I am a new nurse. I have been doing interviews everywhere and sending more applications than I can keep track of! I had an interview at a LTC facility a few weeks ago. The interview was going great and she asked "Do you have kids?" I had to keep my jaw from dropping. I stammered, "no..." She then asked, "Are kids in your near future?" At this point I was annoyed and said "Yes they are!" She gave me a worried look. She told me to call her at a later date to follow up, but I never did. I don't want to work in a place that behaves in that manner. If I got pregnant, I do not want to fear for my job!
COME ON! Isn't this illegal? I learned in my management class during nursing school that you can't ask about race/family/personal life/religion/sexual orientation/etc. And if you want to inquire about kids, you ask something like "Would anything prevent you from working 2nd shift?"
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
If I was asked an inappropriate question, but i wanted the job, I would just answer what they wanted to hear or give some non-answer that would distract them.
Normally I believe in honesty, but if they open that door with inappropriate questions I have no problem shading my answer.
Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.
@KatieMI, so sorry you were asked "why" you spoke what you spoke in your home. If you can speak English on the job, that should be their only concern. Your home life is none of their business.
I think there is a difference between asking about languages for job purposes (example: My Spanish has been helpful since I live in a high Hispanic immigration population) and asking "What language do you speak at home?" (This has nothing to do with a job and could be used for derogatory purposes.)
I like to answer inappropriate personal questions by imagining what they SHOULD have asked instead, and then answering that.
I've been asked about religion before (twice! which is obviously totally illegal) and I acted as if they had asked about scheduling instead (a much more legit question for a job interview). "I understand that weekend availability includes Sundays, and I will not have any problem fulfilling that requirement".
re: "what language do you speak at home?": "I speak fluent English; I am also proficient in French and Italian (or whatever) and am able to communicate with patients in those languages if needed".
Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.
Nice ways to come back, Ceccia! I bet that caught them off guard. I actually had a friend of mine interview at the LTC facility that asked me (I had no idea she was!) And she told me they asked the SAME QUESTION. Psh.
Also, I can't believe they blatantly asked about religion!! If they really wanted to know, why not ask, "Is there a reason you would need a weekend day off?"
I was asked a direct question about my ability to do the job due to my age. I am certain my jaw dropped. When I thought about it later, I figured they thought anyone without a job was not going to make a complaint.
CrunchRN, ADN, RN
4,556 Posts
If I was asked an inappropriate question, but i wanted the job, I would just answer what they wanted to hear or give some non-answer that would distract them.
Normally I believe in honesty, but if they open that door with inappropriate questions I have no problem shading my answer.