Applicant Question Guidelines
Age
Acceptable
Almost never, consult with Human Resources department personnel before asking any age related questions.
Not Acceptable
What is your age?
What year were you born?
When did you graduate high school?
Availability
Acceptable
What days and hours can you work?
Are there days or hours you cannot work?
Are there any responsibilities you have that could make it difficult for traveling to work?
Do you have a reliable way of getting to work?
Not Acceptable
Can you work on weekends?
Can you work on holidays?
Can you work evenings/nights?
Do you own a car?
Citizenship and National Origin
Asking about languages other than English is acceptable if identified as a requirement in the job description listing in which the applicant applied for.
Acceptable
Are you authorized to lawfully work in the United States?
Are you legally eligible to work in the United States?
Can you provide proof of citizenship/visa/alien registration if hired?
Can you speak, read, and write in English?
Not Acceptable
Are you a US citizen?
Can you provide a birth certificate?
What country are your parents from?
What is your background?
Where were you born?
How did you learn Portuguese?
Criminal Background
Acceptable
Please explain your conviction for ________?
Not Acceptable
Have you ever been arrested?
Employment
Acceptable
May we contact your current/previous employer(s)?
When did you start working for _____________?
When we’re you employee with _____________?
What was your attendance record at ____________?
How long did you stay at your last role?
What were your starting and ending job titles at _____________?
Not Acceptable
How many days of work did you miss due to illness?
When did you first start working?
What is your current salary?
What were your previous starting and ending salaries?
Educational Background
Subjects of study. When applicant graduated college or graduate school. Whether applicant has certifications or licenses that are relevant to the position.
Acceptable
Do you have a high school diploma or equivalent?
What university or college degrees do you have?
What is your current/final college GPA?
Can you confirm whether you have any relevant certifications or licenses?
Not Acceptable
What dates did you attended high school?
When did you completed high school or your GED?
Ethnicity
Acceptable
Almost never, consult with Human Resources department personnel before asking any ethnicity related questions.
Not Acceptable
Any questions about a persons race.
Gender
Acceptable
Almost never, consult with Human Resources department personnel before asking any gender related questions.
Not Acceptable
Are you more comfortable working around other men or women?
Illegal Drug Use
Acceptable
Have you used illegal drugs in the last six months?
Not Acceptable
Have you been arrested for illegal drug or alcohol use?
Job History
Acceptable
When can your start if hired?
Have you ever applied with the Company before?
Have you ever worked at the Company?
Not Acceptable
Did you have a drug or alcohol violation at your previous employer?
Military Service
Acceptable
What experience and training did you receive while serving that would be beneficial to this job?
Not Acceptable
Any direct questions about discharge or non-U.S. military service.
Marital and Family Status
If going to ask about about outside commitments, then you shall ask all candidates to avoid potential discrimination.
Acceptable
Do you have any commitments that might prevent you from working the assigned shifts?
Not Acceptable
Are you married?
Are you single?
Do you have any children?
Name
Acceptable
Have you ever gone by another name?
Have you ever worked for us before under any other name?
What are the names of your personal references?
Not Acceptable
What is your maiden name?
Did you ever change your name through marriage or court application?
Organizations
Avoid all questions about non-professional organizations that could be seen as a proxy question about race, age, gender, etc.
Acceptable
Are you a member of a professional organization?
Not Acceptable
Are you a member of the local country club?
What sorority did you join?
Pregnancy
Even if a candidate is obviously pregnant, it is not acceptable to ask any questions about this subject. You can still describe the job and then ask if they can perform all functions.
Acceptable
Almost never, consult with Human Resources department personnel before asking any pregnancy related questions.
Not Acceptable
Are you pregnant?
Are you trying to have a family?
Physical Condition or Disability
Acceptable
Are you confident you can perform all of the functions identified within the job description listing?
Not Acceptable
Do you have a disability?
Have you ever filed a workers compensation claim?
Have you ever suffered a workplace injury?
Relatives
Acceptable
Do any of your relatives currently work for us or our competitors?
Can you provide the names of your relatives who work for us?
Not Acceptable
What is the name of your relatives who work for our competitors?
Religion
Acceptable
Almost never, consult with Human Resources department personnel before asking any religion related questions.
Not Acceptable
Does your religion prevent you from working weekends or holidays?
What denomination are you?
Who is your pastor?
Residence & Contact Information
Acceptable
How long have you been at your current address?
What is your current address?
What was your previous address and how long did you live there?
Not Acceptable
Do you own your own home or rent?
Who do you live with?
How are you related to the people you live with?
What is your emergency contact’s name and contact information?
Salary History
Acceptable
Almost never, consult with Human Resources department personnel before asking any salary history related questions.
Not Acceptable
What was your salary at ______?
Visual and Physical Appearance
Accurately describe the job then ask the candidate if they can perform all of the functions.
Acceptable
Are you confident you can perform all of the functions identified within the job description listing?
Not Acceptable
What is your height?
How much do you weigh?