Even though the
following questions are blatantly illegal for employers to ask, many do without fear or hesitation. Employers assume if you have nothing
to hide, you won’t mind responding. Most job candidates provide
such information—though the individual is not required to do so.
Questions pertaining to
your age, race, gender, national origin, debt status, sexual
orientation, religion and marital status are illegal. Employers know
this. Once an individual shows up for an interview, they can make a snap
judgment on four of those items.
Practically every
application you fill out will have questions that address your gender, marital
status, criminal background, and the dates you graduated from high school
and/or college. From those dates, they can
calculate your age.
If you attended a
religious-based school, there is a high chance you are of that religion. If you
show up wearing a wedding band, they usually assume your marital status.
As for your place of origin,
that is a zero issue. Most employers are now required to validate your legal US citizenship or residency. Usually, you have to provide two documents, such as your driver’s license and Social Security card. Bingo!
They have access to
everything they want to know—including an in-depth credit
report, court documents, arrest records, driving record, where you have lived,
and bank accounts. Your driver’s license number contains more information on
you than you can possibly image.
Once you fill out the
medical coverage form, any insurance company or licensed private investigator can
find out things you have long forgotten. The bottom line is this: The primary
reason employers press an applicant for illegal information upfront is to save
them time, effort and expense.
Here’s the rub: Should
you lie? No! The lie is a certifiable reason for rejection. There are no ifs,
ands, or buts. Do not let the fear of rejection trump your desire to get the
position.
As a job seeker, keep
in mind that no one is 100% squeaky clean. There is dirty
laundry in everyone’s clothes bag. Some of that laundry is more important than others.
The most critical issues involve:
1. Criminal
records, which are often publicly available,
2. Bad
credit and recent bankruptcies,
3. Serious
medical conditions,
4. Prior-employment
issues, such as multiple job terminations or too many jobs in too short a time
span
5. Where
you reside, and
6. General
appearances—especially if you are sporting visible tattoos, face art, and/or
far-out wardrobe and/or a multicolored hair-do.
Here are a few steps to
take to minimize your exposure.
a. You
can usually have old criminal records expunged if not too serious.
b. You
can challenge and usually correct errors in your credit report (except recent
bankruptcy and college loans). Request out-of-date data be dropped. If employment data appears, does it conflict with your résumé?
c. You
can minimize the appearance of job-hopping by eliminating non-relevant and
short-gap employment from résumé and applications. (Only do this when it does
not conflict with information in your credit report.)
d. If
you live in a questionable neighborhood, you can take up temporary residency
with a family member or relative living in a better location.
e. You
and you alone control your appearance. Make of it what you will.
f. Finally,
you are what you eat. Ninety percent of all health issues (except those resulting from accidents, birth or bodily injuries) are the result
of what you stick in your mouth. If you have a serious health condition,
consult a progressive, holistic medical expert who has a record of fixing the
condition—as opposed to merely treating
the condition.