The Ethics of Job Interview Questions: What is Acceptable and What is Out of Bounds
The job interview process is a crucial part of any hiring process. It allows employers to get to know their potential candidates and determine whether they are a good fit for the company and role. However, it’s important to remember that there are certain ethical boundaries that should not be crossed during the interview process. In this article, we’ll explore what is ethical and unethical in job interview questions and offer tips on how to conduct interviews professionally and fairly.
Why Ethics in Job Interviews Matter
Many job seekers may feel uncomfortable sharing personal information during job interviews or answering questions that do not outline their qualifications, experience and skills. It is important to keep ethical considerations in mind to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, prevent discrimination and unethical treatment of applicants.
Acceptable Interview Questions
It is acceptable to ask interview questions that are exclusively job-related and limited to an individual’s professional experience and qualifications such as:
Questions regarding the candidate’s education
Asking about a candidate’s educational background is an acceptable interview question. Employers can appropriately ask questions about the candidate’s degree, the school they attended, and any specific coursework that may be relevant to the job.
Questions regarding the candidate’s work experience
Questions regarding the candidate’s work experience are also acceptable. Employers can ask about specific responsibilities, achievements, and challenges a candidate has faced in their previous roles.
Questions regarding a candidate’s availability
It is also appropriate to ask about a candidate’s availability to start, their work schedule preferences, and any initial scheduling conflicts they may have.
Unacceptable Interview Questions
Certain questions are strictly off-limits and are considered unethical in a job interview.
Questions about age or birthdate
Asking about the candidate’s age or birthdate is never acceptable. This information has no bearing on a candidate’s qualifications or experience and can be seen as age discrimination.
Questions about race or ethnicity
Questions regarding a candidate’s race or ethnicity are discriminatory and unacceptable in a job interview.
Questions about sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status
Questions asking about a candidate’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status are also inappropriate and can lead to discrimination.
The Importance of Ethical Job Interviews
Conducting ethical job interviews is important to ensure fairness in the hiring process and avoiding discrimination.
There have been cases where candidates have filed employment-related lawsuits after interviews that asked personal and discriminatory questions which have caused them to feel uncomfortable or offended.
Employers should remember that unethical interview techniques can also put the company’s reputation at risk, making it harder to hire the right candidates in the future.
Real Life Example of an Unethical Interview Scenario
During an interview for an administrative position, the interviewer starts off by asking the candidate about their religion and political views. This is inappropriate and unrelated to the job being applied for, as these questions can be seen as discriminatory.
The interviewer then moves on to ask the candidate how old they are or when they intend to retire. These questions are also unethical as they pose a risk of age discrimination. The interviewer may try and justify this question by saying that it will provide them with a better understanding of the candidate’s availability and work-life balance. While this may be true, there are other ways in which employers can assess these factors without having to directly ask about age or retirement plans.
Lastly, the interviewer asks if the candidate has any children or if they intend to have kids in the future. This type of question is highly unacceptable as it has no bearing on a candidate’s qualifications or experience and can give a feeling of being discriminated against based on family status.
It is important to remember that any unethical behavior during an interview process can put employers at risk of facing legal liability due to discrimination laws, as well as tarnishing their reputation among potential applicants in the future.
Conclusion
Conducting ethical job interviews is essential to ensure fairness and diversity and avoid any legal liability. Employers should be mindful of what is acceptable and unacceptable during the job interview process. Asking job-related questions is a must but personal and discriminatory questions should not be asked as they can be considered inappropriate in the interview process.
Make sure you conduct ethical and acceptable interviews that are respectful and professional, and HireMe can assist in providing leadership training on ethics in hiring practices. Contact us today to learn more!