Interview Questions You Don’t Have To Answer

Interview Questions You Don’t Have To Answer

By Ruoro Kairu

While at an interview, every question may seem like it’s trying to intimidate you by grilling what’s written on your CV. The interviewer may look like they’re trying to poke holes into your past experience.

In real sense, the interviewer only wants to get the best candidate for the job.

Different interviewers use different mechanisms to thin the heard of candidates who’ve applied for the jobs.

Unfortunately, some of the tactics used by interviewers can only be described as discriminatory. With these questions, the interviewer wants to disqualify you for the position based solely on their personal preferences and not their professional opinion.

As an interviewee, you might feel obligated to answer all questions, but that is not correct. You can maneuver over questions you feel the interviewer would use as a personal basis to discriminate on you. Many of these questions seek to exploit situations often beyond your control.

Some of these questions are;

1. Are you a Kenyan citizen?

Unless the job is based in an ethnic location where they might discriminate against your nationality –which should be listed on the job details, the employer should focus on your competencies and professional qualities and not your nationality.

2. What is your sexual orientation?

While Kenya is still a relatively conservative nation, the level at which its opening up is fast. That matched with calls for calls for gender equality and equity have brought forth a new discussion to the table. A person’s sexual preference and identity should not keep them from getting a job.

3. Which tribe are you from?

Some jobs –especially remote county jobs- require the candidates to be well versed in certain ethnic languages. If you can fluently speak the language required, your tribe should not be an issue.

4. What is your religion?

Unless the job is in a religious institution e.g. a church, your religion should not be a basis of employment.

5. Do you have any disabilities?

If you can adequately manage the roles and responsibilities depicted in the job details, your health should not be an issue. The Persons with Disabilities Act advocates for fair treatment to disabled people, as well as ensuring companies have systems to support differently-abled people in the workforce.

Quick read>>> How Best To Answer Interview Questions About Strength And Weaknesses

Picture being in an interview room and the interviewer asks one of these questions, what should you do?

Prisca Kimaiyo, a top recruiter at Corporate Staffing Services advices you rephrase the question to sound more appropriate.

For instance, if the interviewer asks “Which tribe are you from?” You can rephrase by saying, “I believe what you’re getting at is if I can eloquently speak the ethnic language of where I’ll be posted …”

Also, Miss Prisca notes that interviewers are human and can blunder as anyone else. If you think the interviewer made an honest mistake, try to correct them in the most polite and friendly manner you can.