How old are you? What country are you from? Do you have children? These might be suitable topics for social gatherings, but they are off-limits on job interviews. A variety of state and federal laws make it illegal for employers to ask such questions or to inquire about race, sex and disabilities.
Any inquiry that doesn't relate to your qualification for the job "is extraneous and may be illegal," says Lewin G. Joel III, an attorney in Branford, Conn., and author of "Every Employee's Guide to the Law" (Pantheon Books).
But, although you could storm out of an interview at the first inappropriate question, that won't get you the job. Even if you don't think you want it any more, why not wait until you have an offer before you make that decision?
Sometimes the interviewer is trying to determine whether you can do the job but inadvertently asks an illegal question, such as "What effect does using a wheelchair have on your daily activities?" or "What child-care arrangements have you made?"
Anticipate the questions you might be asked and prepare to answer them without being evasive or long-winded. Address the company perspective. For instance, an interviewer who asks whether you have children may want to know if you can travel overnight or work late, says Phyllis Macklin, an out-placement consultant with Seagate Associates Inc. in Lawrenceville, N.J. Without discussing your family, you could reply: "My home is set up in such a way that I can devote 100 percent to my job. I've been able to do that in the past, and I see no reason why I won't be able to in the future."
Once you have delivered your succinct answer, move the conversation forward by asking a legitimate question of your own. That's especially helpful when interviewers use small talk to probe for information that they can't seek directly.
You need not answer illegal questions on the application form. Cross them out or leave them blank. If you feel you must call attention to an illegal question, you could lead into the subject by politely asking whether the application form has been revised recently. Whatever you do, don't lie. Giving false information makes you look bad if the truth comes out (it often does) and could lead to legal problems.
Deborah Jacobs, a business writer specializing in legal topics, regularly contributes to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes and Newsweek. Write to her in care of Chronicle Features, 870 Market St., Suite 1011, San Francisco, Calif. 94102. Please include your name, address and telephone number.