Improper & Potentially Illegal Interview Questions

Most state laws prohibit discrimination against persons age 40 and older. As such questions relating to age should be avoided by employers.

Exceptions: Employers may inquire as to the applicant’s age in the following cases

1. To ensure an applicant is “old enough” to perform the job being filled
2. Physically dangerous or hazardous work
3. Driving a school bus

Example of Illegal Question & Legal Alternative

Illegal: How old are you?
Legal: Are you over the age of 21?

Right before an hour X

Transfer parties with drinks for that happy day when you will already have a dream job, do not worry and try to sleep. In advance work a route, count up time for road and add to it half an hour, how call your interviewer - a name-patronymic said correctly and in a right time, will add to you points on interview.

Before interview it is not necessary to be cut or buy new boots - because if you fail you going to be screwed for sure. Dress up with taste - men (except for creative workers) in the European suits, women - too. In case of clothes there is also one rule: it should "pull" on half of prospective salary. That is, if you wish to receive $7000/mo job, put on $ 3500

For documents prepare a separate folder. Before a meeting re-read the resume - for confidence.

Questions on interview

Here is some more most common questions:

1. Tell us about yourself

2. What is your view on life: what difficulties you have and how your overcome them.

3. What you like in applying possition?

4. Why you think this job is right for you and what is your pluses in comparission to other candidates?

5. What is your positive and strong moments?

6. What is your weak points.

7. Why did you quit your previous job.

8. Why did you deside to change your job?

9. What is your other job offers?

10. How succesful were your interviews in other places?

11. Will this job affect your personal life?(different hours, travel, etc.)

12. How do you see yourself in five ten years?

13. What changes would you do in your new place?

14. Who can tell us your previous job achivements?

15. What pay you want?

16. Do you have any professional connections and how you can use them on your new place?

17. How do you improve your personal experience?

18. What do you like to do in your free time?

19. When you can start?

20. What questions do you have?

Preparation for interview

All you need to know in short.


As they say, the impromptu is good, when you is well prepared. Do not rely on the ability to improvise. Learn to give two types of answers - the general(common) one which will be useful for interview in any organization, and targeted answers, focused on the particular employer. Here "must have" steps of preparation if you do not wish to risk.

- get approximate answers to those questions which you are likely to be asked. Ask somebody to play from relatives a role of "employer" and try your dialogs. Whether avoid all "hmmm" and " well, " If you can, record yourself on video, and look at it.

- Be ready for surprises. It can be, for example, quite usual question set in the unexpected form for you: " And how it is possible to use your skills in our company? " Or: " And what advantages at you in comparison with other applicants? " Do not think that your abilities in doubt, tell simply: " I Think, I shall be useful to you, because... "

- Prepare for the brief and concrete examples showing your relation to work proving that you have qualities necessary for given position.

-inquire about the company where you wish to receive a place. You all should interest: scales of firm, its production or services rendered by it, organizational structure, its last achievements and probable plans for the future. Talk to the people knowing a state of affairs in firm. Useful data can be found out and in specialized business-editions online or in the libraries.

-be able to prove your wish to work in this organization.

-The first contact, as well as any first impression, is very important for you. Warn house, that to you can call and in the evening, and in target. Do not lift the receiver in a room where the TV works or someone talks. Watch the speech - a limiting correctness and a stylistic neutrality. Be not too lazy to recheck a name, a title and a surname of the interviewer, and also his/her phone number.

- dress for an interview very important even if in the given establishment there are no strict rules on this matter. Check up, whether your suit and footwear require cleaning or repair, do not leave it for last moment.

- To be late for interview is similarly to death. In detail find out an exact route up to a place, and not just the address. If you have a car, in advance consider possible delays. On interview it is better to arrive ten minutes prior to appointed time.