Inappropriate Job Interview Questions

[Know_Ledge 6]

Hey Guys,

I'm still so upset after leaving this interview which took place 2 days ago. This was the most intrusive interview I've ever been to and I almost walked out! I had 3 different phone interview and was then invited for a one on one after the third phone interview. Here are some of the questions that were asked:

1. Where have you been applying for jobs? (I had to give websites)

2. What companies have you applied to? Please list all the companies and the positions applied for.

3. Have you been called for an interview? (my answer was no)

4. Why do you think you're not being called?

5. What key words do you use to search for jobs?

6. Have you thought of applying for jobs below supervisory and management? (My answer was yes, I have)

7. And still no interview? (Her response was, "that's odd")

8. When did you leave high school?

9. What did you do after that?

10. Where did you do your internships? Were they paid? How much?

There was a gap in my employment history and I told her I was unable to work because I had complications with my pregnancy(this is back in my home country) and had to be on bed rest. The following questions were immediately asked:

1. So, you were married to your husband at that time? (My response was no)- BTW, I never told her I was married, she saw my ring.

2. So the baby is not for your husband?

3. When did you get married?

4. When did you come to the states?

5. So, you've been with your husband for a long time. Were you together all that time?

6. Where are you living now? (My answer was, the same address when I just came here, at my moms house)

7. So, you and your husband live at your mom's house?

8. How long has you mom lived in the states?

9. Did you always plan to live in the States?

10. Do you have siblings? How many? Where do they live?

11. Does your green card expire? (My answer was yes, after 2 years)

12. Do you get another 2 years after that?

At this point I wanted to take back my resume and walk out!!I thought this was another immigration interview!! She was sooo unprofessional, at one point she reached into her pocketbook, took out a jar of vaseline and applied some to her lip!! REALLY??!!

Guys, I've been adviced to report her to the HR Dept and file a complaint, but it seems like this is the norm for this company. What do I do? I felt like there was some discrimination involved and I'm truly hurt and upset by her lack of professionalism and invasion of privacy.

SOOO MAD!!!

[InHisTime 110]

Hey Guys,

I'm still so upset after leaving this interview which took place 2 days ago. This was the most intrusive interview I've ever been to and I almost walked out! I had 3 different phone interview and was then invited for a one on one after the third phone interview. Here are some of the questions that were asked:

1. Where have you been applying for jobs? (I had to give websites)

2. What companies have you applied to? Please list all the companies and the positions applied for.

3. Have you been called for an interview? (my answer was no)

4. Why do you think you're not being called?

5. What key words do you use to search for jobs?

6. Have you thought of applying for jobs below supervisory and management? (My answer was yes, I have)

7. And still no interview? (Her response was, "that's odd")

8. When did you leave high school?

9. What did you do after that?

10. Where did you do your internships? Were they paid? How much?

There was a gap in my employment history and I told her I was unable to work because I had complications with my pregnancy(this is back in my home country) and had to be on bed rest. The following questions were immediately asked:

1. So, you were married to your husband at that time? (My response was no)- BTW, I never told her I was married, she saw my ring.

2. So the baby is not for your husband?

3. When did you get married?

4. When did you come to the states?

5. So, you've been with your husband for a long time. Were you together all that time?

6. Where are you living now? (My answer was, the same address when I just came here, at my moms house)

7. So, you and your husband live at your mom's house?

8. How long has you mom lived in the states?

9. Did you always plan to live in the States?

10. Do you have siblings? How many? Where do they live?

11. Does your green card expire? (My answer was yes, after 2 years)

12. Do you get another 2 years after that?

At this point I wanted to take back my resume and walk out!!I thought this was another immigration interview!! She was sooo unprofessional, at one point she reached into her pocketbook, took out a jar of vaseline and applied some to her lip!! REALLY??!!

Guys, I've been adviced to report her to the HR Dept and file a complaint, but it seems like this is the norm for this company. What do I do? I felt like there was some discrimination involved and I'm truly hurt and upset by her lack of professionalism and invasion of privacy.

SOOO MAD!!!

Wow ! sorry to hear about this. The questions are very intrusive -- more on personal attack. Thank God that you were not hired by this company or else I don't think you would be happy with the kind of HR they have. Just be patient and I'm sure you will find a job soon. God bless you.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You can always leave an interview.

[Tim/Mav 305]

The Violation of Employment Law happened twice here.

Maritol Status and Creed.

Also, being legal to work in the US questions like this are not allowed. Falls Under Descrimination.

Does it do any good to Complain? You can but until you are hired and then these questions arrise later, you have a big waste of time on your hands.

The Gap in Employment History due to a Pregnancy is also a Violation. (The Family Leave Act)

Edited March 4, 2012 by Tim/Mav

[InHisTime 110]

You can always leave an interview.

Yeah, I agree ! but, it is still an honorable thing to do -- being able to control our emotion or anger when we are prompted to a similar situations. Only very few people can manage their anger on the right time. I salute the poster though !

[Know_Ledge 6]

Wow ! sorry to hear about this. The questions are very intrusive -- more on personal attack. Thank God that you were not hired by this company or else I don't think you would be happy with the kind of HR they have. Just be patient and I'm sure you will find a job soon. God bless you.

Thank you for your kind words....My husband said the same thing too :-)

You can always leave an interview.

If this happens again....I definitely will.....thank you Harpa

[Know_Ledge 6]

The Violation of Employment Law happened twice here.

Maritol Status and Creed.

Also, being legal to work in the US questions like this are not allowed. Falls Under Descrimination.

Does it do any good to Complain? You can but until you are hired and then these questions arrise later, you have a big waste of time on your hands.

The Gap in Employment History due to a Pregnancy is also a Violation. (The Family Leave Act)

Thank you Tim/Mav...this is good to know. I was hoping that complaining would push this company to change their interview process for future candidates. This interview was really AWFUL!!

[Tim/Mav 305]

Thank you Tim/Mav...this is good to know. I was hoping that complaining would push this company to change their interview process for future candidates. This interview was really AWFUL!!

I went through the same thing in an interview and he asked my maritiol status. When I said: Engaged to a Pinay it all went downhill. First question he asked was; How Old is She? I said, this has nothing to do with the job. Well, you can see why it was over as far as that job. I never tell Mav these things on purpose.

[Know_Ledge 6]

Yeah, I agree ! but, it is still an honorable thing to do -- being able to control our emotion or anger when we are prompted to a similar situations. Only very few people can manage their anger on the right time. I salute the poster though !

I can't believe I sat in this interview for 50 minutes!!! I even shook her hand on my way out... Thank you confuse30...i now realize I have a lot of patience

[Know_Ledge 6]

I went through the same thing in an interview and he asked my maritiol status. When I said: Engaged to a Pinay it all went downhill. First question he asked was; How Old is She? I said, this has nothing to do with the job. Well, you can see why it was over as far as that job. I never tell Mav these things on purpose.

Wow, some people...SMH

[VanessaTony 3,567]

The Violation of Employment Law happened twice here.

Maritol Status and Creed.

Also, being legal to work in the US questions like this are not allowed. Falls Under Descrimination.

Does it do any good to Complain? You can but until you are hired and then these questions arrise later, you have a big waste of time on your hands.

The Gap in Employment History due to a Pregnancy is also a Violation. (The Family Leave Act)

Actually there's nothing illegal about asking whether they're legal to work. They're SUPPOSED to ask that.

The OP also volunteered the information about the gap in history due to pregnancy so there's no violation there either.

The questions following the volunteering of the complicated pregnancy WERE unprofessional (some but not all. Like asking whether she's planning on remaining in the States is a valid qn 'cause they prefer to hire people that aren't planning to leave) and more like a little chat than an interview. I personally am ALWAYS asked questions like "What brought you to the States?" "Where did you meet your husband?" "How long have you been here?". They're harmless questions in my opinion.

Problem is if the OP has already been rejected for the job it will just look like she's making things up. I would complain BEFORE being hired or rejected so there's no question about it. It could be the norm to ask SOME questions about personal life (like I mentioned are asked of me) but several of the questions are nothing to do with it (living with his mother?? What does that have to do with anything?).

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thank you Tim/Mav...this is good to know. I was hoping that complaining would push this company to change their interview process for future candidates. This interview was really AWFUL!!

I really wouldn't say it was "awful"... Awful would be ones where they tell you you don't fit the "image" and need to lose weight, or wear more make-up. I've had some awful things done/said in my time and yours was just.. odd. I would definitely report the girl to HR... preferably in person because it's easy to dismiss someone over the phone, not as easy in person.

It was a little weird but you have nothing to be ashamed about so nothing asked should make you feel bad. In fact like others have said you handled it admirably. Chin up. You will be asked some rude questions throughout your life here. Like I said before I'm ALWAYS asked about why I'm here etc etc and depending on how the person asks it i either go into details or I just say "I married an American and moved here" and then change the topic.

[InHisTime 110]

I can't believe I sat in this interview for 50 minutes!!! I even shook her hand on my way out... Thank you confuse30...i now realize I have a lot of patience

Hehehe! I think you have a lot of patience. And, Patience is a very good virtue. Honestly, you did the right thing -- you have managed yourself very well at that very awful moment. It's a shame on the HR part, not yours actually. Most of the awful situations can actually be handled properly if we all know how to properly RESPOND on a given situation. It's always our choice -- so I praise you for responding well to the situation. Not all can do that. It's an act of maturity or professionalism. Just move on and try your best next time. God will see you through. Keep trusting God. He has great things ahead of you. God bless you.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

When I'm not comfortable with a question that I feel is too personal or inappropriate I make the interviewer conscious of it immediately by asking them "is that really necessary" or by saying to them "that's a personal question and/or I feel it's inappropriate". They shape up quickly because I've established boundaries. Some have respected me for it and hired me on the spot, like with my current job.

[Max1gk 68]

She was a real #######..all the interviews I did in the area (NY&NJ),including the one that got me the job were done in an extremely professional way. I would have definitely walked out if I was you. Don't get discouraged though,you're going to have better job interviews experiences. Hang in there