8 Illegal Interview Questions You Can't Ask Job Candidates

Written By Kevin McKernan

  1. "What part of town do you live in?" 

  2. "What class were you in at Rydell High?" 

  3. "Being a start-up, we tend to have younger managers. Would that be a problem?” 

  4. "When was the last time you used drugs?" 

  5. "Have you ever had a brush with the law?" 

  6. "I hear an accent. Where are you from?" 

  7. "How many kids do you have?" 

  8. "What are you currently making?" 

Other Interview Practices That Can Get You Into Trouble 

  • Height and weight

  • Financial stress 

  • Medical information 

  • Arrest records 

  • Military service 

  • Availability to work on weekends 

Making Promises You Can't Keep 

Neglecting to Use a Standard Set of Questions for Every Candidate 

How does the complaint process work? Job candidates have time limits for filing EEOC complaints against you. Candidates typically have 180 days. These candidates can file a job discrimination complaint by mail or in-person with theEEOC. Once their complaint is processed, they can also request a hearing. This is where a final decision is made about the discrimination claim.

This document is designed for general information only. The information presented in this document should not be construed to be formal legal or tax advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. 

For more information on this and other topics, please contact Kevin via any of the channels listed below:

📧 kevin@kmckernan.com  | 📞 718-317-5007

Kevin McKernan
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