13 interview questions you should never answer

'Always remember that you don't have to answer any questions in a job interview that are not related to your job'

Tuesday 08 December 2015 08:27 EST

Job interviews can be very nervous affairs, but if you prep yourself properly you should have all the ammunition to take them on (Rex)

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Job interviewers typically ask questions like "Why do you want this job?" and "What are your greatest weaknesses?" Sometimes they pose more oddball queriessuch as "Why are tennis balls fuzzy?" and "If you were a kitchen utensil, which one would you be?"

But they'll occasionally go one step further and cross the line with questions like "Do you have children?" and "How much do you weigh?"

In a 2014 LinkedIn post, Bernard Marr, a global-enterprise-performance expert and a best-selling business author, says he's always astonished to hear that candidates have been asked such inappropriate questions.

Know that refusing to answer a question can create a very awkward atmosphere (Corbis)

"It can be very easy for interviewers to cross the line and ask questions that are inappropriate, and in many cases even illegal," he says. "I believe that asking those questions in most cases [is] not done on purpose, but [rather] because of a lack of training and awareness, or even to break the ice and create a more friendly atmosphere."

But the purpose of the job interview is to establish whether you are right for the job and company, and whether the company is right for you, Marr says. So the questions you're asked should never go beyond the professional assessment of your skills, enthusiasm, and fit.

"The tricky thing is how to handle these questions," he writes. "Always remember that you don't have to answer any questions in a job interview that are not related to your job, and you don't have to answer questions about race, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, family status, type of military discharge, or your financial position. You can even terminate the interview and leave."

One way to respond: "I don't believe the question is relevant to assess my suitability for this job."

But know that refusing to answer a question can create a very awkward atmosphere and even jeopardise any chance of securing the job, he says. "If you are happy to reveal the answers, you can simply answer the questions, but remember, it is your right not to."

Scroll below to see the 13 commonly asked interview questions that Marr says are inappropriate and even illegal in many parts of the world ...