| Northern Maine
Development Commission
Small Business Development Center
Tip # 6
Pre-employment Question Guide
The following is a
guide for Do's and Don'ts for
employers who are interviewing prospective employees.
Subject: Gender
Do Not Ask:
Are you male or female? What are the names and relationships of the persons living with you?
You May Ask: None.
Subject: Residence
Do Not Ask:
Do you own or rent? Give me the names and relationships of the persons residing with you.
You May Ask: What is your present address?
Subject: Race/Color
Do Not Ask:
What is your race? What color is your hair, eyes?
You May Ask: None.
Subject: Age
Do Not Ask:
What is your date of birth? How old are you?
You May Ask: If hired, can you provide proof that you are at least 18 years of age?
Subject: National Origin
Do Not Ask:
What is your ancestry, national origin, descent, parentage, or nationality? What is you native language? What is the nationality of your parents or spouse?
You May Ask: What languages do you speak or write fluently?
(Do not ask unless strictly job
related.)
Subject: Marital or Family Status
Do Not Ask:
What is your marital status? What is your spouse’s name? What was your maiden name? How many children do you have? Are you pregnant? Do you plan to have children? What day-care provisions have you made for your children?
You May Ask: None. (An employer may ask if candidates have any commitments that might prevent them from meeting attendance requirements. Make sure you ask this question of all
applicants.)
Subject: Arrests and Convictions
Do Not Ask:
Have you ever been arrested? Have you ever been charged with any crime?
You May Ask: Have you been convicted of any crime?
(If the application form asks for information on convictions, the employer should indicate that a conviction itself does not constitute an automatic bar to
employment.)
Subject: Religion
Do Not Ask:
What is your religious affiliation or denomination? What church do you belong to? What is the name of your pastor, minister, or rabbi? What religious holidays do you observe?
You May Ask: None. (If you wish to know if applicant is available work Saturday or Sunday shifts ask: “Are you available to work on Saturdays or Sundays if needed?” Make sure you ask this question of all
applicants.)
Subject: Disabilities
Do Not Ask:
Are you disabled?
You May Ask: Are you capable of performing the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation?
Subject: Citizenship
Do Not Ask:
What country are you a citizen of? Are you or other family members naturalized citizens? If so, when did they become a U.S. citizen? Attach a copy of your naturalization papers to your application form.
You May Ask: Are you a citizen of the United States? If hired, are you able to prove eligibility to work in the United States?
Are the following questions legal or illegal?
|
Legal |
Illegal |
| 1. How long have you lived in this state? Is your family here? |
|
x |
| 2. How long were you in the military? |
|
x |
| 3. Is English your native language? |
|
x |
| 4. Who else are you interviewing with? |
x |
|
| 5. Is Johnson your maiden name? |
|
x |
| 6. Are you the main “breadwinner” in your family? |
|
x |
| 7. What kind of work did you do from 1975 to 1978? There’s a gap on your resume for those years. |
x |
|
| 8. Where does your husband/wife work? |
|
x |
| 9. You’re on crutches. Is that a permanent condition? |
|
x |
| 10. What university courses have you taken that might apply to this position? |
x |
|
| 11. I’m not familiar with Eastern religions. What religions do you celebrate that we don’t? |
|
x |
| 12. You said your father works for this company. What is his name? |
x |
|
| 13. You don’t sound like you’re from this country. Where were you born? |
|
x |
14. I see on your application that you speak fluent Portuguese. How did you learn such an unusual language?
(The first part of this statement is o.k., however, the following question is not appropriate.) |
|
x
|
15. Do you belong to any organization that you feel would enhance your ability to do this job?
(too personal a question) |
|
x
|
| 16. We need someone in this position who is willing to make a long-term commitment to this organization. How far from 65 are you? |
|
x |
| 17. You said you were in the Navy for a number of years. Tell me a little about what you learned from this experience. |
x |
|
18. Do you have a green card?
(o.k. after hired) |
|
x
|
| 19. This job requires some traveling. Is that going to cause troubles at home for you? |
|
x |
| 20. What did you like or dislike about your prior job? |
x |
|
| 21. Who will care for your children while you are working? |
|
x |
| 22. What is the origin of your parents? |
|
x |
| 23. What kind of job duties are you interested in? |
x |
|
| 24.
What is your marital status? |
|
x |
Past Tips:
|
Tip #1
The
Elements of a Good Direct E-mail Message
Tip # 2
The Top Ten
Most Frequently Asked Questions
Tip # 3
Energy
Management Is Good Business Management
|
Tip
# 4 Essential
Factors For A Successful Partnership
Tip
# 5
Commonly
Asked Questions About Electronic Bookkeeping Systems
|
|
