[originaltext] The three most stressful situations in life are said to be end

The three most stressful situations in life are said to be ending a marriage, dealing with death and moving to a new home. Many people would add one more experience to that list— a job interview.
   Finding a good job is difficult enough. Add to that the fact that employers may ask some very personal questions during a job interview. In the United States, it is illegal for employers to raise some of these issues.
   The interviewer is the person asking the questions. Interviewers want to learn as much as they can about the interviewee. This can cause an uneven balance of power and lead to some difficult questions. In the United States, a few of those questions are not just difficult, they are illegal.
   First, sex questions are off limits.
   It is very easy for an interviewer to discriminate based on a person’s gender or sex. If you are a woman, you may be asked, "Are you comfortable managing a team of men?" If you are man you may be asked, "Would you feel comfortable having a woman as a boss?"
   In the United States, any question related to gender should not be raised during the job interview. But if gender does come up, answer the question by stating your past work experiences that show you can do the job, regardless of whether you are a woman or a man.
   Second, questions about marriage and children are illegal.
   During a job interview, questions such as, "Do you have children?" or "Do you plan to work after having children?" are not legal to ask.
   Naturally, future employers want to know how long you plan to be with them if you are hired. Hiring people takes time and, as they say, time is money. But it is illegal to not hire someone because they have children or are planning on having a child in the future.
   It is legal for a prospective employer to ask, "What hours can you work?" or "Do you have responsibilities that might keep you from doing your job?" These questions are legal because they are directly related to the job and not tied to your personal life.    Any question related to your marital status is considered illegal in the U. S. But they are common. Asking someone, "Are you married?" is a loaded question, a question looking for more than what is simply asked. A question about marriage is illegal because it may lead to information about your sexual orientation — whether you are gay, straight or bisexual. And that is no one’s business but your own.
   Third, your citizenship and nationality are private.
   It is illegal for a U. S. business to hire someone who is not permitted to work in the country. But the only way a company can explore the issue legally is to ask the question directly — " Can you work legally in the United States?"
   If an interviewer asks things such as, "Where are you from?" or "Where were you born?" they have, again, crossed into Illegal Land. These may seem like innocent questions. But they are illegal because it involves your country of birth. Employers in the U. S. cannot legally ask about your nationality.
   This also extends to language. It is not the employer’s lawful right to know if a language is your first language. However, they can legally ask what other languages you know.
   Fourth, asking about religion is a no-no.
   Employers may want to ask which religious holidays you observe to see if it may interfere with work. But questions about your religion are illegal.
   Employers can legally ask if you can work on a Sunday, a day when many Christians attend religious services.
   Fifth, your age is your business.
   The question, "How long have you been working?" may seem fine. But this question is all about age discrimination. It is also illegal for an interviewer to ask what year you completed high school or college or even your birthday. It is easy enough to do the math. It is legal for an interviewer to ask you how long you have been working in a certain industry. Again, the question is tied to the job and not your personal life.
   It can be difficult to answer personal questions during a job interview. If a question seems illegal or just makes you feel uneasy, simply direct the question back to the job and your qualifications.
   Of course, you do not have to answer any question that you feel is insulting or illegal. This, however, may cost you the job.
   In the end it is a personal decision. But always know your rights.