How to Handle Illegal or Inappropriate Interview Questions

Questions about age, marital status, family plans, religion, or disability generally shouldn't be asked in a Canadian job interview, though they sometimes come up — often without ill intent.

Know the general categories to watch for

• Age, or when you graduated (as a proxy for age)
• Marital or family status, or plans to have children
• Religion, ethnicity, or place of birth
• Disability or health status, beyond ability to perform the job

Redirect calmly if it comes up

"I want to make sure I understand what you're looking for — could you tell me more about the requirements of the role?" often moves things along smoothly.

Decide how much you want to address it directly

You're never obligated to answer, and a polite deflection is a completely reasonable response.

Trust your read of the company

An occasional awkward question from an otherwise respectful team is different from a pattern — trust your overall impression.