Applying for a Job: Tips on Answering Tough Questions

1. Get Ready to Apply for a Job
Dress appropriately for the job you are applying for--both when filling out an application and when interviewing. Remember, you want to make a good impression.

When filling out an application:
- Read the application questions carefully and answer only what is asked.
- If you don't understand something, ask.
- Print clearly.

Learn the questions that are usually asked and prepare answers to them. The library and Department of Labor are two places where you can get a list.

Write down your job history. Include the company name and address, your job duties, the dates you worked, and why you left.

Prepare explanations for times when you did not have a job.

Prepare explanations if you have a criminal or arrest record or if you were fired. (See legal aid's flyer: Q & A Employment and Your Criminal Record and the pamphlet, Is Your Criminal Record Keeping You From Working?).

Get a copy of your personnel file from your past employer. If you ask for it in writing, your employer must give it to you. (See Legal Aid’s flyer, Personnel & Medical Files.) If you disagree with something in your file, you can write a statement about it to be added to your personnel file.

Get references. Try to find someone you trust from one of your jobs who will give you a good reference (say nice things about you). Ask what he or she would say about you if a potential employer calls. Also ask if you may use him or her as a reference.

Don’t lie. If you lie about certain information and are later fired for lying, you may not be able to get unemployment or welfare benefits.

2. Tips on Answering Tough Questions
Q: How do I answer questions about a criminal or arrest record?

A: Read the question very carefully and answer only what is asked. For example, don’t volunteer information about a misdemeanor if you’re only asked about felony convictions. If you’re asked for felony convictions for the past 10 years, don’t volunteer information from 11 years ago. You may want to give a short explanation of what you learned from your experience and how you are different now. Don’t lie. (See the Legal Aid flyer Employment and Your Criminal Record).

Q: Do I have to tell that I got fired?

A: Not always. If you worked at a job for a short time, for example, a few weeks or months, you may be able to leave out this job experience. But, if the employer asks, be ready to explain what you were doing during that time.

Q: Are there questions that an employer is not allowed to ask you at the interview?

A: Yes. It is illegal for a potential employer to ask you questions about your race, religion, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, health or disability.

Q.What can I do if I’m asked an illegal question?

A. If you are asked a question that you think is illegal, take a minute to think about the question. Ask yourself, “How uncomfortable has this question made me feel? Is the interviewer aware that the question is illegal? and Is this interviewer going to be my boss?” Then, answer in a way that’s comfortable for you.

If you decide to answer, be brief and try to get the conversation back to your skills and abilities. For example, if asked about your age, you might reply, “I’m in my forties, and I have years of experience that would be an asset to your company.”

If you are not sure whether you want to answer the question, you might say, “I don’t understand how the question relates to how I qualify for the job”. You may decide to answer if there is a reasonable explanation.