It is illegal for an interviewer to discriminate based on gender, race, age, religion, national origin, or marital status, or to ask questions about your personal life that are not job related. Additionally, it is illegal to avoid hiring people with certain handicaps if they are able to do the job.

Before you react, take a moment to evaluate the situation and ask yourself the following:

• How uncomfortable has this question made you feel?
• Does the interviewer seem unaware that the question is illegal?
• Is the interviewer going to be my boss?

There are Interviewers out there that don’t realize they’re asking an improper question. They may be new to their job or inexperienced in interviewing. And you certainly don’t have to answer any question that makes you feel uncomfortable. However, if this happens to you, try to respond in a non-confrontational, calm, and relaxed way. If you decide to answer the question, provide a brief response and try to move on.

For example, if asked about your age, you might want to reply, "I'm in my forties, and I posses a wealth of knowledge and experience that would be an asset to your organization.” In other words, turn a negative question into a positive response. If you are not sure whether or not you want to answer the question, first ask for a clarification as to how this question relates to your qualifications for the job.