What Questions Can You Legally Ask On A Job Application?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Employers can ask what degrees a candidate has obtained,

what certifications and licenses she holds, and what university she attended

. They can also inquire about a candidate's duties at previous jobs and ask how her experience qualifies her for the position.

What questions are illegal to ask on a job application?

  • Age or genetic information.
  • Birthplace, country of origin or citizenship.
  • Disability.
  • Gender, sex or sexual orientation.
  • Marital status, family, or pregnancy.
  • Race, color, or ethnicity.
  • Religion.

What is legally required on a job application?

Generally, employment applications include the following job-related components:

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

: … JOB HISTORY: In this section, employers generally request applicants to provide current and previous positions held, length of employment at each job, salary history, and reasons for leaving previous roles.

What employers can and Cannot ask?

  • Country/place of origin and citizenship status.
  • Religion, faith or creed.
  • Age.
  • Gender or sexual orientation.
  • Race or ethnicity.
  • Family structure, children or marital status.
  • Mental or physical health and disability.
  • Appearance, height and weight.

What questions are you not legally permitted to ask why?

  • Age.
  • Race.
  • Ethnicity.
  • Color.
  • Gender.
  • Sex.
  • Sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • Country of origin.

Why do employers ask applicants to fill out a job application?

With an employment application,

employers gain standardization of information requested

. It makes comparisons of candidates' credentials easier. See a complete picture: Gather information about the 's credentials that candidates would not usually include in a resume or cover letter.

Can you ask for gender on a job application?

Our job application asks applicants to state their gender. …

California law prohibits employers from asking

, either directly or indirectly, about an individual's sex or gender. Therefore, job applications should not include any questions about an applicant's sex or gender.

Is it OK to ask status of job application?

Follow Up on Your Job Application by Phone

If you haven't heard back about your job application after two weeks,

it's perfectly acceptable to call the hiring manager unless the listing states otherwise

.

Can an employer ask my religion?

Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA),

it is illegal for an employer to discriminate based on religion

. Your employer can not refuse to hire you, select you for a training program, fire you, or discriminate against you based on your religion.

What medical questions can my employer ask?

When you come in for a job interview, your employer can ask whether

you are physically able to do the job

, but they cannot ask if you have a specific condition that could impede work. If you are a woman, they cannot ask if you are or plan to become pregnant.

Can my boss ask me about my personal life?

As an employer,

you are not allowed to ask about an individual's past or present personal health

, including operations, hospital visits, or doctor's appointments. You also need to avoid any questions about mental health, disabilities, and anything else related to the mental and physical status of the employee.

What should you not ask in an interview?

  • What would my job be? …
  • What does this company do? …
  • Who are your main competitors? …
  • Are any other jobs open? …
  • When will I be up for promotion? …
  • When can I start taking vacation days? …
  • Are you going to check my references?

Can interviewers ask personal questions?

In fact,

an interviewer should never ask a question that could reveal personal details about a candidate

, but these kinds of questions still continue to pop up in interviews. … What's more, a third of the 2,100 hiring and human resources managers polled said they were unsure of the legality of these kinds of questions.

Why is it illegal to ask about age in an interview?

While interview questions like this get asked during phone screens across the globe, it is technically an illegal interview question

because it can often infer age

. The Age Discrimination Act prevents employment discrimination based on age.

Can you ask if someone was fired in an interview?


Ask them what happened and why they were let go from their previous job

. The way they answer this question should be a deciding factor for you as hiring manager. A savvy candidate will know that they should not speak negatively of their past employers- even if they were fired.

Why do employers want a resume and application?

A resume is an important tool for your job search because it offers a page or two where you can display your top skills and qualities. … Resumes

help employers make hiring decisions and help you get your first interview

. That's why it matters how you structure your resume and what information you decide to include.

Juan Martinez
Author
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez is a journalism professor and experienced writer. With a passion for communication and education, Juan has taught students from all over the world. He is an expert in language and writing, and has written for various blogs and magazines.