Below is a list of illegal questions and their legal counterparts.
| Area | Illegal Questions | Legal Questions |
|---|---|---|
| National Origin/Citizenship | Where were your parents born? Are you a U.S. citizen? What is your native tongue? | Are you authorized to work in the U.S.? What language do you read/write/speak fluently? (This is only okay if this ability is relevant to the job you are applying for.) |
| Age | What’s you date of birth? How old are you? When did you graduate? | Are you over the age of 18? |
| Marital/Family Status | What’s your marital status? Do you plan to have a family? When? Whom do you live with? How many kids do you have? | Would you be willing to relocate if necessary? Would you be willing to travel as needed by this job? Would you be able and willing to work overtime as necessary? |
| Personal | How tall are you? How much do you weigh? | Are you able to lift 50-pounds, as that is part of the job? |
| Disabilities | Do you have any disabilities? Have you had any recent or past illnesses or operations? Please complete the following medical history. | Are you able to perform the essential functions of this job? (Okay if the interviewer has thoroughly described the job.) As part of the hiring process, after a job offer has been made, you will be required to undergo a medical exam. |
| Arrest Record | Have you ever been arrested? | Have you ever been convicted of ___? (The crime named should be reasonably related to the performance of the job in question.) |
| Military | If you’ve been 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? |