Which interview question is illegal in many jurisdictions?

Which interview question is illegal in many jurisdictions?

• A. Interview question about marital status.
• B. Additional references from the interviewee.
• C. Personal weaknesses.
• D. Maternity leave.

Answer: (A)

Asking about marital status is not related to whether someone can do the job and can expose bias based on a person’s personal life. In many places, questions about whether someone is married, single, or has children are protected, and using that information to make hiring decisions can lead to discrimination. So this question is inappropriate in interviews because it targets a personal characteristic that should not affect job qualifications. The other options aren’t inherently illegal in the same way. Requesting additional references is a standard step in validating a candidate’s background. Asking a candidate to discuss personal weaknesses is a common way to assess self-awareness and growth potential. While questions about maternity leave or pregnancy status are also sensitive and often restricted, the maritial-status question is the one that most consistently falls into an illegal category across many jurisdictions.

Asking about marital status is not related to whether someone can do the job and can expose bias based on a person’s personal life. In many places, questions about whether someone is married, single, or has children are protected, and using that information to make hiring decisions can lead to discrimination. So this question is inappropriate in interviews because it targets a personal characteristic that should not affect job qualifications.

The other options aren’t inherently illegal in the same way. Requesting additional references is a standard step in validating a candidate’s background. Asking a candidate to discuss personal weaknesses is a common way to assess self-awareness and growth potential. While questions about maternity leave or pregnancy status are also sensitive and often restricted, the maritial-status question is the one that most consistently falls into an illegal category across many jurisdictions.