{"id":177,"date":"2011-11-01T12:35:42","date_gmt":"2011-11-01T12:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/topl.co.uk\/?page_id=177"},"modified":"2014-02-19T18:46:19","modified_gmt":"2014-02-19T18:46:19","slug":"handling-inappropriate-questions-in-an-interview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/topl.co.uk\/?page_id=177","title":{"rendered":"Inappropriate Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Handling Inappropriate Questions in an Interview<\/strong>
\nOccasionally, you may be interviewed by someone who asks inappropriate questions. These may fall into the category of being \u2018politically incorrect\u2019 or may just put you in a difficult position. You should consider how to deal with this situation, just in case.
\nThink about :<\/span><\/span><\/span> What kinds of question would feel inappropriate to me? <\/span><\/span><\/span>If I get asked this kind of question, what does that say about the organisation I am applying to? <\/span><\/span><\/span>How could I deal with inappropriate questions?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Any question which does not relate directly to your ability to do the job may be considered inappropriate. Some of these questions which also ask about personal circumstances may be unfairly discriminatory if your answers are taken into account when your potential employer is making the selection of the successful candidate.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Examples of such questions in the United Kingdom might be:<\/span><\/span>
\nAre you married, divorced, or single?
\nAre you planning to start a family?
\nDo you have any children? How old are they?<\/span><\/span>
\nWill<\/span> your<\/span> husband <\/span>\/<\/span> wife<\/span>\/ <\/span>partner<\/span> move <\/span>if<\/span> we <\/span>offer<\/span> you <\/span>this <\/span>job<\/span>?
\n<\/span><\/span>How would you feel working for a white female boss?
\nWhy would a woman want a job like this?
\nHow will you cope with all the travel bearing in mind you\u2019re confined to a wheelchair?
\nHow will you cope with speaking to customers on the phone with English as your second language?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Note that there are some questions about personal circumstances, such as physical ability, specific capability, previous convictions, or religion that might not necessarily be discriminatory for some roles. Before responding, consider the possible reasons the interviewer is asking you what seems to be an inappropriate question:
\nIce<\/span>–<\/span>breaking<\/span>: <\/span>In<\/span> some <\/span>instances <\/span>you <\/span>might <\/span>feel<\/span> that<\/span> the<\/span> interviewer<\/span> is<\/span> trying<\/span> to<\/span> be<\/span> friendly <\/span>and <\/span>asking<\/span> you<\/span> some<\/span> nice<\/span> easy<\/span> questions <\/span>to<\/span> \u2018<\/span>break <\/span>the <\/span>ice<\/span>\u2019.
\nNerve<\/span>–<\/span>calming<\/span>: T<\/span>he <\/span>interviewer<\/span> may be nervous, or detect that you are anxious <\/span>and <\/span>ask <\/span>you <\/span>some <\/span>questions <\/span>about <\/span>your <\/span>hobbies <\/span>or <\/span>likes <\/span>and<\/span> dislikes <\/span>to <\/span>get <\/span>you <\/span>onto <\/span>familiar <\/span>territory<\/span>.
\nBonding<\/span>: <\/span>The <\/span>interviewer<\/span> might <\/span>identify<\/span> with<\/span> something <\/span>you say or<\/span> wrote in<\/span>your <\/span>application<\/span>, <\/span>eg<\/span> \u2018<\/span>active<\/span> member<\/span> of <\/span>local<\/span> Christian <\/span>society<\/span>\u2019 <\/span>and <\/span>want <\/span>to <\/span>find <\/span>some <\/span>common <\/span>ground<\/span>.
\nYou <\/span>may <\/span>be <\/span>being <\/span>interviewed<\/span> by <\/span>someone <\/span>who <\/span>is <\/span>unskilled <\/span>in <\/span>interviewing<\/span> and does <\/span>not <\/span>realise <\/span>their <\/span>question <\/span>is <\/span>inappropriate<\/span>.
\nIn <\/span>some <\/span>circumstances<\/span>, <\/span>your <\/span>interviewer <\/span>may <\/span>be <\/span>asking <\/span>a <\/span>question <\/span>designed <\/span>to <\/span>assess <\/span>your <\/span>suitability <\/span>for<\/span> the <\/span>job <\/span>based<\/span> on <\/span>unlawful <\/span>or <\/span>inappropriate<\/span> criteria<\/span>.
\nTry not to feel <\/span>intimidated<\/span>by <\/span>inappropriate <\/span>questions<\/span>. <\/span>You<\/span> have <\/span>a <\/span>right <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>treated <\/span>professionally <\/span>and<\/span> with <\/span>dignity<\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n