19 Oct 09 How To Handle An Illegal Question At An Interview

Interviewers frequently ask illegal questions during interviews. Whether this is intentional or not, your answers could impact how you are received, which in turn can impact whether or not you get the job. How you handle these scenarios is just as important as how you answer the legitimate interview questions. Knowing what to do is of vital importance in any interview.

The first thing you should do is figure out the nature of the question. An illegal question does not refer to a question that is criminally liable, but rather just a question that an interviewer is not allowed to ask. Questions like these are from topics that cannot legally have a bearing on whether or not you get a job. Such as questions about race, sex, age, health, disabilities, and religion. Any of these could be mentioned unintentionally in the forming of a question, but all are illegal for an interviewer to ask you.

It’s necessary for you to understand that in most cases an illegal question comes up as a mistake from the interviewer. Oftentimes these are asked with no intention to discriminate against you. But rather these are attempts by the interviewer to be friendly, or to relate to you. This way the can get a better feel for how you would fit in with the company. But usually through inexperience, instead of doing that through legal means, they accidentally slip into an illegal pitfall by asking you a personal question.

In this case you have two polite options for answering the question and moving the interview forward. The first option is that you could answer the question. But in answering, make sure that it’s a question you feel completely comfortable answering, and preferably answering n brief. Then try to move on to a different topic. The second option is to essentially ignore the question and move the interview forward by focusing on a different work related topic of yours.

Either option works well, and will keep an interview’s flow without making for an uncomfortable situation on either side. Try to stay professional and courteous, with a positive disposition, as you always should during any interview. If you can follow that model, and not flinch under the pressure of an illegal question, you’ll be just fine.

Tags: Age Health, Answering The Question, Attempts, Bearing, First Option, Health Disabilities, Illegal Question, Illegal Questions, Inexperience, Intention, Interview Questions, Interviewer, Interviewers, Job, Mistake, Personal Question, Pitfall, Religion, Scenarios, Sex Age

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13 Jun 09 Make Yourself Stand Out In An Interview

Anytime that an economy takes a hit, like the global economy has been for a while now, the job market become much, much more competitive. This is simply because there are fewer jobs available in a recession, which makes it all the more important for you to make yourself stand out from other applicants, increasing your chances of landing that new job. Of course work history and qualifications can be key, but those are only necessary to land an interview, after that whether you get the job or not is based solely on your ability to wow the interviewer. Here are a few pointers you can take advantage of, to make yourself look like the perfect candidate every time.

- Firstly, dress appropriately. I shouldn’t even have to mention this one, but some people undervalue the importance of looking well groomed and professional. In other words, always leave the jeans and sneakers at home.

- Research, research, research. Make sure you know the company you’re interviewing with as well as possible. The in’s and out’s of what the company is about, how they function, and the goals they are working towards as specifically as possible. The more information you know the easier that you can help conversation freely flow, which makes you look like a person interested and informed in the company to which you are applying. That is always good.

- Ask real questions about the company and the position to outline your interest and willingness to get and excel at the job to which you are applying. Don’t try to control the interview with your questions however, as that tactic fails about as often as it succeeds, but make yourself appear as interested as you are in the position. Always do what you can to let the interviewer know that you want the job.

- Don’t be afraid to talk yourself up. This is your interview, don’t waste your time by not making yourself look like the ideal candidate for the position to which you applied. Go in confident, and outline the features you have that make you a fantastic candidate for the job, including your desire to do the job. Stay away from suggesting you are the perfect candidate however, as this is more of a form statement made by too many people, and means nothing more than you are just trying to get a job. Show real interest, it will make all the difference.

Of course there are many other factors that can determine how well an interview goes and your likelihood of getting a job after applying, but following those four steps is a fantastic start to helping you stand out from the rest of the applicants.

Tags: Advantage, Control, Fewer Jobs, Global Economy, Interview Don, Interview Questions, Interviewer, Jeans, Jobs Available, New Job, Perfect Candidate, Pointers, recession, Research Research Research, Sneakers, Tactic, Willingness, Work History

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19 Oct 09 How To Handle An Illegal Question At An Interview

13 Jun 09 Make Yourself Stand Out In An Interview

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