Interview questions that employers, including employers of sales professionals, are not allowed to ask under UK and European legislation.  Protect yourself by knowing the interview questions that you can and can’t ask at a sales interview.

During every job interview the employer's goal is to obtain important information whilst building a friendly yet profession rapport with the candidate. However, some questions are just that little bit too friendly.

From these pages you can find out why the following are illegal to ask during a sales interview

a. Questions on Nationality

b. Questions on Religion

c. Questions on Age

d. Questions on Marital and Family Status

e. Questions on Gender

f. Questions on Health and Physical Abilities

g. Miscellaneous questions and conclusion

During every job interview the employer's goal is to obtain important information whilst building a friendly yet profession rapport with the candidate. However, some questions can either unwittingly, or perhaps even wittingly, go over the line of legality.  Direct discrimination is nearly always illegal and nearly always obvious, However indirect discrimination can be caused by simply being unaware of the laws on what you can, and cannot, ask at interview.

Please remember to protect yourself and your company by avoiding the 'wrong' aka ‘illegal questions!’ whilst still being able to gain the information required to recruit successfully.  Many questions such as ‘where do you live’ can be asked in good faith and quite innocently but can cause you and your company legal nuisances and embarrassment

These articles will be able to inform you about what you can't ask and methods on how to turn litigious questions into legal alternatives.

What You Can't Ask:

Nationality - Questions on Nationality

Illegal:  "Are you a UK citizen?"

Illegal: "What is your native tongue?"

Illegal: "How long have you lived here?"

Religion - Questions on Religion

Illegal: "What religion do you practice?"

Illegal: "Do you belong to a club or social organisation?"

Age - Questions on Age

Illegal: "How old are you?"

Illegal: "How much longer do you plan to work before you retire?"

Marital and Family Status - Questions on Marital and Family Status

Illegal: "Is "Smith" your maiden name?"

Illegal: "Do you have or plan to have children?"

Illegal: "Do you have kids?"

Illegal: "Who is your closest relative to notify in case of an emergency?"

Illegal: "What do your parents do for a living?"

Gender - Questions on Gender

Illegal: "We've always previously had a man/woman do this job. Do you think you will be able to perform as well as they did?"

Illegal: "How do you feel about supervising men/women?"

Illegal: "What do you think of interoffice dating?"

Health and Physical Abilities - Questions on Health and Physical Abilities

Illegal: "Do you smoke or drink?"

Illegal: "Do you take drugs?"

Illegal: "How tall are you?" or "How much do you weigh?"

Illegal: "How many sick days did you take last year?"

Illegal: "Do you have any disabilities?"

Illegal: "Have you had any recent or past illnesses or operations?"

Miscellaneous - Miscellaneous questions and conclusion

Illegal: "How far is your commute?"

Illegal: "Do you live nearby?"

Illegal: "Have you ever been arrested?"

Illegal: "Were you honourably discharged from the military?"

Illegal: "Are you a member of the Territorial Army/Special Constabulary/Other Volunteer Force?"

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