Possible question in interviews

[HelenQ]

Hi

I hope I am posting this in the right category.

I am now actively looking for work and am on Jobseeker's Allowance. However its been over two years since I last worked and so am a bit nervous about job interviews etc.

I applied for a job in a call centre in the early summer of 2006. I was asked if I had children to which I said yes - one child and then I was asked about child minding arrangements etc. I was taken aback at the time but answered truthfully.

I am just worried that this might rear its head again and am wondering as a young mother what I should say if this question is asked of me again. I honestly feel that it is a part of my life that a would be employer has no right to know. Once I am there to work and do my job what else is required of me?

Any help or advise gratefully appreciated.

hopeful.

 

[dodo]

Just say they are taken care off, ie your Mother loves looking after them.Now you could tell a white lie like My hubby works shift so we have no issues when it comes to looking after our children. Remember you want the job and some employers would question whether a person with a child will missing every time the child gets a cold and so on.The main thing for you is to get the job.A great question for you to ask your employer is 'what do you expect from me'. It gets them thinking on their heels every time.Best of luck

 

[Complainer]

It may not go down well, but you could consider advising the interviewer that it is not a great idea to ask such questions in an interview, as this exposes the company to the risk of a claim of discrimination on grounds of family status. Or you could take a slightly less confrontational approach and ask them how having children or not is relevant to the requirements for the job in hand.

I'm not sure that either of these approaches will help you get call centre work mind you.