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Got asked questions you "can't be asked" in interview

jschmidt6jschmidt6 member
in Working Moms
So a couple weeks ago I posted a question about asking for a promotion/raise during my end of the year one-on-one review with my manager. Well his answer wasn't the one I was hoping for and I know I deserve better so I went ahead and applied for another job in another state that is at least 1 pay level higher than my current. I sent my portfolio and got a phone interview immediately. I was super pumped. Everything was going really really well, then towards the end of the interview he asked me 3 questions that I'm regretting answering. He asked if I was married, if I had kids and if I owned a home. I think he was trying to judge how serious or likely I would be to relocate. But the first 2 questions are illegal to ask (which I didn't know at the time) and this is coming from a director-level employee who I feel should know better. I also don't think he would have asked these questions had I been a male. Should I end the application process over this? Do I still want to work there if they are this lax about rules and descrimination? Or is this common though illegal? WWYD?

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Re: Got asked questions you &quot;can't be asked&quot; in interview

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  • MommyAttyMommyAtty member
    This happens a lot. More often than not, in job interviews for lawyer positions, I get some form of these. And you'd think lawyers would know better! I have never been able to come up with a not-snotty sounding way to answer so I generally take the coward's way out and just answer. As someone in a corporation, though, I have a different take on reading the tea leaves here. I think they may be very interested and trying to ascertain both how likely you are to relocate and how expensive the relo package could be.
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  • smoochmoosemomsmoochmoosemom member

    It's actually not illegal to ask those questions, they can be asked in any interview. It IS illegal to use the answers to those questions to make a decision about a candidate. For that reason, it doesn't make sense to ask them and most companies prohibit them so as to avoid even the appearance that they might use them to judge a candidate.

    If I were you, I would judge the company by the interview.  It says to me that they care more about your marital status and if you have kids than your ability to do the job. A reasonable question would have been, "I see from your resume that you live out of state. This job requires someone to be in the office M-F, 9 to 5. Could you do that?  If you answer yes, that's all they need to know!  Whatever you decide, good luck!

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  • jschmidt6jschmidt6 member
    Thanks for everyone's responses. This is my first time job searching as a mom so I have a lot to consider now. Unfortunately he finally gave me the salary range for the job and it's the same thing I make now. So definitely not worth moving for. It was good interview practice at least!

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