Looking for a new job requires a special process. You have to send a resume to a lot of companies, and sometimes a cover letter, which is a kind of letter in which you provide additional personal information to the resume about how you can contribute to the company if you get the position.
However, it is not the resumes or applications that hire you, that is done by the managers or heads of companies. And after seeing your application, they call you for an interview.
The first thing you should know is what position you are applying for and if you are sure that you can fulfill that position, in addition to knowing if it meets the benefits and salary expectations that you are considering. Being honest with yourself is the best option.
If after applying they call you, congratulations! You have taken one more step ahead, and now is time for the interview.
This stage of the process is critical for selection, as you have the opportunity to fully describe your experience, education, and training. In this “one on one”, you can better understand the organization, the position, and the salary. The interviewer is trying to determine if you have the skills required for the position, and you can determine if you meet that requirement. It is an exchange of information.
Causes of discrimination
Questions about marital status and the number of children and their ages are often the cause of discrimination, particularly against women, and can violate Title VII if used to deny or limit employment opportunities.
For the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), such questions are clearly discriminatory only to women and not to men (or vice versa). This can be considered an attempt to discriminate against people with children.
Personal questions, and not about the job, before the hiring detailed in the EEOC can be an act of discrimination:
- Checking if the job applicant is pregnant.
- Asking about marital status or if they are planning to get married.
- Asking about the number of children and their ages, or about plans to have children in the future.
- Asking about childcare arrangements.
- Asking about the employment status of the spouse.
- Asking about the name of the spouse.
The interview
Once the above information is taken into account, the United States Department of Labor offers some advice on its website so that you are prepared before and during the job interview, which we list below:
Before the interview
- Get familiar with the company
An important aspect is to know not only the position you want to occupy but also about the organization (mission, objectives, etc.). Familiarize yourself with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Don’t be scared but don’t assume you know everything; always do your research.
- Check your resume
Even if you wrote it yourself, take a look at your resume. They may ask you about your previous jobs, and you should know how to answer. Focus on paid and volunteer jobs.
- Practice
Imagine you are the one interviewing. Answer the typical questions you would be asked. Remember that in the US it is not common to ask personal questions about children, marital status, or partner’s name.
- Calculate arrival time
If you don’t know where the place is, do a search on Google Maps to find out the estimated time you would have to get there. If it is a virtual interview, find a quiet space and have the link at hand to enter the room 5 minutes before.
- Ask if there are other interviews
Some companies filter and organize at least two interviews. So ask if there are any others.
During the Interview
- Although it seems obvious, punctuality says a lot about us. That is why you should calculate the time of arrival at the place. And if it’s virtual, have the room link ready and check your connection. Remember that this is the first impression, and it counts a lot.
- Prepare a short 30-second presentation describing why you want that position at that company.
- Listen carefully to the questions you are asked and answer as directly as possible. Focus on your objectives relevant to the position, and use examples or experiences if possible. You can tell short anecdotes of how you solved a situation. Do not deviate from what they ask you.
- Remember the positive and avoid negative comments about your colleagues, companies, or previous position.
- Take care of your body language and tone of voice. Remember that all attention is directed at you.