Many years ago, I was having lunch with colleagues at a local restaurant when we overheard a manager interviewing a prospective employee at a nearby table.
After asking several questions, the manager casually asked, “So, what church do you go to?” The applicant replied, “None. I don't go to church.” The manager responded, “That's what I like to hear!”
Now THAT is scary.
Asking about an applicant's religious beliefs (and worse, expressing a hiring preference based on the answer) is a serious HR red flag that could expose an employer to discrimination claims.
The lesson? The wrong interview questions can come back to haunt you. Hiring managers need to know what they can and cannot ask, and how to evaluate candidates based on their qualifications, not personal beliefs or characteristics.
Want to take the fright out of your hiring process? The HR Team can help you train your managers to interview confidently, consistently, and legally. Give us a call at 410-381-9700.
