Job interview odd questions

studentnurse9806 · Dec 7, 2013

I'm pretty sure it's illegal to ask those type of questions...

SBSN · Dec 7, 2013

It is, but what can ya do. That's why I just gave a generic response and left it at that. The interview was pretty laid back, and maybe she meant well. In regards to childcare, there's a huge difference in having a 1 and 2 year old and an 11 and 12 year old.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2013

That should not have been in the interview. You answered correctly. I would not include any further information in the thank you note other than thank you for your time..

hurleygirli1 · Dec 10, 2013

I think that maybe she was trying to use it as an "icebreaker," but technically they are not supposed to ask about that. I am pretty sure that it leaves them open to a potential lawsuit in case you don't get the job, i.e. "I wasn't hired because I have kids and am being discriminated against." Not that you would do that, but then again people sued over spilling hot coffee on themselves because it didn't have a giant warning on it that a hot beverage may, indeed, be served hot! :rolleyes:

SBSN · Dec 10, 2013

I think that maybe she was trying to use it as an "icebreaker" but technically they are not supposed to ask about that. I am pretty sure that it leaves them open to a potential lawsuit in case you don't get the job, i.e. "I wasn't hired because I have kids and am being discriminated against." Not that you would do that, but then again people sued over spilling hot coffee on themselves because it didn't have a giant warning on it that a hot beverage may, indeed, be served hot! [/quote']
Ya know, that's exactly what it felt like. The interview went well, and those 2 things were the only somewhat negative things that stuck out. I would never sue because I can see where she was coming from. She kept talking about the closeness of the group, and I think she was genuinely interested in me. Illegal yes, but not necessarily wrong. Like many other things legal and unethical, or illegal and ethical.

SBSN · Dec 14, 2013

Passed over again. At least this time it was for someone more qualified, and not because I was "over qualified".

sunshyne17 · Dec 15, 2013

Hmm.... I don't like the way that sounds SBSN... Next time you are asked something like that, answer with a question or say, "I have never been asked that before - how does that pertain to the position here?"

MrChicagoRN, RN · Dec 16, 2013

I would never sue because I can see where she was coming from. She kept talking about the closeness of the group, and I think she was genuinely interested in me. Illegal yes, but not necessarily wrong. Like many other things legal and unethical, or illegal and ethical.

Actually, it is both wrong & illegal.

While she may have been trying to break the ice, get to know you, whatever; she may also be sick and tired of having to cover for nurses on maternity leave or calling off because of sick kids.

She might have decided she doesn't need anymore moms on board.

She had no business asking that type of question.

avp7401 · Dec 16, 2013

Actually, in most states it is not illegal to ask questions about marital status, families, religion, etc., it is just illegal to base her hiring decisions on your answer. It’s a fine distinction. Not to say that she, or any hiring manager, should ask those types of questions because it definitely has no place in an interview, but it is not illegal.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Dec 17, 2013

Actually, in most states it is not illegal to ask questions about marital status, families, religion, etc., it is just illegal to base her hiring decisions on your answer. It’s a fine distinction. Not to say that she, or any hiring manager, should ask those types of questions because it definitely has no place in an interview, but it is not illegal.

Gotta disagree with you there:

"State and federal laws make discrimination based on certain protected categories, such as national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, disabilities, arrest and conviction record, military discharge status, race, gender, or pregnancy status, illegal.

Any question that asks a candidate to reveal information about such topics without the question having a job related basis will violate the various state and federal discrimination laws," Lori Adelson, a labor and employment attorney and partner with law firm Arnstein & Lehr, tells Business Insider.

Read more: 11 Illegal Interview Questions - Business Insider

avp7401 · Dec 17, 2013

Gotta disagree with you there:
"State and federal laws make discrimination based on certain protected categories, such as national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, disabilities, arrest and conviction record, military discharge status, race, gender, or pregnancy status, illegal.
Any question that asks a candidate to reveal information about such topics without the question having a job related basis will violate the various state and federal discrimination laws," Lori Adelson, a labor and employment attorney and partner with law firm Arnstein & Lehr, tells Business Insider.
Read more: 11 Illegal Interview Questions - Business Insider

Directly from the EEOC website:

Although state and federal equal opportunity laws do not clearly forbid employers from making pre-employment inquiries that relate to, or disproportionately screen out members based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, or age, such inquiries may be used as evidence of an employer's intent to discriminate unless the questions asked can be justified by some business purpose.

.....

Generally, employers should not use non job-related questions involving marital status, number and/or ages of children or dependents, or names of spouses or children of the applicant. Such inquiries may be asked after an employment offer has been made and accepted if needed for insurance or other legitimate business purposes.

(emphasis mine)

So while it is useless to ask these questions because discriminating based on the answers IS illegal, asking the questions themselves is not. The only question that is specifically prohibited is asking about a disability.

Employers are explicitly prohibited from making pre-employment inquiries about disability.

Prohibited Practices

Like I said earlier, its a fine distinction and you can't really tell if they didn't hire you based on the answer to the question or not, so smart hiring managers will not ask such questions.

OP, I would just try to deflect in the future. Try to figure out what their concerns may be getting at with the question. So is they ask about a family, say something along the lines of "there is nothing that would interfere with my ability to work my scheduled shifts" or whatever you are comfortable with. Don't lie, but with questions like that, there is no need answer the question directly. That said, I'm guessing her intent wasn't malicious, probably just small talk.