Illegal Interview Questions: Strategies for Answering

??Here are a few starter strategies for handling illegal interview questions!

By all means, edit as you see fit! I honestly just wanted to provide a few examples to get your ideas flowing in case you are ever in this type of situation.

Of course, we start by handling all questions using structured response techniques like the ???????? (Situation, Task, Action, Result), ??????? (Challenge, Action, Result), or ???????? (Problem, Action, Result, What did you learn) methods.

However, for ?????????????? ??????????????????, I like to remind my clients of their rights and provide strategies to tactfully redirect or deflect the question while maintaining professionalism.

Here are a few strategies for answering illegal questions without directly answering them:

??. ???????? ??????????:? Pause long enough that the interviewer may feel compelled to clarify or withdraw the question. This can create an opportunity for them to move on to a different topic.

??. ???????????? ???????? ?? ????????????????: Politely ask how the question relates to the job or impacts the outcome of the interview.

Example: “Can you help me understand how this relates to the job requirements?”

??. ???????????????? ???? ????????????: Redirect the conversation back to your qualifications and skills relevant to the job.

Example: “I’m really excited about the opportunity to bring my project management skills to this role. Can you tell me more about the team I would be working with?”

??. ?????????????? ????????????????????: Indicate that you’re not comfortable answering the question and steer the conversation back to your professional attributes.

Example: “I prefer to keep my personal life separate from my professional life, but I’m very interested in discussing how my skills can contribute to your team.”

??. ?????????????? ?????? ????????????: Acknowledge the intent behind the question and redirect to job-related skills or experiences.

Example: “If you’re concerned about my availability, I can assure you I’m fully committed to fulfilling the job requirements.”

??. ???????????????? ??????????????: Express that you do not feel comfortable answering the question.

Example: “I’m not comfortable discussing that topic, but I’d be happy to talk about my qualifications and experience.”

??. ?????? ?????????? ??????????????:Use a light touch of humor to deflect the question without sounding dismissive.

Example: “Oh, that's a tricky one! Let’s focus on how my background in marketing can help your team achieve its goals.”

By using any of these strategies, I think you'll be able to navigate illegal questions professionally and maintain control of the interview conversation.

???????? ???? ???????????????? ??????????????????? ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? -???? - ???? ??????????????? ???? ????, ???????? ????????:? https://calendly.com/drnataschasaunders