00:00When you're sitting across from a prospective employer during an interview, what can you reasonably expect to happen?
00:07You have no style or sense of fashion
00:11Wow
00:13Think that depends on what you know, that wasn't a question
00:21There are a few questions that prospective employers cannot legally ask you
00:27Workplace agreements and equal opportunity laws across the country dictate what can and can't be asked in a job interview
00:34And it's rudest prospective employers are barred from asking for any information that could be used to form the basis of discrimination
00:43In most cases this includes any questions requiring the interviewee
00:47To give specifics about their age their gender identity ethnicity or sexuality
00:53Um the team you'd be heading are good, but they are young so they do need a lot of motivation
00:57Is that something you think you could bring to the table? Oh, I could splatter this table with motivation
01:05Employers can ask questions that are directly related to the position they're hiring for
01:10The questions need to be directly or indirectly about your ability to perform the advertised role
01:17I also um won a national competition for a college journalist with my series on the janitor's union which explodes the exploitation of
01:27For example an interviewer is within their rights to ask you for details about how you deal with stressful situations
01:35But they cannot ask you if you suffer from a mental health issue
01:39The difference is in the intention in the question and its relevance to the role
01:44If the needle goes beyond here you will be fired
01:48Does that make you feel stressed?
01:51Does it?
01:52No, are you sure? Are you sure?
01:55Are you sure?
01:56In most cases it would also be unreasonable to ask a candidate if they are in a same-sex relationship
02:02What their age is what their ethnic or social background is what religion they practice
02:09Whether they're pregnant or planning to become pregnant who they vote for
02:14Or if they have a specific physical or mental disability
02:18I'm your man
02:20There are of course always exceptions
02:23When it would be deemed appropriate to ask something that might under other circumstances seem discriminatory
02:30For example, if a person was applying for a role that required a lot of heavy lifting
02:35It would be lawful and reasonable to ask that candidate whether they have a physical barrier that could prevent them from completing this task
02:44So in this case, it might be reasonable to ask if the candidate is pregnant or if they have a disability
02:51but in this example
02:53It would still be illegal to ask a candidate about their political or religious beliefs because it will not reasonably affect their ability to complete
03:00this task
03:02so
03:03What can you do if you're asked a question during an interview that you believe to be discriminatory or unlawful?
03:11You are well within your rights to return an interviewer's question with a question of your own
03:16And ask them to outline briefly how your answer to their question might be specifically relevant to the job
03:23So for example, the interviewer might ask you how do you manage to work with three children at home?
03:31You can ask i'm interested to know how that relates to this specific role. Can you tell me a little bit more?
03:39So, um, is there anything you'd like to ask us?
03:42Oh, yes
03:44Yes
03:45When lightning strikes the sea, why don't all the fish die?
03:52Relevant to the job
03:54Oh no
03:56Well, thanks very much for coming in we'll be in touch
03:58You should never be made to feel like you must answer a question that could be used to discriminate against you
04:04If it has no direct relation to your ability in the role
04:07Yes, i'm really looking forward to getting to grips with i'm going to put you in it
04:13Because you said on your cv you have a lot of experience with computers
04:18I could say that's on my cv. Yes
04:20in extreme cases
04:21You are within your rights to take legal action against a prospective employer if you believe you have been discriminated against during the interview
04:30Changing jobs and doing well in interviews is a nerve-wracking experience
04:34So it helps to arm yourself with the knowledge of what constitutes workplace discrimination
04:39And to prepare a sensitive simple response ahead of time
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