ILLEGAL QUESTIONS
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Your marital status (or plans)
Your religious affiliation
Your political views or organizations to which you belong (except government
agencies)
Whether you have children (how many, their ages) or whether you plan to
Whether you own or rent your home or apartment
What your spouse or parents do
Whether your spouse minds your working long hours or traveling
Employers are not supposed to ask any of these, unless they relate specifically to your
ability to do a job; but many still do, either out of ignorance or in the course of casual
conversation. If you are asked an illegal question and you want the job, you have several
options:
1. Answer it briefly if it seems “innocent,” but do not volunteer any additional
information.
2. Answer the question and if the employer seems concerned about its effect on your
job performance, reassure him. For example: “Yes, I am engaged, but I will still
be able to travel.”
3. Brush off the question with a light comment such as, “My career has top priority
now.”