CHICAGO, April 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Job seekers
may think they're the only ones sweating the job interview – afraid
they'll say the wrong thing or answer inappropriately – but hiring
managers are under just as much pressure. When it comes to drawing
the line between what is and isn't appropriate to ask a job
candidate, the parameters aren't always clear. In a recent
CareerBuilder survey, 20 percent of hiring managers indicated they
have asked a question in a job interview only to find out later
that it was illegal to ask.
The survey also revealed the less-conventional interview
questions hiring managers have asked to see what really makes a
candidate tick.
"It's important for both interviewer and interviewee to
understand what employers do and don't have a legal right to ask in
a job interview – for both parties' protection," says Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer
at CareerBuilder. "Though their intentions may be harmless, hiring
managers could unknowingly be putting themselves at risk for legal
action, as a job candidate could argue that certain questions were
used to discriminate against him or her."
More than 2,100 hiring and human resource managers across
industries participated in the nationwide survey, commissioned by
CareerBuilder and conducted online by Harris Poll from November 4 to December 2, 2014.
Interview Questions That Aren't Okay to Ask
The following questions are illegal for hiring managers to ask;
yet, when asked if they knew if these questions were illegal, at
least one third of employers indicated they didn't know:
- What is your religious affiliation?
- Are you pregnant?
- What is your political affiliation?
- What is your race, color or ethnicity?
- How old are you?
- Are you disabled?
- Are you married?
- Do you have children or plan to?
- Are you in debt?
- Do you social drink or smoke?
Often the legality of the question is in how the interviewer
asks it. For example, a number of hiring managers didn't know the
legality of asking the following:
- "When do you plan to retire?" Asking candidates what
their long-term goals are is okay, but asking when they plan to
retire is off the table.
- "Where do you live?" Asking candidates where they live
could be interpreted as a way to discriminate based on their
location and is therefore illegal. Asking them if they are willing
to relocate, however, is okay.
- What was the nature of your military discharge? Asking
why a military veteran was discharged is illegal; however asking
what type of education, training or work experience received while
in the military is not.
- Are you a U.S. citizen? While it's okay to ask if a
candidate is legally eligible for employment in the U.S., it's not
okay to ask about citizenship or national origin.
Unusual Interview Questions (That Are Okay to Ask)
Some interview questions seem inappropriate because they are, as
noted above. Others, however, seem inappropriate because they are
unfamiliar. But though the following interview questions may have
one wondering, "What does this have to do with the job?" there is a
method to hiring managers' perceived madness. Below are some of the
most unusual – but still legal – interview questions hiring
managers say they have asked job candidates, and what these
questions really assess:
"How would you wrangle a herd of cats?" A hiring manager
might ask a question like this to gain insight into a candidate's
ability to organize, lead and motivate others.
"Do you believe in life on other planets?" A question
like this might be asked to see if a candidate has an attitude that
anything is possible.
"What superpower would you like to have?" How candidates
answer this question can provide insight into how they view their
own strengths and weaknesses.
"If you were stranded on an island, which two items would you
like to have with you?" Answers to this question could indicate
a candidate's ability to weather a tough situation with limited
resources.
"If you did not have to work, what would you do?" This
question provides a peek into a candidate's values and interests
outside of work, which can help assess for cultural fit.
"If you were trapped in a blender, what would you do to get
out?" This question might assess a candidate's creativity,
ability to think on his or her feet and problem-solving
skills.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online
within the U.S. by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder among
2,192 hiring and human resource managers ages 18 and over (employed
full-time, not self-employed, non-government) between November 4 and December 2, 2014
(percentages for some questions are based on a subset, based on
their responses to certain questions). With a pure probability
sample of 2,192, one could say with a 95 percent probability that
the overall results have a sampling error of +/- 2.09 percentage
points. Sampling error for data from sub-samples is higher and
varies.
About CareerBuilder®
CareerBuilder is the global
leader in human capital solutions, helping companies target and
attract great talent. Its online career site, CareerBuilder.com®,
is the largest in the United
States with more than 24 million unique visitors and 1
million jobs. CareerBuilder works with the world's top employers,
providing everything from labor market intelligence to talent
management software and other recruitment solutions. Owned by
Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI), Tribune Company and The McClatchy
Company (NYSE:MNI), CareerBuilder and its subsidiaries operate in
the United States, Europe, South
America, Canada and
Asia. For more information, visit
www.careerbuilder.com.
Media Contact
Mary
Lorenz
773-527-3613
mary.lorenz@careerbuilder.com
http://www.twitter.com/CareerBuilderPR
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SOURCE CareerBuilder