Keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list of questions to avoid. Rather, it illustrates that if a question does not focus on the behaviors, skills, and experience needed to perform the job, it’ s probably a good idea to skip it.
Stay away from asking about anything personal or anything that is not job related. Sometimes, however, as hard as you try to avoid it, you may find the discussion with a candidate going down a road you shouldn’ t be on. Perhaps the candidate mentions that he or she has kids or was born in a foreign country. There’ s not much you can do about that, but you should quickly get the discussion back on track by asking another jobrelated question.
Another good practice when recruiting and interviewing is to ask the same questions of all candidates.
You can ask …
• Are you over the age of 18?
• You can ask the number and ages of children for insurance purposes once hired.
• Are you legally entitled to work in the United States?
• You can ask the marital status for insurance purposes once hired.
• Tell me what qualities you look for in a manager.
• Can you perform the specific tasks and duties of the job?
That way, you can avoid a claim that someone was singled out for any reason. Asking the same questions will also provide a consistent picture and allow you to evaluate and compare qualifications.
While it’ s not always easy to recruit the perfect fit, start by asking the right questions. Side-stepping illegal questions can seem challenging, especially if the interview is going well and the tone turns into more of a general conversation. Just remember: even if there is no intent on the part of the interviewer, a comment or question that offends a candidate can cause big problems. Stay focused on what you are looking for— someone who has the behaviors, skills, and experience to do the job. Ask the questions that will help you find the perfect fit.
Just be careful what you ask for.
ABOUT MARK MILLETT
Mark Millett is a Recruiter and Learning & Development Specialist at A. I. M. Mutual and has been in the profession since 2001, primarily in the financial services industry. He has been Assistant Vice President of Learning & Development for both St. Mary’ s Credit Union and Athol Savings Bank, setting and implementing the strategy, design, and delivery of effective HR programs. He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Northeast Human Resource Association, and past president of the Central MA Chapter of the Association for Talent Development.
• Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
• Are you able to work with the required schedule?
• Are you able to start work at 8:00 a. m.?
This article is not intended as a substitute for professional legal advice.
Always seek the professional advice of an attorney regarding any legal questions you may have.
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