bethancourt — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:15:39 +0000

Why are a number of these questions considered illegal if asked by an interviewer, but show up on job applications? Family members working for the company is one that comes to mind.

Thanks,
Jim

By: Tom Pridham

Tom Pridham — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 23:13:53 +0000

There a few questions in the list, that if asked slightly differently, are legal.

During an interview, once the technical stuff is out of the way and we get into the “character checking” part of the interview, I always offer up the information that I am a conservative Christian. Why would I do that? Because it immediately states the type of person I am. If who I am upsets the interviewer(s), then the company is most likely a place I would rather not work.

Regards,
Tom Pridham
pridham@mindspring.com