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Women Are Sharing The Strangest Personal Questions They’ve Been Asked In Job Interviews (30 Comments)
Interviewing for a job is pretty stressful on its own. But the experience can be even more unnerving for women. Even though we've come a long way in recent times, sexism is still alive in the workplace and the interview room is no exception—female candidates have to deal with it even before they join the company.
To learn more about it, Reddit user u/poxycabbage posted an open question on the platform: "What strange personal questions have you been asked in a job interview that you don’t think they are asking male applicants?" In just a few days, it has received a few hundred replies, many of which detail the gross, offensive, and downright illegal phrases recruiters throw at women on a pretty regular basis.
At least they get some useful information about their potential colleagues before they start working there.
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#1
"Are you in a relationship?"
--"Yes, I have a partner."
"And that partner is....?"
--"...doing well, thank you."
Donkey boi 4 years ago
I've been asked this. I've pointed out that it's wrong of them to ask, but they always say 'Oh the interview is over, I'm just making conversation.' I was even straight up asked if I was gay because 'This is mainly a woman's job'.
María Hermida 4 years ago
Even the first question is creepy. "Are you in a relationship?" That's none of their business.
Doug 4 years ago
I think just "are you in a relationship" might get asked more towards women, but this one sounds like they might be trying to check sexual preference... so would be asked of males or females.
Edison Michael 3 years ago
Not necessarily. They might be wanting to know if they are in a relationship with a woman or a man to assess the likelihood of them asking for maternity leave in the future.
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Marsha Brown 4 years ago
It's actually illegal in the U.S. to ask about health and family status on a job interview. Unfortunately, most interviewees don't know that, and many interviewers know it but ask anyway. Some interviewers, particularly in smaller companies without professional HR departments or legal counsel, don't know the law, (which has other particulars, of course).
Becca Carnahan is an experienced career coach located outside of Boston, MA. She is dedicated to helping early and mid-career professionals find fulfillment and joy in their work.
Carnahan told Bored Panda that every job interview is different and the same. "The skills and competencies interviewers screen for will differ significantly based on the role and the company," she said. "However, you will almost always be asked a variation of 'tell me about yourself.'"
RELATED:
#2
All kinds of questions regarding my marriage status, if/when I plan to marry, if/when I plan to have children and how I would organize childcare for the hypothetical children.
All of those questions are illegal where I live, by the way, and I refused to answer them. I didn't get those jobs, in case that wasn't obvious.
I have also heard multiple people openly admit (outside of job interviews) that they don't like to hire women of a certain age (because ALL of them get pregnant and who has the money for that kind of hassle - we have a right to paid parental leave and a return to your previous position here) or mothers because they are unreliable and won't do overtime. Hiring men of the same age or fathers came with none of those concerns. But "I have to understand them. They need to make money. They don't have anything against women!".
The fun fact: I don't have or want children. I still get "punished" just for having the biological setup to do so.
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
They don't have anything against women except for all of the above mentioned.
Nubis Knight 4 years ago
Those questions are illegal here too and my employer hire many young woman, so thumps up. Hired me too when I was thirty (I'm still one of the childless women). But most are getting pregnant, so I often get new and nice coworkers. But it's always sad (for me) when they take maternal leave. I always miss them. ;_; Gladly they join in afterwards in halftime. ^_^
K Witmer 4 years ago
I was told by a ceo of a job I worked that I should give my job up for someone who needs it bc my husband makes money. Except I was the breadwinner in my home not my husband I was also the one that had the most responsibility w childcare not my husband. His 9to5 overwhelmed him so much that it didn't matter that my job was just as hard or harder I was still saddled w childcare and taking care of the home and cooking. The only added chores my husband has was mowing the lawn. I knew at that point I would probably get fired so I quit. They hired a 22 yr old boy w no experience he was the ceos nephew. It seems to be only service jobs a women has an easier time in keeping unless a male wants that job too. So in other words the lowest paying jobs are mostly women hence the pay gap.
Gogamash 4 years ago
In Germany, those questions are also illegal and therefore you can just lie if you are asked
Maggie Dinzler Shaw 3 years ago
They are also illegal in the US. I don't get why this is happening..
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Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
I *couldn't* and that still didn't stop the "But what if you do?" questions. OK, folks, let's reiterate: By my late 20s, all hope was gone, no chance, too risky, and still, "But what if...."
Dill 4 years ago
How ridiculous, I am sorry that happened and also that you had the choice taken from you. Fortunately no-one has ever asked me when interviewing. Also when employing people I have never asked them. Yes, there are financial implications for the company and it does create more work but so does someone leaving. It's just part and parcel of employing staff and you get on and deal with it. I'd far rather have the best person in the post for as long as possible.
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Jennifer Dzieło 4 years ago
Sounds like where i live. Tbh they are right, hiring men is cheaper for them.
Marianne 4 years ago
If an interviewer asks illegal questions, guidelines suggest you should lie. "No, I'm not married. I have no intention to get children."
Marc Lauzon 3 years ago (edited)
"Those questions are illegal" like many other illegal inquiries. And many employment agencies also tell us they are illegal... what none says is what should we do about them? We can't go suing, we have no proof and it would be our burden.
#3
I was asked if I was married, and then asked if I would be open to the idea of cheating on my husband.
La Petite Morte 4 years ago
Walt, what? Wow, they confirmed a future sexual harassment lawsuit right there!!
Max L. 4 years ago
I think every woman can confirm there are real psycopaths around who would consider this a legit question. Like, if a woman is single, it’s automatically a date.
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Mike Phillips 4 years ago
Back in around 86' me, a 26 year old man, was asked if "I had plans for children". Followed by "I've only asked so I can ask the women the same question."
Whawhawhatsis 4 years ago
The only acceptable answer I would give to that question is, "None of your business!" Honestly, that kind of thing is completely outrageous. And completely illegal where I live, too.
"There are subjects that are not just off-limits, but also illegal for interviewers to ask," Carnahan highlighted. "Questions around marital status, children, ethnicity, religion, race, and age should not be asked in an interview. Keep in mind, the laws in your state as well. For example, in some states, employers cannot ask about your salary history."
According to the career coach, while some inappropriate or illegal interview questions may be asked off-hand or with innocent 'get to know you' intentions, it is fully within your rights to not answer the question. "You can state that you would prefer not to answer, you can redirect the conversation, or directly ask 'Is that relevant to this position I am applying for?' or 'Can you help me understand how this question is relevant to the job I am being considered for?'" Carnahan said it can be intimidating to respond in this way but it's also important to protect yourself and your boundaries.
#4
I've definitely had the pregnancy/marriage, etc. questions, but I remember an interview I had with a random company while I was just searching for any job I could get because I needed a job, and the people who interviewed me were the owner of the company and the two women I would be working with. After getting through my skills, they asked me if I was okay with swearing, I said sure, then they asked me if I was a "snowflake, because a lot of young people are nowadays." They also basically told me that, since I would be working with a lot of middle-aged and older men, I would just need to deal with some light sexual harassment and that they wouldn't be doing anything about it because "that's how it's always been."
Laura Dawson 4 years ago
Why is this comment being downvoted? They are being sarcastic, saying how ridiculous what the interviewer is saying
Load More Replies... La Petite Morte 4 years ago
Yeah... no. I'm in an industry that is one of the staunch bastions of The Old Boys Network with a heavy garnish of Nepotism for fun. I spent a year interviewing for embalmer positions and got told "Oh. Well, all the women are in the front office. It's smelly and dirty in the prep room, are you sure you'd be able to handle it? You'd have to use... yanno, chemicals and machines and such. You'd have to embalm men, too." verbatim soooo maaanyyy tiimmmess.... #%#'FF%%#$$"^/=×%;*</!!!!! No really, jack@ss? I thought only women died and had funerals and we embalmed by waving sticks of incense and chanting!! Jerks.
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
It's that "if I had to go through this, you'll have to as well" mentality that's always a roadblock for positive change. And let's not upset the good old boys of course, their comfort is so much more worth than yours.
Tracey Hirt 4 years ago
I’d take the job just for the resulting lawsuit that forces them to change “how it’s always been” into “treating women as professionals and not objects.”
Lilith the Demon Panda 4 years ago
I am so okay with swearing I would swear a lot at that interview
Jigsaw's Puzzle 4 years ago
"You'll have to go through a bit of sexual harassment. We don't care though and you shouldn't either."
Catherine Spencer-Mills 4 years ago
I was once asked about how bothered I was about swearing. I said that according to my mother, I had learned all of those words by 18 months old. So, no, swearing did and does not bother me. Didn't get the job. IDK maybe they were afraid I would out swear them?
Kira Okah 4 years ago
I'm wondering if I should even ask but...what is "snowflake"? There is another meaning than snow here I'm guessing.
Anna Rush 4 years ago
Was used to describe people who ya know, respected others rights and spoke up against racism, sexism, and all those other isms. Usually to describe the political left as they are seen to get offended easily. It's moved a little now to describe anyone who gets offended easily regardless of political leanings.
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#5
This was during an exit interview where I was leaving a traditional job to pursue something less traditional. My manager (M45) asked me what my parents thought about my decision, making sure that I had their permission to quit.
For the record, I am in my mid-thirties, well established in my field, and do not have any sort of financial dependence on my parents.
Completely surreal and condescending.
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
But if you don't have a husband your father legally owns you, duh.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
"What do your parents think about it?" "Well, sir, they're completely supportive of my decisions given I'm a grown-up. Are yours okay with your choices?"
Jester the nb 4 years ago
why is her sleeve see through in the picture? also, that question was awful and im surprised you didn't go ape s**t(I sure would have)!
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
This sounds like it happened in India. Parents their stick their nose in everything concerning their adult children's lives.
MelO 4 years ago
I live in the US, work as a wildland firefighter and am in my 30s. I have had multiple male coworkers over the years ask versions of why my father let's me work that job (often with an addendum on how they would never let their daughter). It's crazy but there are a lot of men out there who still view a woman as the property of her father until she's the property of her husband
Load More Replies...Sadly, we might see a spike in such interviews. Recent projections based on economic scenarios modeled by McKinsey and Oxford Economics estimate that employment for women may not recover to pre-pandemic levels until 2024—two full years after the recovery for men. Without significant action, such as additional employer support and training programs, there is a real danger that female labor force participation could face its steepest sustained decline since World War II.
FORTUNE reported that without significant action, such as additional employer support and training programs, there is a real danger that female labor force participation could face its steepest sustained decline since World War II.
Female workforce participation has already dropped to 57%—the lowest level since 1988, according to the National Women’s Law Center.
#6
If my period was regular. My supposed to be boss was a 40-year-old guy. Awkward af. I was 19.
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
An invasive, illegal and absolutely inappropriate one?
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Russell Rieckenberg 4 years ago
Should have said, "Yes, there's one at the end of every sentence."
Bonnie Edwards 4 years ago (edited)
I used to work in a metal factory. About 10 women and 15, mostly older, happily married men. The men kept a calendar of when we were consistently, and tended to give us the easier jobs when we had our periods. I loved those guys. I stayed in that job until I developed Carpal Tunnel and had to find a lighter job.
#7
“Did you grow up in a nuclear family?” Huh? Lol what does that have to do with my ability to work at a coffee shop? I didn’t, but I lied and said I did! I ended up getting the job but quit 5 minute after accepting the position because this a-hole turned around and said “oh yea, by the way we only pay $7/hour for the first two weeks THEN you’ll get the $10/hour we agreed upon”. Minimum wage at the time was over $8. So not only is he a jerk, he’s also a wage thief. That was a few years ago and I’ve heard a few similar stories from other prospective/ex employees about that place. Apparently he’s some big Trump supporter and borderline fundie, doesn’t surprise me at all. I still have the email saved in which he blatantly admitted to paying below minimum wage. Maybe I’ll leak it one day or something lol
Bettie-Jean Neal 4 years ago
I'd send that e-mail to your local Labor department. When my husband worked for Georges Perrier, you were expected to come in 2 hours early, off the clock, to prep your work station. This was well known at all of his restaurants as an unwritten rule no one talked about, but everyone did. I reported him. You can't expect 12 hours/week of free labor.
Cheri Aline Sydney 4 years ago
I agree completely that what happened, if in fact it did, was wrong.... But then your reference to Trump is a bunch of BS..... I've followed closely and have never heard him, or other Republicans advocate such behavior...
Niffler_13 4 years ago
Actually depending on how old you were, a business does not have to pay minimum wage for the first 90 days of employment, if the employee is under the age of 20. ------- "The youth minimum wage is authorized by Section 6(g) of the FLSA, as amended by the 1996 FLSA Amendments. The law allows employers to pay employees under 20 years of age a lower wage for a limited period -- 90 calendar days, not work days -- after they are first employed. Any wage rate above $4.25 an hour may be paid to eligible workers during this 90-day period."
Kendra Behn-Smith 3 years ago
The local nuclear plant wasn't built until I was 10 or 11, so only partially.
"The interview is not one-way, you are assessing if this company is the right fit for you as well. If there are red flags around culture and how the company treats its employees, then you do not have to accept an offer or even continue with an interview process," Carnahan said. Don't worry too much if it doesn't work out. Walking away from a hellhole will save you a lot of time and energy in the long run.
However, there are plenty of reasonable job interviews too. Carnahan said a good way to start preparing for them is "reading the job description closely and reflecting on any earlier conversations you had with people at the company. What are those skills and competencies that are most relevant to the role, and how can you make sure to highlight that you have what the company is looking for, not just in the behavioral interview questions you'll be asked later on, but right away as you offer your introduction."
#8
I had a “medical exam” I had to pass. It’s basically a medical history report and they have a section just for women: number of pregnancies, C sections, abortions, last menstruation, last pap smear date and its result. It was invasive and uncomfortable, felt violated by the end of it.
Gin. No tonic 4 years ago
No. of pregnancies: As many as I wanted. C sections: see previous. Abortions: see previous. Last menstruation: last month. Last pap smear: last test date; result: known.
Cassie 4 years ago
I think I would have just written "Please see HIPAA" for every one of them.
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crazy_cat_notAlady 4 years ago
i;m really curious as to what questions the men had to answer. did they have to go through a full prostate exam and present their PSA test results? it sounds like something the company would request from an employee after hiring for building a medical insurance/health coverage kind of file. we have a couple of such things here too
Just saying 4 years ago
So I assume they also asked the men how many kids they had, how many women they had impregnated and the outcome, when their last prostate exam was, last time they ejaculated...
#9
“I see an engagement ring, do you want children soon because I advise you to wait at least a year if you get the job. I don’t think it is good to train you only for you to go on maternity leave”. Words spoken by a recruiter, highly illegal. Nothing I could do against him with zero proof.
Nic Dudley 4 years ago
He probably thinks only married people have babies. LMAO!
Load More Replies... Donkey boi 4 years ago
Now, I hate interviews, for so many reasons, but mainly because it's so easy to get through an interview and it doesn't give a good reflection of who you will be working with. 2 years ago I interviewed a young woman, around 25-27 years old. Her CV suggested that she would be perfect for the job, her attitude seemed to really fit the environment. And she knew about the system we used (only about 5 companies world-wide use it). At the end of the interview she told me that she suspected that she could pregnant, that she hadn't taken a test yet and asked if she was, would it be a problem? Long story short, corporate gave me a LOT of s**t for hiring her, knowing she would take maternity leave. She's been back a year now and just been promoted to head of her department! Looks Like I made the right choice.
Billy Bob the 4th 4 years ago
I feel bad for this one. people spent over 70k to train me in my new trade, but I'm going on parental the second it's done. I'm super excited and I DO plan to take the most time possible with my family.
christin sojan 4 years ago
I understand where he's coming from. An old colleague joined the company just so she could go on maternity leave after a month.
CrunChewy McSandybutt 4 years ago
I'm starting to think we should start recording all of our interviews, just in case.
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
Since when is your boss entitled to also plan your family life? None of his freaking business.
Celtic Pirate Queen 4 years ago
Not all females feel the need to reproduce. And that PRIVATE decision is absolutely none of your f*****g business.
#10
I had someone ask me how much money my husband makes
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
So they can pay you less because you're already been taken care of? Like a pet or a kid?
Jasmine Apers 3 years ago
I would have said that is irrelevant to the the role...Id be tempted to ask so how much does your husband/wife make?
Craig Reynolds 3 years ago
Probably so they could use that as an excuse to lowball the salary offer.
#11
Why I was married to an Arab/ why did I divorce him/ will he have problem with me working/ will he come bomb the office / ending with I don’t want a single mom with an Arab as ex husband to work for me
I was overqualified, my ex was truly non-violent person, and from well off family. It was all around awfully prejudiced.
It left me enraged. For better tho. I wouldn’t like working there anyways.
Viviane 4 years ago
I'm not sure I'd be able to keep my cool at the interview. I hope the interviewer has difficulty filling the position. I suspect the list of prejudices is long.
Load More Replies... Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
The fact that he was comfortable with asking those appalling questions is infuriating.
Nomadus Aureus 4 years ago
"Sorry, I've googled where you're from and I've been advised against hiring people from your country." After a 45 minute long interview. Cheers, mate!
Christina B 3 years ago
Question: And I mean this in only to get a better understanding of the post - but how did the interviewer know the ethnicity of OP's ex-husband?
MimSorensson 3 years ago
Oh dear. This is so extremely illegal where I live that it’s almost beyond words. They’d be down for discrimination so fast they’re aśśes would catch fire.
#12
"Do you have a boyfriend?", "Are you planing on getting pregnant?". In the same interview. It is illegal there to ask but its my word against them.
"As a woman do you think that you will be capable of doing the job?" "Will you be confortable in an all male team?" Another interview.
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
Does the job require to work heavy machinery with a penis? Otherwise I think I'll be able to do it as a woman.
TrickQuestion 4 years ago
Check your area's laws. Some allow recordings of conversations with only one side's knowledge. Start recording with your phone when the interview starts.
Donkey boi 4 years ago
'None of your business, and none of your business! Now, would you like my solicitors to contact you directly or do you have a legal team?'
Vasana Phong 4 years ago
Since our new world is changing, I would go forward for a suggestion of having all these interviews taped as backup
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Yeah. "We don't think a woman can lift such heavy weights". Really? Do tell....
Marianne 4 years ago
If the interviewer suggests that a woman might not feel at ease in his all male team, you should run.
Miss Cris 4 years ago
It probably means that all or most other coworkers are males. It'll be like this until a woman -or more women- enter the team. Someone must be first!
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#13
At 21, interviewing for medical school, this like 80 year old man asks me why I have two addresses listed. When I explained that one was my legal address but I was living with the other parent at the moment (mailing address) because I was working closer to their house. He asked me so many questions about my parents divorce despite me changing the subject several times, like that had anything to do with my ability to be a doctor. Then he asked me ethical questions and was an ass about every answer, telling me get aggressively how wrong my opinions were. I talked to one of the guys that interviewed with him the same day and they had a totally normal conversation based about his resume & application.
If you're wondering if the problem was in fact my application and not my gender, I'm now a physician and through training have been the team member voted to have difficult conversations with families.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Ah, the med school interview. "Why didn't you do this? Why didn't you do that? Are you sure you won't pass out if you see blood?" blah blah blah .... What did males hear? "Ah, interesting transcript, excellent choices of coursework."
zite 4 years ago
Never heard of a woman who passed out because seen some blood. Only men. Women see blood every month.
Load More Replies... MimSorensson 3 years ago
“Ah, yes, I see now why my parents divorce makes me incapable of being a physician.” Dude, what?
#14
I was interviewing for a senior role in which I'd be the only woman on the management team. It was an important hire for them, they were investing a lot in it (flying me across the country for multiple interviews, etc.), so I guess they hoped I'd be with them a long time if hired. At the time I was single, no kids, early 30s. So in an effort to avoid hiring me only to have me get married, get knocked up and leave basically they asked things like whether I wanted kids (they already knew I didn't have any) and seemed skeptical when I said no, I don't. Then they asked 'What if you move here and meet a nice farmer who sweeps you off your feet, you get married, want to settle down, stay at home, etc.?' They said 'farmer' jokingly b/c I was moving from a major city to a very rural area. I actually did take the job, but I was there less than 2 years b/c - surprise, surprise - it wasn't a good fit for me, culturally. On one of my first days the same person who asked me those questions sort of gently advised that all of these traditional older men would probably not appreciate it if I speak up much in meetings lol. I went ahead and spoke up a whole bunch in meetings.
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
I hope you shook things up bit there and have a job you're happy with now.
Marsha Brown 4 years ago
Apologies -- hit "Post" too soon. Fascinating how they invest so much time and financial resources to hiring a professional like you, then tell you to stop being that professional at meetings, in essence, "Don't rock the boat". Why did they hire you if they didn't want you to contribute your expertise?!
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Amanda Hunter 4 years ago
I worked in a place where a senior Male manager had an affair with one of his subordinates. She was fired, but not him.
Mewton’s Third Paw 4 years ago
Sounded pretty decent and normal until the bit about not speaking your mind.
#15
How I would feel working in a manufacturing environment that was not temperature controlled. I had just gotten out of the army. An organization that specializes in working in stupid conditions.
Anne 4 years ago
Re the pic: it is extremely impolite to stay sat down when you shake hands. Unless you are physically unable to do so.
New Prometheus 4 years ago
Not where I come from 🤷 maybe a bit unusual but not "extremely impolite"
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Christina B 3 years ago
This actually seems like a legit question and not gender specific or biased.... "It can be super hot or super cold in here depending on these variables - are you ok with that?" Totally reasonable question...
Paige Garberding 4 years ago
Showing cleavage at a job interview where cleavage is irrelevant to the job description? I don't think so.
#16
"Where else do you have piercings and tattoos? Maybe some that'll go 'sticky outty'?" Motioning to his nipples.
Donkey boi 4 years ago
I would ask about tattoos if they had noticeable ones... After I was finished with the interview... if they were happy to talk about it... because I have an interest in them.
MimSorensson 3 years ago (edited)
Do these guys not realize they make nasty, rather pathetic fools of themselves? Do they seriously, for real, not realize that what they’re about to say is shìtty and overstepping? I’d like to suggest an easily applied measuring tool for those hard of thinking: “would I say this to my daughter/sister/mother? Would I react negatively in any, any way if this was said to my daughter/sister/mother?” Not totally chill on both? Then do shút up.
Mustn’t eat the mango 🥭 4 years ago (edited)
Bruh 😆 that is so awkward and if they’re not going to see where, why does it matter like 🥱😐
#17
Can you cook? Tell me how you’d make this sauce. Tell me the recipe of xyz....
I was interviewing for a software engineer role.
Thankfully I do cook and could tell him but wtf?
Nat Hedley 4 years ago (edited)
This one's fair. It's a common question type in interviews for roles like developer - they want to hear how your brain works through how you structure the instructions, are you mentally organised, do you forget anything etc. If you'd said 'I don't know that recipe' it wouldn't have counted against you. Cooking is probably what they use for all candidates, not just the female ones, because it's common and it's procedural.
Remi Flynne 4 years ago
Why can't they ask this kind of question based on something that relates to the industry they'd be working in though? I'm so used to the questions being based on the job description, person spec and my own experience that this seems very odd to me. I was a database developer. My partner worked in developing international IT Helpdesk support systems and neither of us have had questions that didn't probe using examples appropriate to the sector. Using examples of protocols we'd developed, systems we'd put in place and so forth.
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Shelli Aderman 4 years ago
“I’m so sorry, I wasn’t applying to work in the staff kitchen.” Is how I’d answer! 🤦🏽♀️
Wanda Sochacki-Suridge 3 years ago
Have used this an “Recipe” interview question many times when interviewing applicants for trainee markup language taggers. Explores their ability to dissect a document into parts.
Joey Marlin 4 years ago
I haven't downvoted you but as I explained further up I do think there are better ways of demonstrating this which utilises memory, confidence and process explanation. Getting people to provide their own examples where they can demonstrate these aspects. Putting the onus on the individual gives them a chance to show that they can think on the spot as well. Admittedly my interview training is specifically in Equal Opportunities interviewing where abstract questions wouldn't be allowed. You have to focus on job description, person specification, the application and CV which should cover all of the persons career. Though examples don't have to be work focussed. If someone has developed skill sets from other areas of life that's perfectly valid, but they come up with the examples. Also some people can be bad at explaining but great at doing and anyone skilled in interviewing should be able to draw more information out of these people but abstract questions won't do it.
Load More Replies... #18
Lots of sneaky questions about when/if I want to start a family, how I plan to dress for the job (including if I planned to wear makeup?), what I would do if a male client hit on me, and my fave: whether or not I identified as a feminist and how I reconcile that with my career choice.
So frustrating.
Donkey boi 4 years ago
How you dress is borderline, I appreciate that a company has an image to project, but I think that in those circumstances the company should contribute of have a uniform.
JessRS 4 years ago
Or outright tell you they have a dress policy, explain it, and if you agree then you proceed
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Lunar Bicycle 4 years ago
“... whether or not I identified as a feminist and how I reconcile that with my career choice.” ??? The only appropriate answer is, “How do you reconcile being an asshole with, well, showing your face in public? Asshole.”
Mustn’t eat the mango 🥭 4 years ago
Why does it matter if you want to have children other than the financial situation. Why do they assume that they want to have children. Adopting people is really good too.
Suzanne Haigh 4 years ago
It is lucky I do not live in America, I would become very rude to these questions and unlikely to ever get a job, therefore starve to death
Nikki Angulo 4 years ago
Do the men in your company wear makeup? No? Guess I’ll start wearing it when they all do.
Pheebs 4 years ago
My fav to this day is a fem HR person asking why I wanted a job that would have me working on a team with all men. I’m in IT. It’s a given that I’ll probably be on a team with either no other women, or possibly just one other. If she had read my work history, she would have seen all my listed positions were in male-dominated fields. Clearly I wasn’t going to be fussed.
#19
"Do you have any kids?" "Your hair is so nice..."- then he reached out to feel my hair "You speak really good for a Mexican girl"- (I was born in the US) SMH. This was for a position at a long term care facility. I got offered the job a few days later, but I refused the position.
Stephanie Did It 4 years ago
Right off the bat, putting your hands on a job candidate or even an employee screams Get Out NOW.
Hugh Cookson 4 years ago
Should have broken his finger as soon as he touched your hair - common assault would be your defence if the asshole took it further !!!
Caroline Seguin 4 years ago
It's "you speak well" not "you speak good" and how racist is this? Wow. And don't touch me you a****le
Sherry Harvey 4 years ago
I’m sure he would have been reaching out to touch more than your hair had you taken the job.
Marsha Brown 4 years ago
Good for you, smart lady! I instinctively bat someone's hand away when they try to touch me, if it's unsolicited. Talk about privileged!
#20
I was 23 at the time, the guy asked if my two kids were planned, and if they shared the same father. When I answered yes to the last question he said 'are you sure?' I was so uncomfortable. And other people would justify it when I told them what happened. 'He wants to know what kind of person you are so it's normal for him to ask personal questions.'
Donkey boi 4 years ago
I'm beginning to think that these sorts of questions should be responded to with personal questions. 'Were you 2 kids planned?', 'Before I answer I have a few questions of my own. Were you breast fed as a child? At what age did you start growing body hair? Have you ever inserted a foreign object inside your a**s?'
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
That's not a "let's get her out of her comfort zone and see how she'll react" question, it's calling her a s**t and deeply, deeply inappropriate and hurtful.
Vicky Z 4 years ago
You shouldn't answer! Since when having two kids with two fathers is a proof of what kind of person you are??
Carol Emory 4 years ago
Not sure if he was really trying to find out what kind of person you are, but it sure told you what kind of person he is....an A**hole...he's an A**hole.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Reply: "I'm very sure, but are you sure you're not a ba*tard?" and that's why I wouldn't get the job.
Curry on... 4 years ago
Do they ask men how many girlfriends they knocked up; if they're paying child support or pay for an abortion; or do they use a condom?
#21
Just interviewed this week at a small town library and was asked if I was actually married because I'm not wearing a wedding band (I had mentioned earlier in the interview that I relocated to the area because my spouse recently started a new job there). I just stared at the woman who asked the question until someone else said "This is an interview. You can't ask that." The same woman asked for my social media handles because she wanted to look me up.
Daphne Williams 4 years ago
These days, almost everyone does, at least in the U.S.
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Son of Philosoraptor 4 years ago
I work in the insurance arena. We background check every person we like for a job. I knew a person with 30 years industry experience, long in management, turned down at another company because he said he graduated high school but actually dropped out the last year. This was 43 years before that interview took place. They were going to hire him... Then came the background check.
Mir Adwari 4 years ago
I hired someone who was sacked from his job for stealing money (there was more to it than that but it was complicated). He told us in the interview as he wasn't getting a reference. Had to fight HR to do so and got a lot of 'on your own head be it'. Most loyal employee ever. Hardest working, never once took a day off sick. I never regretted it once.
Load More Replies... Hugh Cookson 4 years ago
Rude, ignorant and far too intrusive - you should have had a word with the local newspaper ...
Jeff Christensen 4 years ago
I've heard that is becoming more common. A lot of my female FB friends use their first name and their middle name on FB rather than their surname because they aspire to professional careers (often teaching) and anything on their FB which could be viewed as improper could work against them. Having a good time at a party could, in some circumstances, be viewed as improper.
Lilith the Demon Panda 4 years ago
one of the reasons I don't have any social media... because of f*****g f*****s like this
A Head 4 years ago
I haven't worn my wedding ring in years. I've been married for 23, but at some point I developed some kind of "finger claustrophobia" that left me constantly fiddling with my ring to see if I could get it off. Told my wife that I wasn't going to wear it anymore, she was fine with it. On the flip side, she often doesn't wear hers because her fingers have gotten slimmer, and it falls off easily. Either way, while they're nice symbols, they're simple $10 silver bands that we bought on the street in NYC a couple days before our wedding.
Mustn’t eat the mango 🥭 4 years ago
Awwww that’s a nice surprise. Cute story
Load More Replies... blankman 3 years ago
When I got promoted to my first managerial role my ex's father gave me a copy of a book called "The Evaluation Interview" (he was head of HR at a major corporation). That book included an entire chapter on how to ask those "illegal questions" without violating the law. In fact, some of the ways to do so don't even appear to be questions. Think the book is still in print but no idea if current versions still include that chapter.
Celtic Pirate Queen 4 years ago (edited)
I was asked for my social media info in an interview once as well. I told her straight up my accounts are private and that I had no intention of "friending" anyone I worked with. As if. I was offered the job, but declined. I do not want to work with someone who thinks she has a right to my private life.
Thomas 4 years ago
When I was unemployed, most of the application forms I submitted had some sort of "social media" section. A few of them actually had the "Facebook" field marked as mandatory. Problem is, I'm not a "social media person", so I had to write "NONE". A recruiter actually called me back just to ask me to explain why I wrote that; when I explained my situation she was skeptical, to say the least. She treated me like a lunatic who was trying to hide something.
#22
When I was getting my master's in forensic psych, I went to an interview for an internship with a forensic psychologist who does clinical evaluations for the courts. I was so excited, thought this would be a great fit, did all the paperwork, went in for interview. He asks me maybe five questions in total, of course starting off with where I go to school, what track I'm in, what other research/clinical experience I have, but then he asks, "If I asked your dad or your boyfriend about you, what would they say? Are you responsible, are you naggy, are you b****y?" and I just completely froze since it was so out of the blue and just said something like, "Uh....well, I hope they wouldn't say any of that??? But also why would you be asking about them?" and he kinda backtracked a little to play it off as a joke. He even had one of his current interns (a guy who I had a few classes with actually and knew tangentially) in the interview and it was just awkward as hell. I ended up getting an interview with a different internship and they were MUCH more responsive and better fit, so I went with them and got hired by them quick and am still working for them in a senior position! So [screw] that other guy, though I sometimes see his reports come across my desk lol.
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
Men will never ever be asked if they're bitchy or what their mommy would say about them, it would be considered humiliating.
Son of Philosoraptor 4 years ago
"What would your former boss say about you?" is a standard interview question.
JessRS 4 years ago
@Donkey boi I don't know why you got downvoted, but that's actually an interview question a lot of hiring managers ask (not the Dad or boyfriend part of course). Usually, I ask something like "If I asked your current/former boss/professor of relevant subject/direct supervisor to evaluate your performance, what do you think their answer would be?"
Laugh or not 4 years ago
Yes, that is a good question, but you wouldn't follow by "would they tell you are bossy, lazy, chatty..." And you also wouldn't make it a gendered question : "what family/friends would say about you" vs. "what your dad/boyfriend". Close questions, very different undertones.
Load More Replies... Marsha Brown 4 years ago
Good for you and your immediate answer! He KNEW he shouldn't be asking that, but did anyway -- hence his backtracking. Glad you got a better position. His loss due to his stupid behavior. He may be highly educated, but he's still a smarmy idiot.
#23
"Are you married? No? There's a great bar downstairs, do you want to go and finish this interview there?"
#24
Sitting there with the interviewer and he says " That's a really expensive watch, how did you get it?" I was stunned but answered that it was a gift. Still have the watch, didn't want the job. Another one asked if i really needed my glasses, or was I just wearing them to look smart.
Iso 4 years ago
yeah it's got nothing to do with the fact that i bump into multiple walls when i don't have my glasses
Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 4 years ago
I don't bump into multiple walls, but everyone at a certain distance has black dots for eyes.
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Mustn’t eat the mango 🥭 4 years ago
I’m smart already without glasses. Sir, you better check yourself before you wreck yourself. 😐
MimSorensson 3 years ago (edited)
“Oh, I stole it. From an old lady. It was the only thing she owned, she was going to leave it to her blind daughter so she could pay for medicine. You should have seen it, it was a classic.” What the hell kind of answer was expected here?
#25
“Did your dad pick your major?”
Stacey Lavallie 3 years ago
I was asked this once. I replied, ‘No, did your mom pick your clothes?’ And left.
MimSorensson 3 years ago (edited)
“Why yes, just like he picked my clothes this morning and wiped my aśś after I went potty. He also drove me here. That’s him outside the door. Say hi, dad.” That question wasn’t just inappropriate, it was downright weird.
Marsha Brown 4 years ago
WTAF?!!! I'm 71, and I never remember any questions like that in any of my interviews over the years. Guy's living 2 centuries ago, not just one.
Catherine Spencer-Mills 4 years ago
Actually, it was my grandmother. She said doctor, lawyer or engineer and she was paying. I faint at the sight of blood, couldn't imagine being a lawyer, so engineering it was.
#26
Interviewed for a position at a hospital and when they asked me to tell them about myself I mentioned how I want to become a doctor. The response: “have you ever considered nursing?” Smh
Son of Philosoraptor 4 years ago
My mom is a nurse practitioner (retired), she kicks herself for falling into the old school ways of the sixties and not just getting an MD. Back then you just didn't see it as a realistic career path a lot of times.
Carol Emory 4 years ago
I would have answered "I dunno..have you ever considered a position as a defendant in a discrimination lawsuit?"
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
I got that at med school interview. I said, yes, I considered nursing, but then I'd have to deal with doctors. Confused he** outta the guy, and, no, I didn't get into that school.
Luna Lovegood! 4 years ago
"yeah, i have but, i decided it was too *manly* of a position for me. are you a nurse? " "no" " well then"
Bethan Cowley 3 years ago
What’s wrong with nursing? The interviewee is the pretentious d**k here.
Devan Hudson 3 years ago
Nothing's wrong with nursing. Everything's wrong with pushing a woman into nursing because she is a woman.
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Sasy 4 years ago
I have a mixed reaction to this one, over the years you see so many things where the nurses seem to be able to do a lot more for patients overall. I do not see Nurses as less than Doctors, so unless specialising, maybe the interviewer saw something in the interviewee that lead them to believe they could do more with their value in a nursing position...as the interview was at a Hospital but not for a medical role obviously, the person possibly knew a way for this person to get to a nursing position faster, and do good quicker.
Demongrrrrl 4 years ago
I got a degree in healthcare management with the goal of working in hospice care. Every interview included the question, "Aren't you sorry you didn't go to nursing school?"
#27
Not as problematic as most of the others answers on this thread, but still. I did a bunch of interviews to work as a programmer in the video game industry. This is a very male-dominated field. Everytime they ended up asking if I played video games, and if I liked it. Some of my males friends were doing interviews at the same time, and they were never asked this question. I had to prove that I was "one of them", and it was somewhat infuriating.
Laura Würker 4 years ago
One factor could be that some men need an excuse for themselves why women don't like them. They tell themselves that women don't like them because they're nerds, but some are, to put it politely, just not nice. There was also a good movie quote.
MimSorensson 3 years ago (edited)
“What are these ‘games of video’ of which you speak? I picked this ad by throwing darts at the ad section.” Dude.
#28
A lot of sneaky attempts of them trying to find out if I have children and or want them.
Grinds my gears. Its illegal to ask those questions during an interview and I hate how they try to coax it out of you anyway.
One asked me what my husband was thinking about me working. Whole thing was so surreal, it was more funny than upsetting. Did not take their offer tho.
Lilith the Demon Panda 4 years ago
wtf is all with that "husband permision" thing? I grew up in a society where if you don't work you're a f*****g lazy leech regardless gender (of course if you are not handicapped or something)
Amanda Hunter 4 years ago
An interviewer asked me what my husband would think if I had to go away for training, I asked him if he ever asked men what their wives would think. I didn't get the job.
Carol Emory 4 years ago
On that last one, I'd answer "He thinks I shouldn't work for dips***s that ask illegal questions during interviews."
Marsha Brown 4 years ago
I can tell you what I think of his working, if you're interested. You can ask him if it's so important to you.
JessRS 4 years ago
Because many companies discriminate against women with children saying they are not as responsible/committed to the job.
Load More Replies... #29
In this case, I was actually the interviewer, and I was running my organization's information table at a job fair. I was talking with three students--2 women, 1 man--they were law students in their early/mid 20s, I was a lawyer in my early 30s, so it was a pretty casual conversation. I asked the group "any other questions for me, about the organization or about being a lawyer in general?" and the guys asks "Are you single? Haha, just kidding." I was honestly so thrown off, I just half-laughed and said "Nope, married and pregnant with my first child." This was a few years ago, but I wish I had had the presence of mind in the moment to say "That's completely inappropriate. You need to leave." If I had, I think he would have learned an important lesson, and I would have set a positive example for the 2 women there. Later in the day, once things slowed down and I had a minute to think, I just threw his resume away...and the next day wished I hadn't because I could also have emailed him that feedback.
Viviane 4 years ago
Or someone else will read him the riot act. It's possible that one of the other students did afterwards.
Load More Replies... Son of Philosoraptor 4 years ago
My wife is a manager, also, she wears a 36 DD. One guy never stopped staring at her chest until she finally said "my eyes are up here! " Strange, he didn't get hired.
#30
“Can you take a dirty joke?”
Erik Granqvist 4 years ago
The automated response: how do you recognize a CEO/Boss in the shower? By his tiny genitals!
Son of Philosoraptor 4 years ago
I was nearing the end of an interview with a gal who eventually became my trusted second in command. I knew she was super rough around the edges but trying to be super professional. I asked, "so, do swear words bother you in any way?" She's all... Uh... No? No. Not at all, to be honest. I say "that's great because you are f*cking KILLING this interview."
Vasana Phong 4 years ago
It’s a sign that the office is more populated by the male gender, and this is probably the normal conversations
Hugo Raible 4 years ago
Seriously - you don't want to have a person in the team who will take offense at the slightest hint of some joke being vaguely dirty. We are not talking about harassing that person in particular, but about these kind of people who overhear two other people's conversation (which was only between the two) and run to HR because of that.
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
It's another way to say "you better not complain about sexual harassment, he just complimented you on your nice tits."
Load More Replies... #31
I’ve had an interview for the Bundeswehr (German army) and three male generals were sitting in front of me asking me questions. At first they were normal, but then one of them asked me, how I’d handle going oversees. Something like: “who will take care of your children? It’s too much responsibility for your husband!”. I was 17, not married, no children, never want children. To this day I don’t know what the answer was he wanted to hear. A few sentences later one of the other men asks me “if you’d work together with another men who is much older than you and more experienced, but wouldn’t listen to what you’re saying and only cares about his opinion, what would you do to get your will through?”. I remember answering something along the lines of “having a serious one on one conversation with said men, if that didn’t work I’d talk to my supervisor about it”, but none of them were impressed, I also have no idea what else I should’ve said in that moment for them to be the “right” answer.
All in all it was a [bad] interview. Here in Germany soccer is a really male dominant sport and when one of these men read that I play it, they told me to quit so I can focus more on my grades.
0 out of 5 stars, wouldn’t recommend any woman to join the German military.
Gin. No tonic 4 years ago
I bet the right answer should've been "My will doesn't matter. Those men are older and more experienced and I would listen to them."
Stephanie IV 4 years ago
That, or „I’d whack him one round the head with my umbrella.“
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DKS 001 4 years ago
“who will take care of your children? It’s too much responsibility for your husband!” - ah, but it's not too much responsibility for the mother. I see .... (rolls eyes)
Bored Bunny 4 years ago
"Ah, I didn't realize the official position of the military is that a Y chromosome makes one less responsible. Thank you for that insight, general. I must commend you for rising to your rank despite such a handicap."
Load More Replies... Donkey boi 4 years ago
I think the correct answer is, 'It depends on the situation. In a combat situation there is not enough time to discuss, so I would rely on his experience. In a non-combat situation I would ask him to explain to me why he thinks my thoughts are not worth considering. If he doesn't provide a valid argument, I'll make him listen'
Jeff Christensen 4 years ago (edited)
I'm guessing "I would kill them" wouldn't be the right answer either, even in the military.
#32
The weirdest:
Would you wear your hair straight? (let me note that I am white so this is not necessarily a racist comment towards me in that regard).
Questions about how I would dress coming to work (sort of relevant given the industry, but it wasn't a client/public-facing role, and there was heavy implication about needing to look "sexy")
Irrelevant and nonsensical questions that have nothing to do with a job (if you were an animal/color which what you be, who would you want to play you in a movie). I suspect the male applicants weren't asked because of the way the questions were asked, and for the roles for which they were asked.
This is in addition to the often mentioned kids/relationship status ones (which by the way are illegal in every country I've ever lived)
Bogdan Toader 4 years ago
i was once asked what animal would I see myself as - apparently "turtle" was not a part of the interviewer's typical response
Bettie-Jean Neal 4 years ago
The animal bit is how you want others to see you. The color is how you see yourself. If they ask about a body of water, it's how you view sex.
#33
I was asked if I was on any medications. That’s illegal... it was for a nanny job where there were no make applicants. It shocked me. Who the hell asks a possible employee that.
lenka 4 years ago
Actually it's not illegal in most places as long as it directly relevant to the job. Medications can have an affect on your ability to supervise chidren and drive a vehicle. Both highly relevant to the position. The question should however have been more specific.... "do you take any medications that would affect your ability to [insert job or task description here].
Vicky Z 4 years ago
Exactly! Maybe the way you wrote it it's better, but it's definitely not an illegal question to make if you deal with children! What if it was for a driver?? You don't have to know if medication will affect your job? For some jobs it's needed to know!
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Vetus Vespertilio 4 years ago
Would you give the nanny the same information about yourself?
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Sonia Reddel 4 years ago
I had one nanny contract come through trying to get me to agree to "any and all medical tests the parents see fit". Just a blank "any and all". I might have signed it if it was just drug testing, although I had many contracts over the years and none have even asked for that. It also specified that I buy and maintain a car to drive their child around, even though at interview they specified no driving was wanted for the job.
#34
“Are you a Christian”
“Yes”
“Oh good! That’s a relief because all of us around here are Christians”.
(This was no Church or Christian company. We were just selling life insurance.)
IDGAF what religion or race or color or spectrum of gender you are. Aren’t we here to do good work regardless of personal beliefs and backgrounds? OMG I was so appalled. I can only imagine if I had said “No” what he would have done! Probably try to convert me...
Stephanie Did It 4 years ago (edited)
I knew a woman who was hired at a similar 'Christian' business. An engineering firm. The day after she was hired she mentioned that she didn't celebrate Christmas. She was terminated the same day. When she asked why, the HR guy said, "Don't you know?" but refused to answer. Religion was never mentioned so she had no proof. Edit: She worked there as a temp for 3 months and they were so pleased they had offered the job, so no way it was a performance issue.
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
That's not unlike the subcontractors' work trucks or vans with the fish symbol on them. A not so subtle way to tell clients they're Christians.
Donkey boi 4 years ago
I was asked if I was religious one, I said no and they joked, 'that means you can work the Christmas shifts'. 'Erm nope! I might not be but my family are and they expect me at christmas.'
Hugh Cookson 4 years ago
Nothing wrong with people having a belief in whatever, as long as there is no hypocrisy or trying to foist their beliefs on other people, (personally, I believe in an underground strata of Earth gods, starting with wood and water nymphs on the surface, going down deeper and deeper ... etc etc - which, if you think about it, is as valid as a magical sky fairy who came to earth as his own son (via a virgin girl), then died brutally before coming back to life and scaring the f**k out of his believers so much that they spread the word of his magicalness across the world ... I think that's how it went but it's been a while since I went to a magic book class ... )
Viviane 4 years ago
That's not why the employer asked that question - they're just scared of different people. I don't object to someone asking about comfort with diversity. I would not appreciate someone assuming that I can only get along with secular Jews. I'm an atheist and I've gotten along fine with Sikhs, born-again Christians, Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics, and sometimes even other Jews. My workplace hires for skills and character.
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#35
8-9 years ago, I was interviewing for positions at 6 different tech startups, all but 1 asked me if I planned to get married or have children in the next 5 years. I eventually went with the only one that didn’t ask, but I have friends who worked for the others, all male. I asked and not a single one of them was asked about their future plans for marriage and children when they interviewed.
#36
What were your high school marks? Noting I had a bachelors degree and it was an entry level role ....
Mark Serbian, PK&RG,W 4 years ago
I'm nearly 70 and NO ONE has ever asked about my "HS experience". Or even wanted to see records/diploma/etc. This is good since I graduated HS with a 2.1 GPA - in the upper third of my class! I carried a 3.95 in college, btw. But HS? Who cares? Or why?
#37
I'm a small-ish, conventionally attractive woman who works in forestry and farming, and have often been the only woman in my department or facility working with a bunch of blue collar guys. In pretty much every interview I've had, me being a young woman who isn't ugly has come up. Sometimes in a good way that makes it clear they understand challenges I may face. Learning to work around almost exclusively men can be very difficult, and in some situations your supervisor will need to be prepared to enforce your right to be there. A good supervisor for a woman in that situation understands this, talks about it with her as necessary, and lays down the law. I've also had it put to me in a very degrading way. Jokes about "what's a pretty girl like you doing applying for work like this." Statements that make it clear that if there are culture problems, they will be my problem. Even just being hit on enough that I had to leave the interview.
Stina Kolling 4 years ago
Good for you. What do you want, a star sticker? Different people are different.
Load More Replies... #38
What was my parents' occupation, what was my sisters' occupation, which got super complicated since I come from a broken family and don't have a relationship with my dad. Like wth does it matter what my family does? And this came from a woman so it was really upsetting. And I was already graduated from university at that point so I wasn't even a teenager or anything anymore.
Beeps 4 years ago
It depends on the security clearing needed for the position, and there are a lot of companies where these questions are not only completely normal, but in fact mandatory. And yes, I even know someone who didn’t get a certain job because his brother had a criminal record.
ChickyChicky 4 years ago
Then it should have been explained in the job interview the legitimate reason why they needed that info.
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#39
At an interview for a teaching position at a private organisation I was asked if I thought my tattoos made me a rebel and what my parents and grandparents thought about them. I was 27.
Nadine Bamberger 4 years ago
Still doesn't justify asking what mommy and grandpapa are thinking.
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#40
“If you had a child, would you let them use cannabis once it is legal in [state I was in]?”
100% guarantee no man who interviewed was asked about his hypothetical children...
#41
I got a prescreening call and the interviewer said, the interview was in a warehouse ( where shipping containers are kept) to this day, i wonder what would have happened had I just gone for the interview. In my country, that’s a big Red Flag.
Anna Rush 4 years ago
Sex trafficking. Get a woman alone in a warehouse then kidnap her.
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#42
"What does your father do for work?"
Not A Panda 4 years ago
I had that, I replied that he was most likely currently spinning in his grave generating enough electricity to fire this whole plant and walked out.
Vicky Z 4 years ago
It's a frequent question in my country and the reason is quite clear! In my country people live still with the parents even until their mid thirties period so they ask to see how much they need to pay you! If your parents have a good income and you live with them it's a great excuse to give you 400-500€ salary!
Load More Replies... Mark Serbian, PK&RG,W 4 years ago
He, um, works for a company suing people for asking stupid/illegal questions in job interviews ....
#43
They were hiring a "graphic designer". The manager (he could be my grandfather) asked if my bf was jealous.
Memere 4 years ago
This could have been asked because of a previous experience with a jealous boyfriend/husband coming to the office & making threats. At the last place I worked, one of the women had an ex who was stalking & threatening her, so she advised the security officer & close co-workers about him, & she never went outside the building alone for at least the first year after she left the guy.
Shelli Aderman 4 years ago
Again, personal questions like that are ILLEGAL! 🤦🏽♀️
Load More Replies... #44
He asked if I was a freaky masochist because of my tattoos. Obviously meaning got off to pain. BDSM and all that too.
Oskar vanZandt 4 years ago (edited)
Considering the number of people in society who have tattoos (including me) that would be a whole lot of freaky masochists of all descriptions...
#45
"how are you affected by sexism in this industry?" and "why arent you working for google since you're a woman?" Like while i get the sentiment of the first question is to be like relatable or something, it just comes of [freaking] weird. Especially since im applying for entry level positions. They said things like "we arent like most companies, we hire women." The second one was just weird af imo they thought that since google hires a lot of women that id get hired there...
#46
I was shown a handgun stored in the open near the cash register and asked if I would be willing to use it. (For what??? To defend the $200 in the till?)
#47
At a job that was manual labor: "What does your husband think about you working in such a rough job?" At the time I was young, and unmarried, so I just kind of blushed and said that I wasn't married. The interviewer gave me a knowing smile and said "well, i'm sure your career goals will change when you do get married." I didn't get hired there.
What do you think ?
Anna Banana 4 years ago
I had to stop reading after about 10, my blood pressure can't handle this.
Hans 4 years ago
I believe that all of this will backfire in the end. If you artificially decrease your recruiting pool (which you do with such questions), you in average get less qualified, less motivated staff. Moreover, plenty of studies have shown that diversity increases productivity both directly and indirectly (for example through a better working atmosphere).
Jill Bussey 4 years ago
Although I won't be going for work interviews, I wish I had the kind of money years ago that I didn't need to work. I would have gone for interviews and just straight up told them how bad their attitudes were. I would have enjoyed that!
Moosy Girl 4 years ago
As an ugly woman in IT I’ve never had the “are you married” or “are you planning to have children” questions, but all kinds of variations on the “do you think you could work in a team of all men” or “could you hold your own in a predominantly male environment” type questions... go figure. Come to think of it I’ve never landed any job that had only male interviewers, but did land every single job that had a female interviewer so far.
bxx 4 years ago
When I was pregnant, early stage but showing, I had just finished university and was desperate for a job. I was told by someone I knew, who was aware I was pregnant, that there was a job opening at the company she worked for and said I should apply. It was a simple desk job which was perfect so I was thrilled. She forwarded me the details of her regional manager who then set me up with an interview with a manager at one of his branches. I really wish I didn't waste my time because as soon as I walked up to the interviewer and shook his hand he looked at me a said "this is going to be a problem" and refused to even start the interview. I left feeling humiliated and burst into tears outside. If a man was expecting a baby he wouldn't have been treated like that. Luckily my lawyer was very happy to deal with pregnancy discrimination cases.
Curry on... 4 years ago
A four person panel interviewed me for a community non-profit. Everything seemed to be going well until one asked if I could be counted on to work when scheduled. I said, 'absolutely, barring any serious emergency." Their facial expressions went from sunny to overcast.
My O My 4 years ago
I was asked about wanting kids at 26years old. I lied and said no because I wanted the job (9hours a week as a vet assistant). Was pregnant 3 months later. My boss (a woman with kids and grandkids) was furious, wanted to fire me. In germany you can't do that just like that, mothers to be have lots of rights here. It was dirty. I had to go to the regulatory agency all. Then she wanted me to go back to work just one week after giving birth. Needles to say I didn't
Iggy 4 years ago
It is illegal here to ask about marital status, pregnancies etc. It should be illegal everywhere.
Anna Banana 4 years ago
I had to stop reading after about 10, my blood pressure can't handle this.
Hans 4 years ago
I believe that all of this will backfire in the end. If you artificially decrease your recruiting pool (which you do with such questions), you in average get less qualified, less motivated staff. Moreover, plenty of studies have shown that diversity increases productivity both directly and indirectly (for example through a better working atmosphere).
Jill Bussey 4 years ago
Although I won't be going for work interviews, I wish I had the kind of money years ago that I didn't need to work. I would have gone for interviews and just straight up told them how bad their attitudes were. I would have enjoyed that!
Moosy Girl 4 years ago
As an ugly woman in IT I’ve never had the “are you married” or “are you planning to have children” questions, but all kinds of variations on the “do you think you could work in a team of all men” or “could you hold your own in a predominantly male environment” type questions... go figure. Come to think of it I’ve never landed any job that had only male interviewers, but did land every single job that had a female interviewer so far.
bxx 4 years ago
When I was pregnant, early stage but showing, I had just finished university and was desperate for a job. I was told by someone I knew, who was aware I was pregnant, that there was a job opening at the company she worked for and said I should apply. It was a simple desk job which was perfect so I was thrilled. She forwarded me the details of her regional manager who then set me up with an interview with a manager at one of his branches. I really wish I didn't waste my time because as soon as I walked up to the interviewer and shook his hand he looked at me a said "this is going to be a problem" and refused to even start the interview. I left feeling humiliated and burst into tears outside. If a man was expecting a baby he wouldn't have been treated like that. Luckily my lawyer was very happy to deal with pregnancy discrimination cases.
Curry on... 4 years ago
A four person panel interviewed me for a community non-profit. Everything seemed to be going well until one asked if I could be counted on to work when scheduled. I said, 'absolutely, barring any serious emergency." Their facial expressions went from sunny to overcast.
My O My 4 years ago
I was asked about wanting kids at 26years old. I lied and said no because I wanted the job (9hours a week as a vet assistant). Was pregnant 3 months later. My boss (a woman with kids and grandkids) was furious, wanted to fire me. In germany you can't do that just like that, mothers to be have lots of rights here. It was dirty. I had to go to the regulatory agency all. Then she wanted me to go back to work just one week after giving birth. Needles to say I didn't
Iggy 4 years ago
It is illegal here to ask about marital status, pregnancies etc. It should be illegal everywhere.
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