Is it illegal for an interviewer to ask you ?

Stacy's Mom

No. Theyâ€™re trying to get to know you, not just your interest, but your communication style. The idea is to ask you a quesiton about the non-profesional part of your life and see if you switch to a more casual speaking style.

They cannot ask you about your religion, nationality, race, marital & parental status, etc. But the simple questions you mentioned are fine.

michr

questions are not illegal
what is done with the answers is what is illegal
i can ask:
are you black
are you Swedish
are you a Christian
are you disabled
are you a vet
are you over 40
i can not make ANY employment decision based on the response or perceived response to the question.
the law does not protect against knowledge of a protected status, the law protects against actions taken because of that knowledge.

this link is to the EEOC and their compliance assistance, you will notice no place is any question deemed illegal. only actions taken or failed to be taken are illegal.
http://www.eeoc.gov/abouteeo/overview_practices.html

it is "strongly suggested" to not ask certain questions because it is difficult to prove or disprove intent and actions that were based off of the answers but it is not, in it self, illegal to ask.

a good interviewer will try to learn as much as possible about an applicant to determine how they will fit into the organization. the applicant does not have to answer questions that are not job related.
a good interviewer knows how to stay on point and ask relevant questions while mixing in questions and comments that help the applicant relax, become comfortable and show a true sense of themselves.

Miss Shirley lu

they can ask you anything, its up to you to decide what to answer.
just say no comment.

Phoebe Finch

They probably just want to keep the interview casual so they have a better sense of who you are. I doubt they really care what you do in your spare time.

tome3a

No, but tread cautiously, this is a sneaky way of finding out if you have a family or not.

Asking you if you if yo uhave a family of not is an illegal question, but if you bring it up in the interview is your mistake.

It's not illegal in the US but it's treading on thin ice. Interview questions should be only about your work experience and how you have handled situations.

The situations/questions presented by michr would not be permitted in the US and would end the company and the recruiter in major trouble.

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