Unfortunately, personal questions are an integral part of any interview. Although legally questionable, the recruiter, in an effort to gather more information and determine if you are a good fit, may take some liberties in this area.
No matter what job interview you may have gone for, what industry you belong to, and what level of experience you may have, a personal question can be directed at you at any time during the interview.
Decide how you will handle all such queries and prepare yourself.
Answering Personal Questions
1. What are these personal questions meant for?
A personal question is an attempt to persuade you to talk about your family, friends, and other aspects of your personal life. The questions may appear to be superfluous, but there are reasons for asking them. Some examples of personal questions are:
- Tell me about your family. What do your siblings do?
- Are you in a relationship?
- What are your views towards marriage?
- What do you do in your pastime?
Clearly, all such questions could catch one off guard – so anticipate them and respond successfully. Answer seriously, keeping in mind the possible intent of the interviewer.
2. Intent of the Interviewer
There are valid reasons for asking such questions.
Nimble-footedness: By asking such questions, the interviewer wants to try to grasp your adaptability to change and how well you would be able to handle the same. If in the midst of a smooth interview, they pop up a personal question and you fumble answering it, the interviewer will gauge that you are not able to tolerate interruptions and disturbances.
Dependents: Many times, such questions are asked to assess if you have any dependents to look after. This is primarily done to check whether you can shoulder responsibilities or not. It gives an idea to the interviewer if you would be serious about the job or not.
How to Answer the Question: Can you Tell Me About Your Family
For example:
Interviewer: “Tell me about your family?”
Interviewee: “I have a mother who is a housewife and two younger siblings. My dad is retired from service and occasionally gives classes. My siblings are studying in Junior College.”
Clearly, the interviewer can assess that the interviewee has quite a few dependents. He can also realize that the interviewee is the SOLE earning member of the family.
Thus, ideally, they are most suitable for the job. Why? Firstly, they will be serious about their job and eager to perform. Secondly, they will be committed to the service and NOT seek change quite often.
Thirdly, they would be in a weaker position during salary negotiations (as they need a job very much), giving an edge to the interviewer.
Answer 1:
Interviewee: “Regarding my family, I come from a close-knit family with strong values. My parents have been supportive throughout my life and have instilled in me a strong work ethic. My siblings are also driven individuals pursuing their own careers. We always encourage and motivate each other to strive for success.”
Answer 2:
Interviewee: “When it comes to personal questions, I believe it’s important to strike a balance between openness and maintaining privacy. While I understand the interviewer’s intention to assess my adaptability and responsibility, I prefer to focus on my professional qualifications and experiences that directly relate to the job. I believe my skills, dedication, and commitment to achieving goals are what truly matter in a professional setting.”
Answer 3:
Interviewee: “While I understand that personal questions may arise during an interview, I prefer to keep the conversation focused on my professional qualifications and experiences. I believe that my capabilities, achievements, and dedication to my work are more relevant in assessing my suitability for the job. However, I am open to discussing how my personal values align with the company’s culture and values.”
3. How to answer other personal interview questions
In most countries in the world, many personal questions are considered illegal interview questions, and you can refuse to answer (but if you refuse, in most cases, the employer may drop your application, and you lose the job opportunity. Although this may also be illegal, practically speaking, you may not want to change your job hunt into proffering lawsuits).
Sample topics of personal questions:
- Place of Birth
- Marriage
- Language
- Pregnancy
- Smoking or Drinking
- Alcohol
- Disability or Chronic Illness
- Religions
These are questions that the employer might ask in an endeavor to find as much information as possible about you as a candidate.
If you want to know how to respond and handle these questions, refer also to the illegal Interview Question article.