INTERVIEWING DO’S AND DON’TS

WHAT’S LEGAL

A half dozen federal laws protect job applicants from questions that might be used to discriminate against them. Basically, this means no “personal” questions. If challenged, the employer must prove that an interview question is directly related to the duties of the job for which the candidate is applying.

QUESTIONS THAT ARE ILLEGAL TO ASK A CANDIDATE (Note that these questions delve into the candidate's personal life and are not legitimate occupational qualifications.)

• Are you married?
• With whom do you live?
• If married, are you expecting to have children soon?
• What does your spouse do?
• Were your parents born in this country?
• Have you ever filed for bankruptcy?
• Have you ever been arrested? (But, you may ask for information on criminal convictions.)
• How many children do you have?
• If you have children, what kinds of day care arrangements have you made?
• What memberships do you hold in social, religious, and community groups?
• Are you physically handicapped?

NOTE: After you have made an offer to someone, you can ask about spouse or partner and their employment needs, children and schooling or daycare needs, etc. Now the task is to help your chosen candidate figure out how to make Carleton work for them.

QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASK AND EXPECT ANSWERS (Note that questions of this type focus on the job, specific qualifications for it, and career goals. This list is designed for staff positions but could be adapted for faculty positions.)

• Where have you worked before?
• What duties have you performed on past jobs?
• What are your short and long-range career goals?
• Why are you interested in this organization?
• Tell me about yourself.
• What education have you completed? (If a certain level is required for the job.)
• How did you learn about this job?
• Who are people prepared to write or give references for you?
• What special qualifications do you have for this job?
• May I answer any questions about the job or about Carleton?
• What are your greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses?
• Why does this job interest you?
• Why did you select this particular career?
• What job skills do you have? (When specific skills are needed.)
• What attracts you most about the position we have open?
• Please highlight your past experiences as they relate to this position, particularly in regard to…
• What special strengths do you have that make you the best candidate for this position?
• Please describe your personal work style and the management style which you find most comfortable and productive…
• Describe a situation in which you had to: problem solve, coordinate tasks and meet a deadline, etc…
• Tell me about a significant accomplishment or success that is important to you.
• What are your goals and aspirations for the next three years?
• In addition to your educational and professional experiences, what else would you like us to know about you in order to make an appropriate decision?
• In what kind of a work environment are you most comfortable?
• How do you work under pressure?
• How would you describe the ideal job for you?
• What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
• What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?
• What skills and abilities do you possess that will help make you successful in this position?
• How do you interact with people around you (i.e. leadership, communication, socializing, etc.)?
• Why should we hire you? For you, what are some of the pros and cons of working on a team project?
• In what organizational structure do you function best?
• Please tell me about your communication skills, your personal skills relevant to work experiences, and your problem-solving abilities?
• What do you see as your greatest challenge when starting a new position?