University of California Berkeley Career Guide - Flipbook - Page 43
Legal and Illegal Interview Questions
Illegal
Questions
Age
Legal
Questions
Questions about an applicant’s age, date
of birth or date of high school graduation
or requests of documentation related to
age are illegal.
National Origin/ Are you a US Citizen?*
Citizenship
Where are your parents from?
An employer may ask if the applicant meets the
minimum age set by the law.
Are you authorized to work in the United States?
What is your native “tongue”?
Race
All questions related to an individual’s
race are illegal.
There are no legal questions related to race.
Religion
Questions relating to an applicant’s religious beliefs or denomination or indicate
religious customs or holiday observances
are illegal.
After an individual is hired, an employer may ask
about religious accommodations.
Marital/
Family Status
Are you married?
Who do you live with?
Do you plan to have a family?
What are your childcare arrangements?
Would you be willing to relocate if necessary?
Will you be willing and able to work overtime if
necessary?
Personal
How tall are you?
How much do you weigh?
Questions about your personal characteristics need
to be specifically related to the ability to perform
the job.
Arrest Record
Have you ever been arrested?
During the interview an employer can ask about
convictions that are related to the job. (Please
note that “ban the box” laws only apply during the
written application process.)
Disabilities
Do you have any disabilities?
Please complete the medical history.
Are you able to perform the essential functions of
the job?
Can you demonstrate how you would perform the
following job related functions?
Military
If you were in the military, were you
honorably discharged?
In what branch of the Armed Forces did you serve?
What type of training or education did you receive
in the military?
* There are specific instance in which a question about citizenship is legal. These typically involve security clearances as in the
case of government contractors.
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