I am in my mid 50's and went on a job interview on Friday, on the job application, it asked for marital status, and I checked Single, never married. The interviewer saw this and asked me why I never married. Apparently, she assumed that this was due to a flaw in my character. The real truth is a very personal physical problem, but the way I see it, I'm screwed no matter how I answer that question.
Can she legally ask that question? How should I answer that if that question is asked again?
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Recommended Answer:Instead of considering the *legality* of this question or any such 'edgy' question, consider the motivation behind it.
I'm sorry to say that this could be a ploy to test you for 'persnickety-ness.'
One of the reasons for age bias in all fields and careers for 'line-level' employees is this: younger people are perceived as being 'open minded' and 'flexible' and older people are often perceived as 'persnickety.'
Now, I mean 'persnickety' from the EMPLOYER'S point of view, not persnickety from a social/interpersonal point of view. Here's what employers might fear about older employees:
1) more likely to be aware of all the various employment laws and to hold the employer accountable
2) more likely to make demands for 100% compliance with health&safety laws, break times, vacations, comp time, overtime, promotions, etc.
You can see where I'm going here -- employers don't want employees who, upon getting hired, start citing this rule and that rule, and demanding this accomodation and that accomodation, or make frequent trips to Human Resources to threaten action 'If a person with less experience gets promoted over me' and so on.
When the interviewer asks this question, if the candidate acts startled/angry and replies "It's against the law to ask that question" THAT CANDIDATE DOES NOT GET THE JOB. And the motivation behind asking that question was simply to expose a 'persnickety troublemaker' before they manage to make it into the company.
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- I don't think it is illegal to ask this question, although anyone experienced in interviewing would not ask you personal questions unrelated to the job.
If the question is asked again, maybe the best answer you could give is just "I never married due to personal reasons." - that's true, but it doesn't go into any embarrassing details. Of course, you are well within your rights to instead say "Please don't take this the wrong way, but I prefer not to answer personal questions that don't seem to be related to the job."
- Godzilla's response is right on. The question is designed to measure your level of tolerance when it comes to answering sensitive personal queries. The quickness of the answer is also considered.
Good luck!
- In the US it's illegal to include on an application or ask in an interview. But what are you going to do about it... you can't remind them this is not appropriate questions but you can't sure them over it.