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Remember: If you can dream it...you can achieve it!

Annemarie Cross
Career Management & Personal Branding Strategist

Dear Annemarie,  

I am a 34 year old recently-married woman. I have been on four interviews in the last year where prospective employers have asked me if I have a family or are planning to have children!

This never happened to me before I had a wedding ring on my finger. I am ready to remove that ring for interviews and say I am infertile!  

Can you help me? 

Name Withheld

I am still amazed how many candidates are being examined in a way that challenges and defies the strict regulations that prohibit interviewers from asking illegal questions such as the question with which you were presented. This interviewer should not have been involved in the interview process, as questions like this one can pose a great legal risk to their company, as federal, state, and even local laws concerning job interviews deem it unlawful to discriminate against potential employees based on age (40+), gender, national origin, religion, race, colour, pregnancy, health, disability, or sexual preference. 

If asked an illegal question, you may decide to respond to the interviewer with, “That’s an illegal question,” although this may not be the best way to handle such a situation as even an illegal question can be considered an opportunity to present further information regarding your skills, if handled the right way.

Here are some other ways to consider responding to such a question. Please note that these are suggestions only and do not represent strategic legal advice. To view current information go to the website: http://www.australia.gov.au/topics/employment-and-workplace 

Some techniques to consider when dealing with illegal questions include:

Step 1: Initially, do not feel obliged to answer the illegal question, nor let this unsettle you, but rather remain calm and continue to be enthusiastic.
 
Step 2: It is important to be able to handle the concern behind the question and if this is not apparent, request that the interviewer elaborate the reason that this information is important to them. For instance, “How does this relate to the position?” Or “In what way does this question concern the realities of this role?”

Step 3: Re-emphasise your dedication to your career and your proficiency to perform the responsibilities of this role at the highest level.

I’ll give you an example to demonstrate how the above strategies may be used:

Your interviewer asks: “Are you planning on having any children in the near future?”

You could respond with: “I believe that my knowledge and experience fulfil the obligations of this role fully, and I am committed to performing these responsibilities at the highest level.  My career is very important to me and I have a strong support network that is behind me 100%. Would you be able elaborate or modify your question please as I’d like to make sure that I have addressed your concern.”

In the above example you can see that I did not confront the interviewer with any negative connotations, unconstructive emotions, nor stated that this question was illegal. Instead the response demonstrated your willingness to address the interviewer’s concern and in a way that continued to portray your ability to perform this role at the highest level.

Continued success in your career!

All the best!

Annemarie