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How do I respond to inappropriate questions in a job interview?

Some questions are illegal for employers to ask in a job interview. If an employer asks you an inappropriate or illegal question, you have to choose how to respond.

It is a difficult issue, especially if you really want or need the job.

Inappropriate Questions

In general, employers cannot ask about your:

Race, place of origin, or ethnic origin
Religion
Sexual orientation
Age
Marital and family status
Disability
Financial situation

However, sometimes these questions are acceptable. According to the Ontario Human Rights Code, these questions may be valid if it's related to the job requirements. For example, an airline can ask about your eyesight if you are applying to be a pilot. This is acceptable because you must have good eyesight to do the job safely.

How to Respond

If an employer asks you an inappropriate or illegal question, you have to choose how to respond.

If you tell the interviewer that you do not feel comfortable answering a particular question, or that you find the question inappropriate, they may not offer you the job. You have to decide how important this job interview is and if you want to work for an organization that asks you these kinds of questions.

You might be able to redirect your answer and ask them "Can you please explain to me how this applies to the job?" You can then refocus the subject by answering how you will be able to perform the job's duties.

It's not illegal to discuss this, and you could answer the question if you want to, the choice is yours. But employers cannot ask you these types of questions in an interview, so consider it a "red flag" or warning that the employer does not uphold good employment values.

It is a difficult issue, especially if you really want or need the job. How you respond is your personal choice.

If you are getting help from a community agency to prepare for your interview, discuss it with your mentor. It will help you to be ready and have some creative answers if you need them.

Find more information and strategies for answering inappropriate or illegal questions in a job interview:

Dealing with difficult questions and comments [PDF] - Community Legal Education Ontario - CLEO
Tips on Answering Inappropriate Interview Questions - University of Alberta Career Centre

For More Information

Options for Informing Employers About Disability - This tip sheet has information about the advantages and disadvantages of telling an employer about a disability. It is from the Laurier University Career Development Centre.
Employment: Your Rights and Responsibilities - Information about your employment and discrimination. It is from the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
JVS Career Voice - This blog for job seekers has information about career choices, finding a job, marketing yourself and more. You can submit questions. The blog posts are written by experts in employment.