We’ve spoken a lot about how to prepare for your job interview on our blog however we’ve never mentioned the interview questions employers shouldn’t ask you. Until now!
To view our blog on “Best interview questions for employers” click here.
It’s important to be aware of the questions you shouldn’t be asked by a potential employer, before you head to your interview.
Firstly, an interview is an opportunity for an employer to find out if you are suitable for the role. Therefore, any questions should pertain to your skillset.
An employer may ask you about how you react during certain work situations. For example, they may ask how you deal with stress. However, they should not ask you if you suffer from mental health issues.
As an interviewee, you will need to be able to identify the motive behind the question being asked and the relevance of the information the interviewer is trying to obtain.
Your interviewer should not ask questions that may lead to grounds for discrimination.
This is because they should have no relevance to how you would for fill the work role. You should not be denied a job opportunity for discriminatory reasons. In fact, in some states and territories this may be unlawful under the Fair Work Act.
To offer a better understanding of the interview questions employers shouldn’t ask you, here are some examples.
- Are you in a same-sex relationship?
- How old are you?
- What’s your ethnic background?
- What religion are you?
- Are you pregnant or planning to start a family?
- Who do you vote for?
- Do you have a physical or mental disability?
*Questions for SEEK.com.au 2022
What are the exceptions?
There is a broad exception to some of the above questions, that may allow a potential employer to ask a ‘discriminatory’ question.
For example, an employer may need to know about any physical disability if the job role has a physical aspect – such as heavy lifting.
If you feel as though the interviewer is asking as question that doesn’t pertain to the job role, try to redirect them. It could be as simple as saying, ‘I’m interested to know how that relates to the role. Can you tell me a little more?’
Remain polite and courteous at all times during the interview. However, do not feel pressured to answer a question that requires you to supply information that could be used to discriminate and has no direct bearing on your ability to perform the role.
All the best for your upcoming interview! If you are looking for jobs in Perth, check out our Silverstone online job forum here – https://sstone.com.au/available-jobs/