I had a job interview on Thursday and am feeling a little uneasy about one of my questions/answers. The company I interviewed with is in the process of moving their headquarters close to where I live so if I was hired I would need to travel to current headquarters (out of state) occasionally until the move is complete. One my interviewers asked me, "Do you have small children? You don't have a problem traveling, correct?." I kind of dodged the first question and said "No, traveling is not a problem." I felt like mentioning my daughter would hurt my chances because they might assume I would be less willing to travel. I know I may not get the job but how would I handle this if I do? I feel like I may have misled them little... Would you have answered them same?
-
I think you answered the question they should have been asking and did it exactly right. I'd be a little concerned they have an attitude that kids are a liability based on how they focused on that in asking but maybe you can feel out what the culture is in other ways? Good luck!
-
This is an illegal interview question, to the best of my knowledge. If you didn't get the job you could theoretically sue on the claim that they didn't hire you because you're a parent. I'd give this company a good hard look before continuing to make sure they wouldn't make promotion, salary or hiring decisions based on the person being a parent or not. This stuff makes me ragey.
-
Yeah, maybe this varies state-to-state but I thought the any questions even hinting at nosing around family / marriage situations were illegal?
-
@SKINNYCOW: I would dodge the question. For what it's worth, I brought my high needs little one in two business trips. My boss never knew until months after the fact. It was no big deal.
-
Echoing a couple previous posters, I believe asking if you have a children or marital status is an illegal interview question.
-
@mamabolt: @YogiRunner: @pachamama: @madisonbee: Yeah I also thought it was illegal. Based on everything I know the company seems to have a culture of supporting family and most of the people I interviewed with have children so it caught me off guard.
-
@SKINNYCOW: I think you answered it correctly as long as you are willing to travel. Now what percent or what frequency may be up for debate later if they didn't specify a % travel in the posting.
-
@SKINNYCOW: I would say it's illegal
Also THIS is the kind of stuff many Marched for .... I hate to think but my mind goes to would a Man be asked about the small children?! -
@FaithFertility: It was a woman who asked me too which I thought was odd... But agreed, no shot a man would be asked the same question.
-
@SKINNYCOW: argh! Rediculous and illegal. If you have a chance to give feedback at all you should let them know that it is illegal to base hiring decisions on such personal information.
-
I think you absolutely answered it correctly. Unfortunately people ask illegal questions in job interview settings all the time - and discriminate based on the answers to those questions - and it can be difficult to do much about it since they are the ones in a position of power. What you can do is to dodge the question, and if they have an inkling that they shouldn't have asked what they just asked, hopefully they don't push it further.
-
@SKINNYCOW: I'm a lawyer (although I don't do employment law as my primary practice). Asking the question is not in itself illegal. Discriminating against you based on your answer is illegal.
Because it's so hard to prove and opens the company up to possible lawsuits, a good interviewer never asks about things like that! Kids, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities, etc. should be off the table because it raises the possibility of discrimination.
ETA: I would have answered exactly like you did!
-
I think your answer was perfect - if you don't have a problem with travel that's all they need to know. I also don't think it's illegal to ask a question about family status (or pretty much anything else) in an interview. What's not allowed is basing an employment decision on your answer to that question, if your family status doesn't impact your ability to perform the requirements of the job. Of course, it's terrible interview practice to ask questions that would require a potential employee to provide information the employer legally can't use. Your best bet as an interviewee, though, is to gracefully sidestep the question like you did.
-
You were right to dodge the question, they're not supposed to ask it in the first place and it opens them up to the possibility of lawsuits. As long as you're actually willing to travel, no need to feel uneasy!
-
@Pollywog: I did the same when I traveled for work when DD1 was little. My mom worked from home so she just came with me and hung out with the baby while I was at work and it never negatively affected my performance. My boss did know but was cool with it since he has 4 kids
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
15 comments