Interview Protocol - Fordham Law

Interview Guidelines for On & Off Campus Employers

In the process of determining which applicant(s) are the best match for a particular organization, interviewers typically take a variety of factors into consideration from objective data presented on an applicant's resume to impressions received during an interview.

In order to facilitate the fair and objective evaluation of applicants, the Career Planning Center offers employers the following guidelines in formulating interview inquiries as obtained from the New York State Division on Human Rights. In addition, you may also link here to the Employer Evaluation of Student On-Campus Interview Form as provided by the National Association for Law Placement.

The following are examples of different types of inquiries that are recommended or not recommended by the New York State Division of Human Rights:

SUBJECT	RECOMMENDED	NOT RECOMMENDED
Age	Are you 18 years of age or older? If not, state your age.	How old are you? What are the ages of your children, if any?
Arrest Record	Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense? (Give details)	Have you ever been arrested?
Disability	None	Do you have a disability? Have you ever been treated for any of the following diseases . . .? Do you have now, or have you ever had, a drug or alcohol problem?
Genetic Predisposition or Carrier Status	None	Do you have any genetic predisposition to disease? Do any diseases run in your family? Inquiries as to the health status of parents or other family members.
Marital Status	None Is your spouse employed by this employer?	Do you wish to be addressed as Miss? Mrs.? Ms.? Are you married? Single? Divorced? Separated? Name or other information about spouse.
National Origin	None	Inquiry into applicant's lineage, ancestry, national origin, descent, parentage or nationality. Nationality of applicant's parents or spouse.
Sexual Orientation	None	Inquiries as to sexual orientation. Are you married or single? Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend? Requirement that applicant produce any document that would reveal marital status.
Race or Color	None	Complexion or color of applicant's skin, eyes, hair, and so forth.
Religion	None	Inquiry into applicant's religious denomination, religious affiliations, house of worship, religious holidays observed.
Sex	None	Inquiry as to gender. Inquiries as to capacity to reproduce, use of any form of birth control or family planning.
Address or Duration of Residence	Applicant's place of residence. How long a resident of this state or city?	How long have you lived in this country? In what country did you live before?
Birthday	None	Requirement that applicant submit birth certificate, naturalization or other record showing age. Requirement that applicant produce proof of age in form of birth certificate or other record.
Birthplace	None	Inquiries as to birthplace of applicant or birthplace of applicant's parents, spouse or other relatives.
Citizenship	Are you a citizen of the United States? If not a citizen of the United States , do you intend to become a citizen of the United States? If you are not a United States citizen, have you the legal right to remain permanently in the United States? Do you intend to remain permanently in the United States?	Of what country are you a citizen? Inquiries as to whether an applicant or an applicant's parents or spouse are naturalized or native-born citizens; requirement that applicant produce naturalization papers.
Driver's License	Do you possess a valid NYS driver's license (if a driver's license is necessary for the position applicant is seeking)?	Requirement that applicant produce license prior to offer of employment.
Education	Inquiry into applicant's academic, vocational or professional education and the public and private schools attended.	Year(s) of attendance; Date(s) of graduation.
Language Experience	Inquiry into work experience. If the duties of the position applicant is seeking require fluency in a particular language, inquiry may be made into whether applicant speaks or writes that language fluently.	What is your native language? Inquiry into how applicant acquired ability to read, write or speak a foreign language.
Military Experience	Inquiry into applicant's military experience in the Armed Forces of the United States or in a State Militia. Inquiry into applicant's service in a particular branch of the United States Army, Navy, etc.	Inquiry into applicant's military experience other than in the Armed Forces of the United States or in a State Militia.
Name	Have you ever worked for this company under a different name? Is additional information relative to change of name, use of an assumed name or nickname necessary to enable check on your work records? If yes, explain.	Inquiries as to original names of an applicant whose name has been changed by court order or otherwise. Inquiries as to the birth name of a married woman. If you have ever worked under another name, state name and dates.
Notice In Case of Emergency	None	Requirement that applicant provide name and address of relative to be notified in case of an accident or emergency.
Organizations	Inquiry into applicant's membership in organizations which the applicant considers relevant to his or her ability to perform the job.	Requirement that applicant list all clubs, societies, and lodges to which applicant belongs.
Photograph	None	Requirement or option that applicant affix a photograph to employment form at any time before hiring.
Relatives	Inquiry as to names of applicant's relatives already employed by the company.	Inquiry as to names, addresses and ages of applicant's spouse, children or relatives not employed by the company.