About those odd interview questions

By Thomas Besore, Esq.
Transitioning to a new career is a stressful experience even under the best of circumstances for top qualified candidates. You’re leaving the comfort zone of a known environment and proceeding into new and unfamiliar surroundings. Your
qualifications are under intense review in the employer’s quest to ensure that you are the right fit for the job. You’re under financial pressure because this transition is largely driven by a need to get those bills paid to support your lifestyle. This process amounts to the most vulnerable position of your entire career. You’ve worked hard to attain the credentials and experience that you bring to the table. But that prospective employer seems to be holding all the cards, – namely the job you’re after.

This is no time to let your confidence down or let self-doubt have any role in your life. One of many things you can do to boost yourself at this time is to gain confidence in your knowledge of the law as it applies to the hiring process. If you don’t know it already, I’ve got news for you. Discrimination in employment is alive and well in the United States. It’s alive and well in Chicago! Each and every day people are treated poorly because they are the wrong color, the wrong sex, the wrong race, too heavy, too skinny, have bad credit, the wrong sexual orientation or because they walk with a limp. Faulty criteria appear in job advertisements, recruiting policies, specific interview actions, orientation sessions, assignments, evaluations, promotions and eventually dismissal.

The good news is that you’ve got a network behind you. You’ve got access to basic information about the law, case history about known problem areas and a veritable army of good people to attack discrimination where it starts. But it’s up to you to arm yourself with the knowledge and
confidence you need to combat poor behavior by potential employers. Take some time during your transition process to come up to speed on the resources available to protect you in your job search. A couple of good places to start are the websites of the federal and state agencies charged with protecting your interests. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has a tremendous amount of information out there including a basic description of the law protecting employees. They’ve got pages and pages of information on the laws and regulations to enforce those laws. They offer specific guidance on inappropriate application materials or interview questions. They list prohibited practices and provide examples of actions the government has taken to protect you. You can even look at the guidance they provide to employers.

The Illinois Department of Human Rights has information similar to the federal site. But Illinois has some specific state laws to supplement your protection under federal law. The Illinois website details this information and provides further resources to protect you. Arming yourself with this knowledge will make you an expert on the laws affecting hiring. It will give you the upper hand in that interview when you’re confronted with seemingly innocent (but largely inappropriate) questions about your family, your credit or your terrific accent.

Here are your starting points:
The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
http://www.eeoc.gov/employees.
The Illinois Department of Human Rights
http://www.state.il.us/dhr

1. admin says:

   February 28, 2010 at 2:26 am

   great post Tom!