Interviewing Your Candidate – You Can’t Ask That!
Published June 21, 2019 (last updated February 9, 2023)
Tenielle Milani - Face2Face Field Service Manager
9 things you just can’t ask a job candidate
Recruiting is a big deal for small business. But asking the wrong interview questions can land you and your business in hot water
- Ethnic/racial background
- Sexual orientation
- Age
- Religion
- Marriage status
- Family plans (i.e. plans to have a baby)
- Voting habits
- Physical or mental disability status (unless it directly impacts the role)
- Union membership status
So, what can I ask?
Questions around this area that are perfectly fine to ask:
- Are you an Australian citizen/have the right to work here?
- Can you speak Chinese (e.g.)? (if the role requirements have specific need for it)
- What are your social media accounts? (although the employee isn’t compelled to give over information)
- Why did you leave your previous role?
- Do you have a criminal record? (depends on state, and if it’s relevant to the requirements of the role)
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About Employsure
Employsure is Australia’s largest workplace relations specialists. We take the complexity out of workplace laws to help small business employers protect their business and their people.
