Last week I went for a job interview, everything was going well but suddenly they asked about my marital status. I said I was single, then the question “Are you considering getting married?” came up. I was literally shocked, what’s that got to do with anything? What does it have to do with the job? Do you think this is normal, and how should one respond to such questions?
5 Answers
5I think you should think of these kinds of questions as if they’ve happened to you before and be prepared. You could have said something like, ‘I believe that matters related to my private life won’t affect my work.’ It’s clear and still polite 
On one hand, the employer has their own concerns, of course; after all, they want to get the return on the effort they’ve invested. But you know, in some sectors, this is always a thought regarding female employees after they get married. You might have reacted a bit too strongly while responding. It’s important to remain calm and professional.
According to labor law, it’s not ethical to ask questions related to personal life, but I recall there’s no legal barrier. Especially with the thought that you might leave work after maternity leave or after getting married, employers sometimes do this. However, in such a situation, it’s important to politely mention that you’re saying there’s no connection between work and personal choices.
Yeah, I think I got confused while answering. I couldn’t be clear. I said, ‘I don’t have a plan like that right now,’ but then the topic shifted to other questions. I guess I didn’t express my reaction clearly…
What a ridiculous question is this? Are the hiring criteria going to be how often you cook when you get home? They should only look at whether you can do the job or not. And also, thinking about maternity leave just because you get married… That’s outright discrimination 