Most of us tend to ask questions that have nothing to do with the job they are trying to fill. Few such questions which we think are basic or OK can form unneccessary prejudices against the interviewee.
These questions can make both the interviewer and the organization appear unprofessional.
Questions that you may legally ask include:
From India, Hyderabad
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6These questions can make both the interviewer and the organization appear unprofessional.
Questions that you may legally ask include:
Some questions that are illegal and should not be asked include:
•What is your full name?
•Have you ever worked for the company under a different name?
•Is any additional information relative to a different name necessary to check your work record? If yes, explain.
•How long have you been a resident of this state or city?
•Are you 18 years old or older? This question may be asked only for the purpose of determining whether applicants are of legal age for employment.
•Is your spouse employed by this company?
•Are you legally able to work in India?
•Inquiries into the academic, vocational or professional education of an applicant and public and private schools attended.
•Inquiries into work experience.
•Have you ever been convicted of a crime? Questions about being arrested are not legal.
•Names of your relatives already employed by the company.
•All questions about skills for performing the job.
•What is your nationality?
•Do you have someone to look after your children while you work?
•Do you have any handicaps that would interfere with the job?
•What is your religion?
•How old are you?
•When did you graduate from high school?
•Have you ever been arrested?
•What is your birthplace?
•What is your maiden name?
•Asking for a photograph prior to hire.
•Questions about height or weight.
•Questions about marital status or children.
•Questions about plans of marriage.
•Questions about boyfriends/girlfriends/dating
•Questions about professions and other details of parents/relatives
•Questions about mental or physical health, unless determined to be very essential for the job. (This has to have a formal medical test done)
From India, Hyderabad
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Dear Deepthi,
Thank you very much for sharing your expert opinion on the subject. For our better understanding, may I request you to clarify the following points on which grounds these would amount to illegal questions:
- What is your birthplace?
- Asking for a photograph prior to hire.
- Questions about marital status or children.
- Questions about professions and other details of parents/relatives.
Regards,
SP
From India, Calcutta
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Thank you very much for sharing your expert opinion on the subject. For our better understanding, may I request you to clarify the following points on which grounds these would amount to illegal questions:
- What is your birthplace?
- Asking for a photograph prior to hire.
- Questions about marital status or children.
- Questions about professions and other details of parents/relatives.
Regards,
SP
From India, Calcutta
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Hi Shubendup,
All these questions are made illegal because they form prejudices and biases which can be favorable/unfavorable to the interviewee and other applicants.
- What is your birthplace? --- the interviewer might favor people from his/her birthplace.
- Asking for a photograph prior to hire. --- the recruiter might judge the person's capabilities by how they look or even misuse the applicant's photo.
- Questions about marital status or children. --- interviewer may not be willing to hire unmarried/married people.
- Questions about professions and other details of parents/relatives --- interviewer might want to either favor the applicant if he/she comes from a reputed background or might form a wrong opinion if it's otherwise.
Also, these questions have nothing to do with the job the person is being interviewed for or decide the capabilities of the person. Then why do you want to ask them anyway?
Hope I have cleared your doubts. Let me know if you need further clarifications.
From India, Hyderabad
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All these questions are made illegal because they form prejudices and biases which can be favorable/unfavorable to the interviewee and other applicants.
- What is your birthplace? --- the interviewer might favor people from his/her birthplace.
- Asking for a photograph prior to hire. --- the recruiter might judge the person's capabilities by how they look or even misuse the applicant's photo.
- Questions about marital status or children. --- interviewer may not be willing to hire unmarried/married people.
- Questions about professions and other details of parents/relatives --- interviewer might want to either favor the applicant if he/she comes from a reputed background or might form a wrong opinion if it's otherwise.
Also, these questions have nothing to do with the job the person is being interviewed for or decide the capabilities of the person. Then why do you want to ask them anyway?
Hope I have cleared your doubts. Let me know if you need further clarifications.
From India, Hyderabad
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Hi Deepthi,
Thanks for the information. Aren't these questions (most of them) usually asked in a personal/HR interview after you clear the technical part? Also, I feel that we should not read too much into questions such as looking for prejudices and preferences of the interviewer. I mean, what prejudices would the interviewer have in knowing the "height & weight" and "maiden name" of the interviewee?
Regards,
Govans
From India, Madras
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Thanks for the information. Aren't these questions (most of them) usually asked in a personal/HR interview after you clear the technical part? Also, I feel that we should not read too much into questions such as looking for prejudices and preferences of the interviewer. I mean, what prejudices would the interviewer have in knowing the "height & weight" and "maiden name" of the interviewee?
Regards,
Govans
From India, Madras
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Asking for the maiden name of a candidate is an indirect question to determine marital status, which can lead to biased decisions. Personal details such as this should not influence the hiring process as long as the candidate demonstrates commitment. Therefore, such questions are considered inappropriate and even illegal in some contexts.
Inquiring about a candidate's height and weight touches on personal and aesthetic attributes that many find offensive. These factors are often irrelevant to a candidate's ability to perform physical labor jobs. Instead of focusing on these aspects, a more appropriate and direct question could be, "Are you able to lift boxes weighing up to 50 lbs?"
I hope the information provided above is helpful. Thank you.
From India, Hyderabad
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Inquiring about a candidate's height and weight touches on personal and aesthetic attributes that many find offensive. These factors are often irrelevant to a candidate's ability to perform physical labor jobs. Instead of focusing on these aspects, a more appropriate and direct question could be, "Are you able to lift boxes weighing up to 50 lbs?"
I hope the information provided above is helpful. Thank you.
From India, Hyderabad
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