Illustrative stock photo (source: SME)
"Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?" It's a question anyone who has been to a job interview has been asked at least once.
However, the survey carried out by Grafton Recruitment shows that 21 percent of respondents consider it their least favourite question at job interviews.
"Are you single?"
In addition, 17 percent of respondents do not like questions regarding their family status, age, children, or sexual orientation, which are questions hiring managers are not allowed to ask by law.
Top 5 worst questions according to job applicants:
Where do you see yourself in XY years?
Do you have children?
Are you married?
Why did you decide to apply for a job at our company?
What are your weaknesses and strengths?
"Candidates can thus avoid answering questions like 'Do you have kids?', 'Are you single?', or 'Who will take care of your children if they get ill?'," said Jitka Součková, Grafton Recruitment's marketing manager, as quoted in the press release.
Also, one-tenth of respondents has been asked vulgar and offensive questions.
"Questions about breast size, frequency of toilet visits, political preferences, or the number of friends, are totally irrelevant," added Součková.
Not favourite, but relevant
Moreover, some respondents consider, for instance, the question about their weaknesses and strengths or the question on why they applied for a given job as one of the worst ones, but they are relevant.
"Although up to one-quarter of respondents see them as stupid and unprofessional, they should be asked at a job interview and candidates should think carefully about how they will respond to them," said Součková, as quoted in the press release.
