Illegal Questions To Ask In An Interview

1 in 5 employers has unknowingly asked one of these questions

Kristen Felicetti

We already know that interviewers and hiring managers can ask pretty strange questions, but did you know that some are asking ones that are downright illegal?

In a recent CareerBuilder survey, 1 in 5 (20%) of hiring managers indicated that they have asked a question in a job interview that they later found was illegal. Hiring managers should brush up on the following questions, because by asking them they are unknowingly putting themselves at risk for legal action.

One third of employers indicated they didn't know the following questions were illegal to ask in an interview setting:

• What is your religious affiliation?
• What is your political affiliation?
• How old are you?
• Are you pregnant?
• What is your race, color or ethnicity?
• Are you disabled?
• Are you married?
• Are you in debt?
• Do you have children or plan to?
• Do you socially drink or smoke?

While some of the above questions might seem obvious not to ask, others are more tricky. With some questions, the legality is all in the wording. For example, asking if a candidate has ever been convicted of a crime is okay, but asking about his or her arrest record is not. Or while it's okay to ask if a job seeker is legally eligible for employment in the U.S., it's not legal to openly ask, "Are you a U.S. citizen?"

The nationwide survey was commissioned by CareerBuilder and conducted online by Harris Poll from November 4 to December 2, 2014. More than 2,100 hiring and human resource managers across numerous industries were polled.      

People with these jobs are the most likely to marry each other

Rachel Gillett and Mike Nudelman

If you're a real hands-in-the-dirt, head-in-the-sun kinda fella, there's a good chance your future wife will be, too.

As The Washington Post recently detailed, Priceonomics, a company that helps companies crawl and structure data from the web, analyzed US Census data to see what professions are most likely to marry each other.

Among the top ten occupations more prone to mixing business with pleasure, two are in agriculture.

Agricultural workers, who help farmers maintain crops and livestock, marry others with the same job 27% of the time — and agricultural managers, such as farmers and ranchers, do so 20% of the time.

Other occupations like physicians and surgeons, gaming service workers, and lodging managers also top the list.

Mike Nudelman/Business Insider

Dan Kopf, author of the Priceonomics analysis, notes the high rate of agriculture workers and managers comingling may be attributed to the less diverse mix of occupations available to people in rural communities compared to urban ones.

Jerry Miller, founder of niche dating site FarmersOnly.com, says it all comes down to lifestyle compatibility. Many farmers he has talked to say they work seven days a week, 365 days a year. "How many people in regular business could relate to that?" he asks.

In general, Dr. Mike McNulty, a Master Certified Gottman Therapist and relationship expert,notes the list isn't too surprising, considering most of these occupations likely share atypical hours and intense demands and responsibilities.

"Each occupation has a distinct way of life that goes with it," McNulty says. "They all involve long hours, at least during certain seasons of the year, that may result in an inability to participate in the mainstream social activities of one's peers."

This may make it difficult for people in these occupations to meet others outside of work.

"It may feel more workable to marry someone who shares the same kind of schedule, rather than having to constantly explain the demands of one's position to a partner or spouse who works in a different profession," McNulty says. "The fact that partners hold the same type of position may mean that they can relate to each other's compassion for work or the challenges one another face."

While there are lots of benefits for spouses who share the same way of life, McNulty cautions anyone looking for a spouse with the same job about the pitfalls.

"Even when they do have the same job, they still will have individual differences, which will result in those all too common perpetual problems that come with being married," he explains. "Partners must learn to manage such problems over time, through understanding and compromise and putting their relationship first. If partners enter into marriage believing their shared way of life makes them exempt from conflict, they will be in for a big surprise."

It's worth noting that the Census Bureau tracks 500 professions, and data on same-sex marriages was not available for this analysis.

Lights, camera, job search: Interview tips from actors

INTERVIEWING AND AUDITIONING AREN'T SO DIFFERENT. LEARN HOW ACTING TECHNIQUES CAN HELP YOU ACE YOUR INTERVIEW.

While pursuing my passion for acting, I've had to constantly face a situation feared by most actors: the audition. In order to be successful, actors audition a lot; often anywhere from once a week to multiple times a day. Just like with interviewing, auditioning is often terrifying the first several times, and then it becomes (a little) less intimidating. You learn how to present your best self under intense pressure and constant competition. Auditioning takes diligent preparation, battling nerves and dealing with rejection – the same things job seekers experience when going in for an interview.

Due to the similarities between auditioning and interviewing, you could perhaps learn a thing or two about preparing for an interview from a seasoned actor. That's why we chatted with Aaron Walters, a CareerBuilder employee who has more than 15 years of experience in theater, television, radio and film (he recently was featured on Season one of "Chicago P.D." and appeared in a national ad campaign for Bud Light). Here's what he had to say about the parallels between auditioning and interviewing, along with my takeaways for applying acting technique to the job search.

CB: How has auditioning prepared you to deliver an effective interview?AW: I think that auditioning forces you to think on your feet, because you're never sure what the outcome will be – especially if you're paired with a complete stranger (which is usually the case). Don't get tripped up by your interviewer's questions or reactions, just as you wouldn't by your scene partner's choices. Remain in the moment, so you don't become stuck within your own narrative in an interview. Simply put, in an audition or interview you must listen and respond. Your potential employer may be vetting for additional positions besides the one you're interviewing for, so be prepared to pick up on potential cues.

Takeaway: Listen to the interviewer. Respond in the moment to what the interviewer is giving you – if you become nervous you'll shut down and won't hear a word. You may be missing important information that you can refer back to or relay your insight on during the interview.

CB: What are some acting-based classes a job candidate might take to improve their interviewing skills?AW: I would 100 percent suggest taking an on-camera course. You learn a significant amount about your natural tendencies in regards to body language, etc. Stuff that frankly may not be the easiest to look at. Suddenly you realize your voice is not as cool as you thought it was in your head, but being aware of how you're selling yourself in an interview or an audition is a crucial first step.

Takeaway: Self-awareness is key. When you see yourself in play-black mode, you can learn so much about how others may perceive you. Take a class with a group, instead of just preparing within the vacuum of your own living room, so you can receive honest feedback on how you're presenting yourself. The camera does not lie and will accurately reflect your posture, the confidence of your voice, your physical habits, etc. All of these tendencies can positively or negatively impact an interview.

CB: What parallels have you found between interviewing and auditioning?AW: One parallel that definitely exists in auditioning or interviewing is that the only obstacle standing in your way of being successful is yourself. There's no one actively rooting against you to not get the job or land the part … it's actually quite the opposite. In most of my experiences, I felt potentially able to make the day of the person across the table. This is true whether it's a casting director or a prospective employer. They may be exhausted of looking for the perfect candidate as much as you are in the job search. They want you to succeed.

Takeaway: Alter your perspective for the better. The way that you perceive yourself in an interview setting is tantamount to success. If you walk into an interview scenario not ready to put your best foot forward, the interview may be over before you answer the first question. Convince yourself that your specific skills are going to benefit the hiring manager. In many cases your opinion of yourself will influence the interviewer's perception of you. Don't be overconfident, but assert your value confidently.