What CAN You Ask as an Interviewer to Keep it Legal?

As an interviewer, it can seem nearly impossible to keep your questions legal.

Just in normal conversation, it is acceptable to ask if someone has children, or where they’re from or when they graduated. But none of these questions are allowed in a job interview because the answers can reveal information about such protected categories as marital status, national origin or age.

Be sure you understand just what is legal and what is not. And run your hiring staff through a behavior-based interviewing program that can keep your company on the right side of the law and safe from discrimination suits while finding talent that fits your culture.

The basic rule is to ask only job-related questions…nothing personal. So if the job requires flexible hours and frequent travel which might be difficult for a single parent, ask not if there are children but ask what hours they can work and if they would be available to travel as needed.