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, it would still be illegal to ask a candidate about their political or religious beliefs
02:57Because it will not reasonably affect their ability to complete this 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
03:24So, um, is there anything you'd like to ask us? Oh, yes. Yes
03:30When lightning strikes the sea why don't all the fish die
03:36Relevant to the job. Oh, no
03:41Well, thanks very much for coming in we'll be in touch
03:43You should never be made to feel like you must answer a question that could be used to discriminate against you
03:48If it has no direct relation to your ability in the role
03:52Yes, i'm really looking forward to getting to grips with i'm going to put you in it
03:57Because you said on your cv you have a lot of experience with computers
04:02I did say that's on my cv. Yes
04:05In extreme cases you are within your rights to take legal action against a prospective employer
04:10If you believe you have been discriminated against during the interview
04:15Changing jobs and doing well in interviews is a nerve-wracking experience
04:19So it helps to arm yourself with the knowledge of what constitutes workplace discrimination
04:23And to prepare a sensitive simple response ahead of time
Comments