BrightSpark Recruitment // Employer Interview Guidelines

It’s not just the Candidates that can feel lost when faced with an Interview… For some employers this can also be a new experience and one that needs careful preparation, as there are many issues to consider with regards to questions you can ask and those that should be avoided altogether. Here is a brief overview of the general types of questions you should pretty much avoid:

How old are you?
Or any other questions (directly or indirectly) related to an applicants age.

What is your religion/religious background?
Even if this information is volunteered by the applicant - do not engage in a conversation about religion.

Do you have any disabilities?
While physical capabilities may be directly relevant to job performance in certain types of jobs, you should not use the word "disabled" or "handicapped" in a job interview. Instead, ask whether the individual is capable of performing particular tasks. You should also steer clear of questions about medical history or whether an applicant has previously received workers' compensation. These questions are regarded as potential surrogates for inquiries about disability status.

Are you planning to have children?
You must not discriminate against someone on the basis of whether the person has or is intending to have children. You can, however, ask about a potential employee's capacity and willingness to travel or work overtime – but only if those issues are legitimately job related.

Are you married?
A friendly question and one that may naturally come up in conversation, marital status is a protected category under employment laws.

What's your maiden name?
Surnames often reveal ethnicity, this question could be perceived as potentially discriminatory.

Rather than focusing on what you shouldn't say, focus on things that are relevant, such as education, job skills and job history. If you stay away from forbidden areas and remain professional at all times, your interviews should be fine!