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To Ask or NOT to Ask…What questions are appropriate when interviewing an applicant?by G.E.M. Team

General December 1, 2009 1:25 pm

At Harrell’s we believe in Growing the Extra Mile (GEM) for our employees and customers. Although we cannot be familiar with all legal guidelines in your specific location, below is an example of one of the tools we use internally. If you read anything you like, feel free to adapt and use with your team.


Topic	OK to ask	Don’t even think about it
Gender and family challenges	Do you have any relatives that work with us?	How many kids do you have? Are you married? What does your husband do? Do you have childcare for your children? Are you covered under your spouse’s insurance plan? What’s your maiden name (of married women)?
Race	There is nothing you may ask.	What is your race? Please give us a copy of your photo ID so that we may put it with your application.
National Origin or Ancestry	Do you have a legal right to be employed in the US? Are you able to speak/write English fluently? (Only if job related.) Do you speak any other languages? (Only if job related.)	Your last name is Smith. Did you come over on the Mayflower? Where were you born? What’s your nationality? What’s your spouse’s nationality? What is your native language?
Religion	Are you able to work the scheduled days and hours?	Where do you go to church? What religious holidays do you observe?
Age	Are you over the age of 18? Are you over the age of 21? (If job related.)	When’s your birthday? When did you graduate from high school? How old are you?
Disability	Are you able to perform the essential job-related functions?	Do you have a disability? How did you become disabled? Have you ever filed a workers’ comp claim? Have you ever had surgery? Do you have any health problems?