For the KUMC Interviewer (Hiring Manager/Supervisor)

What kinds of questions should I not ask a potential candidate?

This is a hard one. The best thinking is that an interviewer should only ask questions that relate to the work. Other questions, although well intended, may be thought of by applicants, from their perspectives, as asked for a purpose not in keeping with the job.

A classic example has to do with transportation. A question with some potential for problems would have an interviewer asking about how a person gets to work. A better question is for the interviewer to tell applicants the expected hours of work and ask if the applicant is available. Example, "Bob, the work for this position starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. Can you be here during those hours if you are selected for this position?" Avoid asking, "Do you have a reliable car?"

Other questions or discussion to avoid are religious, racial or national origin, sexual, sexual preference, political, age, and personal. Also, interviewers are expected to be excellent representatives of the organization. As such, it is critical that they realize job interviews are to be conducted in a professional manner that brings credit not only to our interviewer but more importantly to the organization.

As a Rule-of-Thumb, it's best to prepare a series of questions that you would like to ask your potential applicants ahead of time. This keeps you consistent with each applicant and helps avoid from straying away from the issues to cover.

If you have additional questions or concerns regarding the materials covered, please contact John Matzeder at 913-588-5121 or you may contact KUMC's Equal Employment Office at 913-588-1206.