According to the Department of Labor (DOL), “38% of complaints reviewed under (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) USERRA contained allegations of discrimination on the basis of past, present, or future military service or status.”*
I watch British TV, so the word dodgy is something that I say, and it means odd, suspect, weird, or inappropriate.
When I first started in human resources, one of my trainers was leading a discussion about interviews and stated, “We can ask whatever we want, but it does not mean it is lawful or appropriate.” There are a ton of articles listing what some of the illegal questions are, and in general, any questions about your protected class are off-limits.
Veterans have a different hurdle to overcome when it comes to interviews. Some of the questions asked don’t sit well with me because I don’t understand what the interviewer is attempting to derive. Here are some of the interview questions that concern me:
-What year did you enlist?
I’ve heard this one quite a bit, and it doesn’t have anything to do with the BFOQ’s (Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications) for the job. Many enlist at the age of 17 or 18, so this question may unintentionally disclose your age to the company. Your age has nothing to do with the requirements of the job.
-Are you subject to deployment?
During the interview process, this question is not job-related. Questions about overall availability, scheduling, or flexibility are appropriate. I would be wary if I were asked this during the interview.
-Where were you stationed?
This topic comes up quite a bit, but I wouldn’t want this to be a part of your job interview. Why? Many interviewers will make assumptions on where you served. I’m not too fond of this question too early in the process.
-Were you in combat?
No. Just no.
-Have you killed anyone?
Just awful. Many of my veteran friends say they have been asked this question during interviews or on the job. If you are an employer or coworker, please don’t ever ask this question. If you are a veteran that has been asked this question, I’m sorry.
So what should you do if of these questions comes up during your interview? First, I would evaluate if working for a company that would ask these questions aligns with your integrity. One technique is to ask a clarifying question to determine why the question is relevant. Lastly, you can decline to answer the question and offer to provide that information if you make it to the next stage of the interview process.
*https://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/
