The Tough Questions
The Tough Questions
September 28, 2011
I’ve already given you some tips on how to prepare for tough interviews, but there is a group of questions that can be particularly difficult to answer when you’re put on the spot. There are a slew of questions that employers just aren’t allowed to ask, unless relevant to the job, since the answers could be used to discriminate against you or other applicants.
I should make it clear that, if interviewers do ask these questions, it doesn’t mean they are necessarily trying to discriminate against you. An interviewer could be ignorant of the fact that he or she has asked an inappropriate question. If this happens and you’re uncomfortable answering it, simply ask the following question: “Can you tell me how this relates to my ability to perform the job?” The employer may simply reword the question and move on. Assuming that interviewers may have worded the question incorrectly, you can also give them the answer you think they’re looking for. Here are some examples:
- An interviewer could ask: “How old are you?” Although this question is inappropriate to ask, the intent of the question, especially if you’re young, may simply be to verify that you’re old enough to be legally employed. If you know for sure that you’ve reached the legal working age in your province or territory and that you’re old enough to hold the position you’re applying for, then you can simply reply with the following: “I’m legally old enough to work in this position.” If you’re reading this and have no idea what the minimum age requirements are in your province or territory, you can check them out here.
- An interviewer could ask: “Are you a Canadian citizen?” Again, while this question is inappropriate to ask, the intent of the question is probably to confirm that you’re legally allowed to work in the country, so you could answer the question with the following: “I’m legally allowed to work in Canada.”
There are many other topics that just shouldn’t be brought up in an interview, such as race, religion, marital status, sexuality, criminal record, and affiliations to social clubs or political parties, just to name a few. You always have the right to answer the question—just remember that you also have the right to refuse to answer the question. You may be hesitant to refuse, since you want to avoid upsetting the interviewer, but at the end of the day, do you really want to work for an employer who operates that way?
Luckily, I’ve never been asked an inappropriate question in an interview, but I’ve heard some pretty crazy stories before. If you’ve ever been asked an inappropriate question, share it in the comment area below; let us know how you handled it and what ultimately happened.
Comments
Viola says,
August 23, 2012
Both of interview questions that I have met before, that is not what I want actually,but I try to be honest to the managers so that always tell them the fact directly. Thanks Derek, I will know how to response next time. :)
Rob says,
Thanks Viola!
We’ll pass on your comments to Derek. I’m glad his post was able to give you some guidance. Good luck with your next interview!