Interview Questions Reference Guide

core principle focus all questions on job related qualifications, skills, and ability to perform essential functions avoid questions about personal characteristics unrelated to job performance prohibited topics & what to ask instead topic do not ask ask instead age how old are you? when did you graduate? when do you plan to retire? are you over 18? (if legally required) what relevant experience do you have? race/ethnicity/national origin what is your race/ethnicity? where were you born? what is your native language? are you authorized to work in \[country]? what languages are you fluent in? (only if job related) religion what religion do you practice? which holidays do you observe? would your religion prevent working weekends? this position requires \[specific schedule] can you work this schedule? gender/sexual orientation questions about gender identity or sexual orientation focus only on job requirements and qualifications disability/medical do you have any disabilities? have you filed workers’ comp claims? how many sick days did you take? can you perform these essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation? pregnancy/family status are you pregnant/planning children? do you have children? are you married? who handles childcare? can you work the required schedule? are you able to travel as needed for this position? financial status do you own or rent? have wages been garnished? credit/bankruptcy questions only conduct legally permitted background checks with proper disclosure and job relevance criminal history have you ever been arrested? (many jurisdictions prohibit asking on initial application) follow local “ban the box” laws consider only job relevant convictions with individualized assessment salary history what’s your current/previous salary? (prohibited in many us states/cities) what are your salary expectations? the range for this position is \[x y] key regional differences european union gdpr requires explicit consent for processing personal data stricter protections for disability, age, and genetic information many countries prohibit all criminal history questions unless directly job relevant united kingdom similar to eu protections equality act 2010 prohibits discrimination based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex, and sexual orientation canada provincial human rights codes vary generally prohibit questions about age, race, religion, sex, marital status, disability, and criminal record (except where relevant) asia pacific laws vary significantly by country some jurisdictions may permit questions that would be prohibited in north america/eu always verify local requirements countries like australia and new zealand have strong anti discrimination protections similar to north america middle east/latin america regulations vary widely some countries have limited employment discrimination protections always consult local legal counsel interview best practices 1\ use structured interviews with predetermined, job related questions for all candidates 2\ train all interviewers on prohibited questions and legal requirements 3\ document objective selection criteria and reasons for hiring decisions 4\ if a candidate volunteers prohibited information, do not pursue it further 5\ review all interview materials with legal counsel before use 6\ when interviewing international candidates, verify local legal requirements disclaimer this is a general reference guide only and does not constitute legal advice employment laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time always consult qualified legal counsel for specific guidance