What questions are illegal to ask at EEOC interview?

Asked by: Dr. Lurline Stoltenberg V  |  Last update: July 8, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (71 votes)

What shouldn't I ask when hiring?
  • Questions about race, religion or ethnicity, such as: Are you biracial? ...
  • Questions about age, unless used to verify that applicants meet any age-related legal requirements for the job.
  • Questions about an applicant's pregnancy or plans to start a family, such as: Are you pregnant?

What questions are prohibited in EEOC interview?

Therefore, inquiries about organizations, clubs, societies, and lodges of which an applicant may be a member or any other questions, which may indicate the applicant's race, sex, national origin, disability status, age, religion, color or ancestry if answered, should generally be avoided.

What are the 5 illegal questions to ask in an interview?

According to employment law, illegal interview questions include any questions that don't directly relate to your open roles. This means questions covering such topics as age, family, gender, marriage, nationality and religion are illegal questions to ask in an interview.

What questions are inappropriate for an interview?

Generally, the questions that an interviewer should avoid asking are any thing related to religious background or beliefs, marital status, arrest record, children, national origin, credit history, langue proficiency, or past social drinking history.

Which of the following interview questions is illegal?

Short Answer

The illegal question to ask in a job interview in the United States, from the given options, is 'Which state were you born in?'

Illegal Interview Questions: What You Can't Ask (EEOC)

34 related questions found

What is 6 one topic that is unlawful to ask about during an interview?

Unlawful Inquiries: Any inquiries about names, which would divulge marital status, lineage, ancestry, national origin, or descent. (e.g., “If your name has been legally changed, what was your former name?”)

Which of the following questions cannot be legitimately asked during an interview?

Examples:
  • Illegal: Are you a U.S. citizen? You sound like you have an accent, where are you from? Where were your parents born? What is your native language?
  • Legal: Are you authorized to work in the U.S.? What languages do you speak (if relevant to the position)?

What are 3 questions you should avoid asking at an interview?

What shouldn't I ask when hiring?
  • Questions about race, religion or ethnicity, such as: Are you biracial? ...
  • Questions about age, unless used to verify that applicants meet any age-related legal requirements for the job.
  • Questions about an applicant's pregnancy or plans to start a family, such as: Are you pregnant?

What are some unethical questions?

Common illegal questions
  • Do you have children or do you plan on having children?
  • What was your maiden name?
  • When were you born?
  • What is your race?
  • Do you have any physical or mental disabilities?
  • Do you have a drug or alcohol problem?
  • Are you taking any prescription drugs?

How to report illegal interview questions?

If you think your rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with DFEH within one year of the date of violation. Visit www.dfeh.ca.gov or call 1 (800) 884-1684 (voice) or email contact.center@dfeh.ca.gov.

Can you sue for illegal interview questions?

You may be able to file an employment discrimination claim if the interviewer asks illegal questions and you don't get the job offer.

What principles are considered discriminatory by the EEOC in job advertisements?

The EEOC is responsible for protecting you from one type of discrimination - employment discrimination because of your race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age (age 40 or older), or genetic information.

What are 5 things employers can't ask about in an interview?

Disability. Gender, sex or sexual orientation. Marital status, family, or pregnancy. Race, color, or ethnicity.

How do you win an EEOC interview?

Contents hide
  1. Tip #1: Quickly Gather and Organize All Related Documents.
  2. Tip #2: Hire an Attorney That Specializes in Employment Law in California.
  3. Tip #3: Give Your Attorney All the Details.
  4. Tip #4: Understand Your Employer's Policies.
  5. Tip #5: Identify Witnesses.
  6. Tip #6: Practice with Your Attorney.

What are the most common EEOC violations?

Of those complaints, a majority involved violations of Title VII, which forbids discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. Another 34% of the complaints filed with the EEOC had to do with disability discrimination, while 15.6% involved age discrimination.

What are the EEO questions?

Examples of EEO Questions
  • What is your race?
  • What is your gender?
  • Do you have a disability?

Which is an inappropriate or illegal interview question?

Questions regarding marital status, pregnancy, future child bearing plans, ability to reproduce and number of age and children. Questions concerning spouse, or spouse's employment, salary, arrangements, or dependents. What kind of child care arrangements have you made?

What are three examples of unethical behavior in the workplace?

5 Most Common Unethical Behaviors Ethics Resource Center (ERC) Survey
  • Misuse of company time. Whether it is covering for someone who shows up late or altering a timesheet, misusing company time tops the list. ...
  • Abusive Behavior. ...
  • Employee Theft. ...
  • Lying to employees. ...
  • Violating Company Internet Policies.

What questions are inappropriate to ask during an interview?

Employers should not ask candidates about personal topics such as their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, religion, national origin, veteran status, ability, medical conditions or health history, arrest record and appearance.

What can you legally not ask in an interview?

  • 10 Illegal and Legal Interview Questions:
  • Age Questions. Inappropriate to ask: ...
  • Disability Questions. Inappropriate to ask: ...
  • Criminal Record Questions. Inappropriate to ask: ...
  • Parental Status Questions. Inappropriate to ask: ...
  • Marital Status Questions. Inappropriate to ask: ...
  • Citizenship Questions. ...
  • National Origin Questions.

What is the star method when interviewing?

The STAR method is a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the specific situation, task, action, and result of the situation you are describing.

How do you respond to an illegal interview question?

You may choose to answer illegal questions if you are comfortable doing so. It is not illegal if you do. If you are not comfortable, you can respond with “I do not feel that is relevant to the position or interview”. You can also answer the question by addressing the concerns behind the questions.

Can an employer ask how long you plan to work?

Employers often ask this question during job interviews to determine whether a candidate is interested in working for their company for an extended period of time.

Is it legal to ask why you left a job?

Yes. While it's fine to ask this question during the interview, we recommend you collect this information ahead of time by asking about it on an employment application. In the section where the applicant lists their previous employment experience, you can ask for the reason they left each job.

Is it illegal to ask about family in an interview?

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.