Illegal Interview Questions and Guidelines:

Subject Permitted No permitted Notes

Address How long have you What is your address

lived at your current outside of Canada?
address?

Age Are you of the legal When were you Age questions are
age to work in born? How old are allowed if the
Ontario? you? When did you employer serves a
graduate? When particular age
were you baptised? group and can
prove that it is a
reasonable
requirement. If
there are age
requirements for
benefit plans, you
can ask about the
candidate's age
after you have
offered and they've
accepted the job.
Arrest Record Have you ever been Have you ever been It is usually only okay
convicted of [x]? arrested? to ask these kinds of
questions if you can
prove that the crime
is reasonably related
to the candidate's
ability to perform the
job in question.

Citizenship or Are you legally entitled Are you a Canadian Asking questions
National Origin to work in Canada? citizen? Are you a about citizenship is
What languages do you landed immigrant? okay if it's required
read/write/speak Where were your by law for a position
fluently? parents born? What is or where a cultural,
your "native educational, or trade
language?" union of athletes can
be restricted to
Canadian citizens.
Language questions
are allowed if it is a
requirement for the
role. Employers may
only ask for proof of
residence after the
selection has been
made.

These illegal interview questions were prepared by Betterteam.

 Illegal Interview Questions and Guidelines:

Convictions Candidates can be Have you ever been Questions about

asked about their convicted? Have you criminal records or
eligibility for bonding ever been arrested? Do convictions should
only if it is a job you have a criminal only be asked if they
requirement. record? are directly related
to the job duties.

Disabilities Accurately describe Do you have any If a pre-

the job then ask the disabilities? Have you employment
candidate if they can had any recent illnesses medical
or operations? When
perform all of the was your last physical examination is
functions. You may exam? How's your required, then the
also ask them to family's health? Do you employer may ask
demonstrate how drink or use drugs? Have about any
they would perform you ever been conditions that
hospitalized for
certain functions of psychiatric care? could affect the
the job. candidate's ability
to perform the
job functions.
Education Do you have a high What year did you Asking about a
school diploma or graduate high school? candidate's
equivalent? What Describe your Canadian "Canadian
work experience.
university or college experience"
degrees do you shows
have? discrimination
against other
nationalities.
Family Status Would you be willing Are you married? Do If your business
to relocate if you have a family or has a nepotism
necessary? Would plan to? How many policy in place,
children do you have?
you be able to travel What arrangements you may ask
or work overtime? have you made for candidates if they
childcare? have a family
member working
at the company.

These illegal interview questions were prepared by Betterteam.

 Illegal Interview Questions and Guidelines:

Financial Status Do you own a car? What is your financial Financial status
(Only if this is a situation? questions may be
requirement of the relevant for positions
that deal with money
job.) or for positions with
certain financial
institutions.
Otherwise, financial
status is not relevant
to a job opening.
Height Accurately describe How tall are you? How Personal questions are
or the job, then ask the much do you weigh? not allowed unless you
Weight candidate if they can can definitively prove
a specific height
perform all of the and/or weight is
functions. required to safely
perform the job.
Marital Status Would you be willing Are you married? Do
If the employer serves a
to relocate if you have a family or
particular group and
necessary? Would you plan to? How many can prove that marital
be able to travel or children do you have?
status is a reasonable
work overtime? What arrangements requirement, then it is
have you made for okay to ask these
childcare? Whom doquestions. The
you live with? What
employer must then
does your spouse do?
ask all applicants the
same questions.
Medical None. Are you currently An employer may only
Information under a physician's ask the candidate to
care? What is the name undergo a medical
of your family doctor? exam after a selection
Are you currently has been made and if
undergoing therapy? their condition is
related to their job
duties.
Military Service Employers may inquire Employers should
about Canadian not ask about
military service where military service in
the law gives
employment other countries.
preference to
veterans.
Name None. What is your maiden You may be able to ask
name? Why did you about a candidate's
change your name – original name if it's
was it court necessary to check
mandated, marriage, their references or
or for another educational
reason? background.

These illegal interview questions were prepared by Betterteam.

 Illegal Interview Questions and Guidelines:

Organizations List any professional What clubs or social Avoid all questions
organizations, trade organizations are about non-professional
groups, or other you a member of? organizations that
organizations that you
belong to that are could be seen as a
relevant to your ability proxy question about
to perform in this race, age, sex, etc.
position.
Photographs Employers should If a photo is needed for
avoid asking a security pass or
candidates to attach company file, it can be
photos to their requested after the
resumes or send one hiring process is
in before an completed.
interview.
Race or Color None. All questions about
race and color,
including questions
about skin, eyes, and
hair color.
Religion or Accurately describe the What religion or If you need to ask
Creed work shifts required denomination are about availability, ask
and ask the candidates you? What church applicants if they can
if that would pose any
problems for them. do you belong to? work on Saturdays or
Who is your Sundays and be sure to
pastor/minister/rab ask all applicants the
bi? What religious same question.
holidays do you Employers are required
follow? Can I call to reasonably
your accommodate an
pastor/minister/rab employee's religious
bi for a reference? beliefs.
Sex, None. What gender do you Avoid all questions
Orientation, or identify as? Are you relating to gender and
Gender Identity male or female? As a sexual orientation,
woman, can you fill unless for courtesy
out this application? reasons you ask which
What are the names title (Dr., Mrs., Miss,
and relationships of Ms., or Mr.) the
the people living candidate prefers.
with you?

These illegal interview questions were prepared by Betterteam.