Identity and Work

Legal and Illegal Interview Questions

Did you know that there are aspects of your identities that are protected by law, specifically when it comes to employment? For more information, read through this list of legal and illegal interview questions.

Company Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Values

Many companies say they value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Use these tips and techniques to determine if the company puts actions behind their words:

• Questions students may ask to assess your organization’s commitment to DEI
• Does the company website state a commitment to diversity and non-discrimination?
• Using LinkedIn or the company’s employee directory, can you see if there is racial/ethnic diversity amongst their employees, senior management, and board of directors?
• Ask recruiters and employees about diversity, inclusion, and social justice. Can they give you an example of ways the organization promotes diversity and/or combats discrimination?
• Are there supports within the organization for people that share your identity? Are you able to read about these on the company website, LinkedIn, or social media?
• 7 Simple Ways to Research Company Culture by Austin Belcak:
  1. Get clear on your culture
  2. Read the company’s benefits page
  3. Read Glassdoor reviews
  4. Listen to interviews with executives
  5. Find employees who left for greener pastures
  6. Look up current employees online
  7. Ask in interviews

Additional Resources

LGBTQ+ Students

• Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index provides information about and rankings on how inclusive different companies are.
• LGBTQIA+ Utah Chamber of Commerce has a job board that promotes LGBTQ+ businesses.
• LGBTQ+ Resources at Westminster University
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Westminster University

Students with Disabilities

• Office of Disability Employment
• Center for Advancing Policy on Employment Policy
• Westminster University Student Disability Services

Undocumented Students

• Immigrants Rising
  • Life after College Guide
  • Income and Career Alternatives for Undocumented Students: This video panel of entrepreneurs gives specific examples from their real lives.
  • Student Engagement and Belonging: Explore resources that range from Westminster-specific to national resources.
  • University of Utah Dream Center
  • Salt Lake Community College Dream Center
  • Westminster University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Students of Color

• Professional Organizations:
  • 10 Professional Associations for Black and African American Students
  • Career Resources for Asian Americans (includes employment legislation, job boards, and professional associations)
  • Hispanic Alliance for Career Advancement
  • Utah Asian Chamber of Commerce
  • Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  • Utah Black Chamber
• National Congress of American Indians job board
• Westminster University Black Excellence
• Westminster University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Veteran Students

• Translating Military Terms helps you translate the valuable skills you developed during your military service into civilian terms for your resume, cover letter, and interview.
• Military Occupational Classification is a tool in which you enter your military branch and job title and it lists similar civilian positions. Search by job title or code.
• Westminster University Veterans Center

Non-Traditional Students

• Tips to overcome ageism in the job search:
  • Remove your graduation year from your LinkedIn profile
  • Stay up-to-date on latest advancements in your industry
  • Tailor your work history when looking for a new job. Keep the most relevant experiences, condense or omit older, irrelevant experiences.
• Ageism in the Workplace provides concrete steps you can take toward eliminating ageism in the workplace.
• Ageism in Interviews outlines things you can do in an interview to address an ageism bias.
• Please refer to the Career Center’s interview question resource for more information about what employers can and can’t ask you regarding age.

Next Steps

Unsure about where to go from here? Consider exploring your values, interests, and strengths. These elements, paired with our identities, shape our job search. Prefer to speak with a human? Schedule a 1-on-1 coaching session with our certified career coaches. Already graduated? Congratulations! Alumni have free, lifetime access to the Career Center.