Interview Tips: How To Answer Tribe, Religion, Sex, Political Affiliation Questions

By Florence Mukunya

So you got a call for that long awaited job you have be dreaming of ,you are psyched that this may be the one and are busy preparing for the interview including rehearsing answers to questions that might be asked. But while doing so, do you ever think that a personal question such as do you have a boyfriend?or are you planning to have kids?

“I was once asked what I thought about sex before marriage in a accounting job interview,” confesses Anthony Muchemi who adds thathis first reaction was to laugh.

Beth Wanjira, a Recruitment Manager with Corporate Staffing Services agrees that, “While preparing to attend a job interview, most job seekers concentrate on what the job entails,” She adds that, “few are the times when job seekers imagine that the interviewer will ask personal questions which are totally unrelated to the job interview.”

But should you do when faced with such questions? How are you supposed to handle yourself? Do you answer or decide to remain mum?

Speaking to Martin Githaiga, who is a HR officer, he says he feels that personal questions related to birth place, religion, tribe, sex, political affiliation can sometime boarder on being unethical.

“If they are infringing on someone’s right to privacy then the interviewee should feel free to pass,” he says adding that he feels that no professional HR professional should put an interview in such a position.

Mr Githaiga adds that as an interviewee if you feel uncomfortable to point out that a question might be out of bound, you can address it behind a question.

He says that questions such as are you single? are not necessary but if they immerge in an interview, one could probably ask whether they are asking the question because it requires working overtime or because it involves travelling a lot and in such a case point out that you separate your personal life with work.

“Some of the questions though might appear personal but are well fitted in the interview. Some of the job descriptions come with the organization. For example stating that they are Christian based organizations so in such an interview you might be asked what your religion stand is, says Ms Wanjira

But she also strongly feels that if it has nothing to do with the job requirement then you don’t have to feel pressured to answer.

If and when answering such question be tactful, answer briefly and then move to another area or ignore the question altogether and redirect the question towards a new topic.

Mr Githaiga adds that, “The interviewer may recognize your uneasiness to answer the question and just decide to put it aside and move on.

Mr Githaiga insists that it is important to note and understand that Also note that it’s important to understand although you would be justified in refusing to answer an inappropriate question, doing so might cost you the much awaited for job.”

He concludes by adding that, “Therefore the only question a job seeker should ask themselves is, do I want to work in an environment that might subjects me to such practices?”

Back to you, what’s the most ‘inappropriate question’ you’ve been asked in an interview?

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