Once it was considered a faux pas for recruiters to ask about family life or political affiliation. But today, as many more jobs are filled through social networking -- friends setting up other friends -- it's more common to be asked about those or other personal topics during a job interview.

It is illegal to discriminate based on gender, race, national origin, marital status, sexual preference (in 16 states and the District of Columbia), as well as religion, age, or disability. Interviewers usually avoid asking questions on those subjects and other topics that are not directly work-related because it opens up the chance that an applicant turned down on qualifications can claim he or she was discriminated against.

However, personal topics do arise, especially if they may affect the ability to perform a job. A recruiter might ask about family, for example, if the job in question requires extensive travel or long hours. He or she may ask about your physical health if the job requires heavy lifting.

To read more of this fascinating CareerJournal.com article by Marshall Loeb, click here.

 

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