The world is moving at a fast pace each day has cutthroat competition and only the survival of the fittest. If we stop for a moment to catch a breath or look back at what others are doing, we are most likely to get lost in the crowd or eliminate ourselves from the race itself. No wonder a person has to be on top of their game to be the best and undefeatable. The race that we are running in is a race to get well educated, a race to get the best jobs, and a race to get well settled so that we might enjoy a great afterlife. Reading and imagining all this is very easy and dreamy because most of us are lazy enough to omit the hard work and dream of overnight success. Which is rather impractical without very exceptional talents, which brings us back to the race we are running. Here, let’s see some Bad Interview Questions.
To finish the race while following the course of designated events takes up a lot of our time and energy, but it pays off very well in the end. The proper path of this race includes getting a good job that is likely to pay off very well. A job secures a person’s future. If getting a job was effortless, most of us would have had lesser things to worry about. We all know that getting a job is no easy feat; one has to prepare half their life to get the job that suits them very well. Because of the competitive atmosphere, it is difficult to grab one without defeating a thousand others.
Competition in jobs
After getting shortlisted for a job, the main competition starts. It might look easy and fun while discussing, but it is rather tough when it happens physically. The procedure after getting shortlisted includes getting interviewed. After this, following the rest of the formalities, proving that you are perfect for the job, and putting in most of your potential so that no one can replace you. Getting interviewed might look easy because most of us prepare for the common questions that are asked. It is not such an easy task when we comprehend the magnanimity of it. One interview helps to judge a person. How good of an asset can they be, and what they promise might be fulfilled by them. It is necessary to prepare for what the interviewer asks. It is also mandatory to polish your skills.
Interviews and jobs
Interviews are an essential part of every job, but sometimes these interviews can take an ugly turn. These are the times when the person getting interviewed is not prepared to give the answers that are expected out of them. When this happens, the chances of begging the job become lesser, and the person is most likely to get mocked. Of course, this is not professional behavior, yet some people might get into it to make the person belittle themselves. These questions can haunt a person for life and sometimes can give birth to interview fear. These questions can sometimes be out of the line, sometimes these can be within the acceptable questions, yet they can be offensive. When you are getting interviewed, you should always know how to dodge these questions or call out the interviewer politely for their negligence.
What to do if you are an interviewer?
The times when the reader is the interviewer are different because now the reader has to check what they ask and how they approach the person getting interviewed. Every question is unique in itself similar question can sound normal to one individual while it can hurt another. There are a lot of questions that have been asked to the person getting interviewed over the years. What are your strengths? Describe yourself in three words? Why should we hire you? Why do you want this job? And a list of many other questions.
As an interviewer, it is your job to bring the best questions to the table and eliminate the questions that are time-consuming or overused. Such questions never help you determine the potential of a person, and you need a different approach. There is also a list of questions that should never be asked as these might offend the interviewee. As a smart planner, you should always filter the questions for the betterment of your company and to help the interviewee stay comfortable.
Types of questions
Some questions are illegal interview questions that are prohibited by the law to ask during an interview. Some questions have alternative ways that can be used to ask them; the illegal questions never have an alternative and should be avoided at all costs. Some other questions that are not illegal but are quite offensive or lousy should also be avoided. As an interviewer, it is your job to screen out these questions.
Now that we have divided this list of questions that should be avoided and that are too bad to ask during an interview into three categories that are: illegal, horrible, and waste of time questions, let us read further about what these questions are and what alternatives are there for these questions.
Here is the list:
Illegal questions
Avoid these questions at all costs.
• How old are you?
Age should never matter when it comes to offering a job; the hard work and experience of a person should weigh more than anything else.
• Are you married?
The relationship status of a person is never a requirement for a job according to the law. The law makes this question worthless.
• Are you gay?
An individual’s sexuality never bars them from performing when it comes to a job; there is a reason this question is illegal and avoided at all costs.
• Are you a US citizen?
Nationality is never a job criterion, and everyone with common sense can figure out how stupid this question is.
• What country are you from?/ Where were you/ your parents born?
We live in a diverse country, and where everyone is united under the same flag so, why these discriminatory questions?
• Is English your first language?
Another question that discriminates against people based on their race and is avoided at all costs.
• Do you have children?/ Do you plan on having children?
A sexist question; the personal life of an employee is never the domain of a company.
• Who will take care of your children while you work?
Hello! It is the 21st century, and we are upgrading ourselves above these questions. Once again, somebody’s personal life is never the domain of a company.
• What is your religion?/ Where do you go to church?
Are we still stuck in the phase where we were discriminating against people based on their religion or the church they attended? No, we are not, so we have to make sure that such questions are never part of a work environment and interviews.
• Do you have any disabilities?/ How is your health?
Well, you are an interviewer, not a doctor, and this is precisely the reason why this particular question has been declared illegal by the law.
• How tall are you?/ How much do you weigh?
Again you are not a doctor; you are an interviewer whose job is to find out if the person in question has the potential to do the work required of them. These questions body shame the person, and this is never the quality of a good workplace.
• Have you ever been arrested?
This question is not in good taste; when you ask this, you are questioning the person’s credentials. Also, if a person has been to prison, they have the right to restart their life respectfully, and no one should question them.
Now you know why these questions are illegal, ask yourself how you will feel if someone asks you the same? Not good, uneasy, irritated, or angry, right? If you feel bad, think of someone who has ever faced these questions. The next time you are interviewing, remember to filter out these questions so that you and your companies name stays in the clear. We have finished only one type of question; others are far more discomfiting read ahead to educate yourself.
Horrible questions
Some of these can be rephrased, others should be avoided at all costs.
• Where do you live?
A discriminatory question that judges based on where and what kind of neighborhood they live in.
Alternate question; Are you comfortable with your location because the job might require you to commute to work daily?
• Are you a migrant/ immigrant?
This question should be avoided because, in the USA, we are united irrespective of any boundary separating us. This question is equally prejudiced.
Alternate question; Are you approved to work in the US?
• What year did you graduate?
This question is an alternative way to ask the interviewee of their age. The year of graduation gives us a reasonable idea of somebody’s age, and as mentioned above, it is illegal.
Alternate question; What opportunities are you looking for in your career right now? OR What are you looking for in the position you are assigned?
• What is your current salary?
This question is against the Fair Pay act. If the interviewer knows what the person is earning currently they are most likely to offer either the same pay or a little hike in pay. This is also a method to determine how good the person is in their job. California and other states have enacted the Fair Pay Act that forbids the interviewer from asking this question.
Alternate question; What salary or package are you targeting at the moment?
• Are you pregnant?/ Do you have to pick up kids early from school?
These are again very sexist questions and should always be avoided. Never ask a mother, father, or single parent these questions. Somebody’s pregnancy is their choice, and this should never be a criterion to hire someone.
Alternate question: Will working extended hours be an issue for you? OR Will traveling for work be an issue for you?
• Are you a single parent?
Again none of your business, you do not offer jobs based on marital or kid status, and this question is way too offensive to be asked either during an interview or any other time.
Alternate question; Do you foresee any issues during working hours?
• Why should we hire you?
This is such an overused question that most of the interviewees go blank when asked this question because they cannot have something new every time this question is asked. Also, this question might come off as rude and aggressive.
Alternate question; Tell us how your skills and experience will be perfect for the position you are applying for.
• What is your biggest weakness?
Another common interview question and is unrealistic. A person seeking a job will never put their vulnerabilities out in the open; they are most likely to make up an answer that will woo the interviewer. The answers to this question are never authentic or realistic.
Alternate question; Have you ever had an opportunity where you thought you could improve yourself? If so, then how did you work on it?
• What religious holidays do you observe?
Somebody’s religious associations are never anybody’s business. Our country provides everyone with the right to observe their religion, and their holidays and work should never pose a threat to their beliefs.
Alternative: No alternative for such questions.
• How many boyfriends/ girlfriends have you had?
This is a very unprofessional, sexist, and judgemental question. Somebody’s life should not be discussed in the open. It is their choice and hence should be respected.
Alternative: No alternative; avoid such questions at all costs.
• Who do you generally vote for?/ Who did you vote for this term?
These types are questions are not generally asked but you can never be too safe and something might pop up on your tongue before you think twice. Screen such questions out to keep them off your mind.
Alternative: No alternative. It is their right to keep their vote and political association a secret.
• Have you been convicted of a crime in the past?/ Is your criminal record clean?
These questions help to determine if a person is safe to work with. But just like mentioned in illegal questions, it does not give someone a chance to restart their life.
Alternative: Ask nothing related to this, but you can always carry out a background check to stay safe.
Waste of time questions
There are overrated questions that are used so often that they do not make sense anymore. It is better to cut these questions out completely or make better and creative alternatives.
• Tell me about yourself.
Such an overrated question and most of the time, the reply to these are the same. This question is treated lightly by most interviewees.
Alternate: Your experience caught our attention; that is why we shortlisted you, is there something we need to know that might make you a stronger contender for the position.
• What would you tell me about yourself growing up?
The job and interview are in the present questions about the candidate’s past should not be bought up. When you ask this question, what do you have in mind? How will the answer to this determine if the person in front of you is perfect for the job? If you have been asking this it is time to stop.
Alternative: Tell me why you chose this career? Or replace the question with any other creative question.
• Why this particular position?
The candidate must have applied for the position only if they did fit inside the mold set for them. This question will prompt them to give answers like I am good at what I do or I have prior experience. These answers are rather common and say nothing about the candidate.
Alternative: Why do you think you fit perfectly for the designated job?
• What is the worst thing you have done in your life?
This is a job interview and not a game of truth or dare. It is necessary that you ask them questions about the job and not about their personal life.
Alternative: Skip all such questions and focus on the skills required.
• Do you smoke/drink/ do drugs?
Since these things are a person’s own choice, they should never be bought up during an interview.
Alternative: No alternative.
Other than the above-mentioned questions, these questions should be avoided or rephrased:
• Out of us interviewers, who would you like to work with?
• If I give you this job, how much money are you going to make me?
• What would your worst enemy say about you?
• Describe how you will do this (any activity)
• What are your retirement plans/ when do you plan to retire?
• How honest are you?
• What does your name mean?
There is still a long list of questions that have not been included in the above list. If you ever feel that the candidates might not feel comfortable answering a question, remove it and get your creative team to frame something better for future interviews.
Conclusion
Interviews are a major part of a job; candidates prepare hard for a long time to get everything right. Unfortunately, one wrong question can lead to catastrophe. Hence, it is necessary to work well on your end to make the candidates comfortable. If you ever have doubts about a question, it is better to drop it rather than ask it and make someone uncomfortable.
