| Pre-Employment Inquiries | ||||
Ask Category |
Not Recommended |
Recommended |
Possible Categories of Discrimination |
|
| Name | "What is your maiden
name?" "Have you ever used any other name?" "Have you ever changed your name?" |
"Have you ever worked for this company under any
other name?" "Is there any information about a change of name that would help us in conducting a reference check?" |
Women Minorities Applicants of foreign national origin | |
| Address | "Do you rent or own your own home?" | "Where do you live? How long have you lived there?" | Women & Minorities | |
| Age | "How old are
you?" "What is your date of birth?" "Are you between 18 and 24, 25 and 34 etc.?" "please show proof of age." |
"Are you over the age of
(minimum working
age)?" "Are you above the minimum working age?" |
Older applicants | |
| Physical appearance | "How tall are
you? "How much do you weigh?" |
No inquiries pertaining to physical appearance, unless they are job related | Women & Applicants of foreign national origin | |
| Citizenship and national origin | "of what country are you a citizen?"
"Where were you born?" "Where were your parents born?" "Are you a naturalized or a native-born citizen?" " What is your nationality?" |
"Are you legally permitted to
work in the United
States? "If so, will you be prepared to produce proof at the time of hire in accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986?" |
Applicants of foreign national origin | |
| Marital status | "What is your
marital
status?" " Do you wish to be addressed as Mrs., Miss, or Ms.?" |
No inquiries pertaining to marital status | Women | |
| Children | "Do you have any
children?" "How many children do you have?" "What child care arrangements have you made?" "Do you intend to have children?" |
No inquiries pertaining to children | Women | |
| Police records | " Have you ever been arrested?" | "Have you ever been convicted of a crime? felony? crime greater than a misdemeanor?" | Minorities | |
| Religion | "What is your religious
background?" "Is there anything in your religious beliefs that would prevent you from working on a Saturday or a Sunday?" |
No inquiries about religion. if
information on Saturday or Sunday availability is needed, ask, "Is there any reason you would be unable to work on a Saturday or Sunday, as required of this job?" |
Applicants practicing certain religious beliefs | |
| Disabilities | " Do you have
any disabilities?" "Have you ever been treated for any of the following diseases?" "Do you have any physical, mental, or medical impediments that would interfere with your ability to perform the job for which you are applying?" "Are there any positions or duties for which you should not be considered because of existing medical, physical, or mental disabilities?" |
"Are you able to perform the essential functions of the job for which you are applying with or without a reasonable accommodation?" | Applicants with disabilities | |
| Languages | "What is your native language?" "How did you learn a foreign language?" |
"What languages do you speak, read, or write fluently? What is the degree of fluency?" | Applicants of foreign national origin | |
| Military experience | "Have you ever
served in the armed forces of any
country?" "What kind of discharge did you receive from the service?" |
"Have you ever
served in any of the U.S. military
services?" "Describe your duties while in the U.S. service." |
Women Minorities Applicants of foreign national origin | |
| Organization | "What clubs or organizations do you belong to?" | "What professional organizations or business activities are you involved with relevant to your ability to perform the job to which your are applying?" | Women & Minorities
Applicants of foreign national origin Applicants practicing certain religious beliefs |
|
| Education | "Are you a high school/college graduate?" | "What is the highest grade
you completed?" "What academic, vocational, or professional schools have you attended and when?" |
Women & Minorities | |
| Experience | Any inquiry regarding work experience not related to the job | "Describe all your prior work experience, concentrating on how it relates to the position for which you are applying." | Women & Minorities | |