The rule of thumb: if a question is job related, it is usually appropriate to ask. If it isn't job related, caution is in order. Any questions involving race, religion, gender, marital status, and so on must be avoided in application forms or during interviews.
| You may ask... | Questions & Statements to stay away from... | |
| AGE | Are you 18 years or older? | How old are you? When did you graduate from high school? How do you feel about working for a person younger than you? You must be getting close to retirement age... |
| GENDER | Do you have responsibilities other than work that will prevent you from performing specific job requirements such as traveling? What hours and days can you work? Have you ever worked under a different name? |
Do you have plans for having children? Childcare is so hard to get. Do you have any babysitting problems? What is your maiden name? How would you feel working for a man/woman? Our customers sometimes prefer to be served by men. I hope you don't have a problem with that. Do you think your women's intuition would come in handy on this job? Tell me.how did a man come to be interested in this kind of work? |
| DISABILITY | Are you able to perform the duties of the job with or without accommodation? If the applicant indicates that sh/he can perform the tasks with an accommodation, you may ask: What accommodation would you need in order to perform the tasks? Now that you have heard the hours, leave policies, and other requirements of this position, do you feel you will be able to meet these requirements? How many days were you absent from work last year? An employer may make medical inquiries or require a medical examination of all candidates at the stage a conditional job offer is made. |
Do you have any disabilities? Are you in good health? Do you have any physical defects that prevent you from performing certain kinds of work? That's a noticeable limp... Those are very thick glasses. How severe is your disability? What is the prognosis for your condition? Will you require a special leave because of your disability or its treatment? Please list any conditions or diseases you were treated for in the last 3 years. How many days were you absent last year because of illness? Have you ever been treated by a psychiatrist or counselor? You mentioned your daughter has multiple sclerosis. Will that have an affect on your attendance? Do you have any family members or relatives who are disabled? |
| RACE | None | There aren't very many minorities in our department. Will that be a problem for you? You look like you have an interesting family history. How would you define your race? |
| SEXUAL ORIENTATION | Request the name of a person to contact only after the individual is employed | What is the name of a relative to be notified in case of an emergency? Are you married? You people are so creative; you'd be just perfect for the job. This is a real familyoriented department. Is that okay with you? |
| NATIONAL ORIGIN | Are you legally eligible to work in the United States? After making a conditional offer, an employer may inform the applicant that they will have to produce documents for work eligibility. Inquiry into languages applicants speaks fluently if it is a requirement for the job. |
Where were you born? Of what country are you a citizen? Yablonski, what kind of name is that? I see you speak Spanish. Did you learn that in your native country or in school? |
| RELIGION | Will you be available to work the required schedule? | What church do you attend? Will you need to take time off from work to observe (name of particular religious holiday)? |
| EDUCATION | Do you have a high school diploma or equivalent? Do you have a university degree? |
When did you graduate from high school or college? |
| FINANCES | Do you own your own home? How long have you lived at your present address? Have your wages ever been garnished? |
|
| MILITARY | What type of education, training, and experience did you receive in the military? | What type of discharge did you receive? |
| UNIONS | Inquiry into membership in organizations the applicant considers relevant to the job. | Are you a union member? List all clubs, societies and lodges you belong to. |
| WORKER'S COMP | None | Have you ever filed for worker's compensation? Have you had any prior work injuries? |
| ARRESTS | It is best to only ask about convictions for crimes related to the job. | Have you ever been arrested? |
Specific interview questions will vary depending on academic discipline and the type of institution. Small colleges, specialized schools, religious-affiliated colleges, and research institutions have particular needs and concerns. Be ready to express your views on wideranging topics.
| 1. Why are you interested in this position? |
| 2. How does your scholarship/training relate to this opening? |
| 3. Tell us about yourself. |
| 4. Why did you choose to do your graduate work at XYZ University? |
| 5. Tell us about your dissertation (choice of topic, sources, research, methodology, data collection and analysis). |
| 6. Describe the role of a mentor. |
| 7. What has been your experience with grant writing? |
| 8. How would you describe |
| 9. How would you feel this department contributes to the overall goals of this institution? |
| 10. What in your background will help you make special contributions? |
| 11. What do you find most satisfying about teaching? |
| 12. How do you integrate technology in you teaching/lab activities? |
| 13. Describe your research agenda. |
| 14. How do you balance research and teaching? |
| 15. What courses are you most interested in teaching? |
| 16. What role can you play in developing/team-teaching interdisciplinary courses? |
| 17. How would you develop a survey course for non-majors? |
| 18. What experience/interest do you have in on-site supervision for student interns? |
| 19. What courses outside your discipline would you encourage your students to take? |
| 20. In keeping with your teaching philosophy, would it be possible for every student in one of your classes to earn an A? |
| 21. How do you view your role as a faculty adviser? |
| 22. Our institution emphasizes character development as well as academic achievement. How can you contribute to this mission? |
| 23. Do you believe that faculty should be concerned only with students' academic progress? |
| 24. In what ways does your philosophy of education influence your teaching? Research? |
| 25. What motivated you to pursue a career in academic/research? |
